PHOENIX — Arizona and UCLA will continue their basketball rivalry with three games over the next four years, starting with a Dec. 14 matchup in downtown Phoenix.
The teams also agreed to meet in 2025 at the Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas and in 2027 in Los Angeles.
Arizona and UCLA were conference rivals for years in the Pac-12, but the recent exodus from the conference has split them apart. Arizona is now in the Big 12 and UCLA is a part of the Big Ten.
The teams have played 113 times, with the Bruins holding a 63-50 advantage.
“For decades, Arizona-UCLA games have meant so much to our players, coaches, and fans across the country,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said in a statement. "Icons in the game of basketball have made this rivalry into one of the best in college basketball, and we look forward to adding the next chapters in the years to come.”
Said UCLA coach Mick Cronin: “It’s a win-win situation for both UCLA and Arizona, as we want to preserve what has turned into a fantastic basketball rivalry out West. These are two schools with strong basketball traditions and passionate fan bases, and it’s important for us to find ways to continue playing each other.”
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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
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Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. The Coyotes play at Mullett Arena on ASU's Tempe campus.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
