Oct. 1, 2014

COLUMBIA, S.C. – ESPN2 announced today its 2015 “Big Monday Presented by Verizon” schedule, which features three appearances for South Carolina in the seven weeks of the season. The program will launch its ninth season of showcasing the nation’s top programs beginning January 29. The schedule, which features five 2013-14 All-Americans and a grouping of the top incoming freshmen in the country, includes three games each for South Carolina and Notre Dame, while UConn, Tennessee, Duke and Louisville have two appearances each.

`Big Monday’ Team Highlights

• Seven of the top eight teams in the espnW preseason top 25 poll will participate in the nine `Big Monday’ games.
• Four conferences are featured in the schedule – ACC, American Athletic, Big Ten and SEC.
• All 10 teams advanced to the 2013-14 postseason, including three NCAA Final Four participants.
• The schedule features four 2013-14 All-Americans, including WBCA members Jewell Lloyd (Notre Dame, Tiffany Mitchell (South Carolina) and Breanna Stewart (Connecticut) as well as Associated Press selection Elizabeth Williams (Duke).
• Ten entries in the 2014 recruiting top 25 join their teams in the Monday night lineup – A’ja Wilson (South Carolina), Brianna Turner (Notre Dame), Jaime Nared (Tennessee), Jatarie White (South Carolina), Lynee’ Belton (Duke), Gabby Williams (Connecticut), Sierra Calhoun (Duke), Sadie Edwards (Connecticut), Kathryn Westbeld (Notre Dame) and Azura Stevens (Duke).

`Big Monday’ Schedule Highlights

• Two-time defending national champion Connecticut will be featured twice: at home versus South Carolina on Feb. 9 and at USF to close the regular season on March 2.
• South Carolina’s three appearances include two homes games: versus Texas A&M as part of the “We Back Pat” initiative on Jan. 26 and against Tennessee in the second game of the “Play 4Kay” doubleheader on Feb. 23.
• Former BIG EAST foes Louisville and Notre Dame battle in the early “Play 4Kay” tilt at 7 p.m.
• Notre Dame – also on the schedule three times – hosts a non-conference tilt against Tennessee on Jan. 19 and plays at home against Duke as part of a “Rivalry Week” doubleheader on Feb. 16.
• Also participating in “Rivalry Week” will be new Big Ten foes Michigan State and Maryland with the Terrapins playing in their first season in the league.

Entering its fifth season covering women’s college basketball, espnW.com will provide season-long original content and supporting material for ESPN’s top games, including leading into games with espnW’s national player of the week and updated Bracketology from Charlie Crème. The espnW season preview will run Nov. 3-7.

All `Big Monday’ telecasts will also be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 or Xbox One to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.

2015 ESPN2 `Big Monday’ Women’s Hoops Schedule
Jan. 19, 7 p.m., Tennessee at Notre Dame
Jan. 26, 7 p.m., “We Back Pat” – Texas A&M at South Carolina
Feb. 2, 7 p.m., Louisville at Duke
Feb. 9, 8 p.m., South Carolina at Connecticut
Feb. 16, 7 p.m., “Rivalry Week” Michigan State at Maryland
Feb. 16, 9 p.m., “Rivalry Week” Duke at Notre Dame
Feb. 23, 7 p.m., “Play 4Kay” Louisville at Notre Dame
Feb. 23, 9 p.m., “Play 4Kay” Tennessee at South Carolina
Mar. 2, 7 p.m., Connecticut at USF