Fudd and Strong power No. 1 UConn past No. 11 Iowa in Women's Champions Classic

NEW YORK (AP) — Azzi Fudd scored 27 points and Sarah Strong added 23 to help No. 1 UConn beat 11th-ranked Iowa 90-64 on Saturday in the Women's Champions Classic.

Strong also had seven rebounds and six steals for the Huskies (12-0), who remained unbeaten on the season heading into the holidays. No. 16 Louisville routed 17th-ranked Tennessee 89-65 in the opener of the doubleheader.

Strong, the sensational sophomore, dominated the first half with 20 points and five steals as UConn led 42-31.

UConn was up 22-12 after one quarter before Iowa was able to get within six in the second. Strong wouldn't let them get closer as she scored seven points, including the first five, in a 10-2 run that gave the Huskies a 35-20 advantage midway through the quarter. On one play, Strong got a steal, then went the length of the court for a lay-in.

Iowa couldn't get closer than nine the rest of the way as Fudd had 21 of her 27 points in the second half. UConn scored the first six points of the third quarter to put the game away.

The Huskies have beaten four ranked teams this season, with victories over No. 5 Michigan, No. 16 Louisville and No. 19 Southern California. UConn has two ranked games left on its schedule after the New Year — home games against No. 17 Tennessee and 20th-ranked Notre Dame.

Hannah Stuelke scored 17 points and Chazadi Wright added 16 for the Hawkeyes (10-2), who have dropped two of their last three games. The other loss came to in-state rival No. 10 Iowa State.

Iowa lost guard Kylie Feuerbach to an ankle injury in the first quarter. She didn't return.

Iowa: Hosts Penn State on Sunday, Dec. 28.

UConn: Visits Butler on Sunday, Dec. 28.

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UConn's Azzi Fudd, right, talks with teammates KK Arnold, center, and Sarah Strong, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

UConn's Azzi Fudd (35) drives past Iowa's Chazadi Wright (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Iowa's Layla Hays (12) shoots over UConn's Azzi Fudd and Blanca Quinonez (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

UConn's KK Arnold, right, celebrates with Sarah Strong (21) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Iowa Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Iowa's Layla Hays (12) shoots over UConn's Sarah Strong (21) and Serah Williams during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

UConn's Azzi Fudd, left, drives past Iowa's Taylor Stremlow during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain (AP) — Real Sociedad hired American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo on Saturday with the team near La Liga's relegation zone.

The New Jersey-born Matarazzo last coached German club Hoffenheim from February 2023 until November 2024. Before that he coached at Stuttgart from 2019-22.

Matarazzo, 48, agreed to a contract through June 2027. He fills the post left vacant when Sociedad let Sergio Francisco go last weekend after a third consecutive loss in La Liga.

Sociedad announced his hiring shortly after a 1-1 draw at bottom-side Levante left the Basque Country club just two points from the drop zone.

Matarazzo will inherit a club that was used to finishing near the top of La Liga and earning European competition berths but began to struggle last season when Imanol Alguacil's long stint in charge came to an end. It has also had trouble replacing star midfielders Mikel Merino and Martín Zubimendi after their transfers to Arsenal.

Levante likewise announced it hired Portuguese coach Luís Castro after the draw with Sociedad.

Castro joins a Levante that has struggled in its return to the top flight. It is in last place at six points from safety with just two wins in 16 rounds.

The club fired Julián Calero, the coach who led it to promotion, last month after a run of four consecutive losses. Since then it has been led by caretaker coaches from inside the club.

The 45-year-old Castro was fired by French club Nantes last week with the eight-time French champion languishing in 17th place in the 18-team Ligue 1.

Castro won praise after leading second-tier Dunkerque to the French Cup's final four last season. The minnow led Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 in the semifinal before PSG rallied to win.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Hoffenheim's head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo stands by the bench before the Europa League opening phase soccer match between FC Porto and TSG Hoffenheim at the Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira, File)