SEC Opponents, ACC/ SEC Challenge Matchup Announced for Women’s Basketball

CONTRIBUTED BY AU ATHLETICS

AUBURN —

Auburn’s opponents for the 2023-24

SEC women’s basketball season were announced Wednesday, June 28, by the conference office.

In addition, ESPN announced the matchups for the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge. Auburn will host Clemson at Neville Arena on Thursday, Nov. 30; tip-off has been set for 8 p.m. CT.

For the 15th straight season, the SEC schedule will consist of 16 games, eight at home and eight on the road.

Auburn’s home opponents in 2024 will be Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

On the road, the Tigers will face Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, Missouri, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.

Season ticket renewals will begin in August with new season tickets on sale in September.

Dates, times, TV information and additional nonconference opponents will be announced at a later date.

CONTRIBUTED BY AU ATHLETICS

AUBURN —

The Southeastern Conference has announced each school’s conference opponents for the 2023-24 season.

Auburn will play Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt at home at Neville Arena. The Tigers’ road travel will include trips to Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, Tennessee and

Vanderbilt. Conference play commences on Jan. 6 and runs through March 9. Each SEC team plays the other 13 teams at least once during league play. They will then play their three permanent opponents a second time with the remaining two games changing every year.

The SEC Tournament returns to Nashville, Tennessee, as Bridgestone Arena will host the event from March 13 through 17, 2024.

Times, dates and television information will be announced at a later date.

McCondichie Voices Displeasure With AU Softball Coaching Via Twitter

BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER

AUBURN —

After several players entered the transfer portal following Auburn softball’s end of the 2023 season, fouryear player and recent Auburn graduate, Carlee McCondichie, took to social media to voice her displeasure with the program Monday night.

McCondichie, who played in 166 games and started 121 in four years at Auburn, clarified her love for Auburn and her teammates, but said she has “no desire to play a fifth year” after graduating in May. This comes after she was benched midway through her senior season while going through a batting slump.

“It is sad when a young girl who has played the sport for 18 years of her 22-year life has no interest or desire in playing a fifth year,” McCondichie said via Twitter. “That’s what happens when you play for a program where when you fail, you are immediately benched. A program where you aren’t pursued. A program where you are only looked at from an athletic perspective, not a personal perspective.”

Going into his seventh year as the head coach at Auburn, Mickey Dean has now completed 17 years of coaching college softball. He has been successful at Auburn, leading the Tigers to five NCAA Regional appearances along with a 206-109 overall record. His coaching success is not what’s in question, though, it’s his ability to build relationships with players.

McCondichie was no doubt a key player, and reigning from Birmingham, she became a fan favorite. After leading the team with a .338 batting average in 56 starts in 2022, McCondichie again started out with a hot bat in