Two decades in the making — for the first time in program history, St. John’s will host its first standalone women’s basketball game at Madison Square Garden.
March 1 marks the historic milestone, a bout with No. 1 UConn that will surely put fans in seats.
The Red Storm women’s basketball program will play its 19th game at the Mecca, holding an 11-7 record at the venue. In 2023, St. John’s edged Villanova 51-48 in its Big East opener and then defeated Butler 65-43 last season on February 16.
“This game has been in the making since 2004,” head coach Joe Tartamella said. “To have our first standalone game is a big deal. Not a lot of people have an idea how much goes into putting these games together.”
Tartamella, now in his 14th season leading the Johnnies, has guided St. John’s to a 21-9 record with one game remaining.
The undefeated Huskies hold a 53-18 advantage in the all-time series. The Red Storm last defeated then-No. 4 UConn 69-64 on Feb. 21, 2023. In their first matchup this season, UConn downed St. John’s 88-43 on Jan. 7, a reminder of the challenge that awaits.
However, this game isn’t just about competition — it’s about the continued growth of women’s sports.
“From 2004, we never thought we’d even have a game there,” Tartamella added. “Just to see where it’s growing, it’s great. As a New Yorker, there’s no better feeling. Anytime you are in there, it’s a special moment.”
The numbers back up that growth. The 2025 national championship game between UConn and South Carolina averaged 8.5 million viewers. While lower than 2024’s record 18.9 million, it marked the third most-watched women’s title game ever and a 75-percent increase over the same matchup in 2022.
The 2024-25 regular season was the most-watched on ESPN since 2008-09, averaging 280,000 viewers per game — up 3-percent from the previous year.
The Johnnies and Huskies will be on national televsion, airing on TNT for its 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
For St. John’s, March 1 represents more than a game against the nation’s top team. It represents visibility. It represents investment. It represents progress.