KNOXVILLE, TN (March 4, 2025) – AAU and Visit Knoxville announces today that the AAU Girls Basketball World Championships will return to Knoxville as part of a 5-year agreement between the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission and the Amateur Athletic Union. The first of this annual event will take place June 26–29, 2025, held at the Knoxville Convention Center and the World’s Exhibition Hall in downtown Knoxville. Specific dates for 2026–2029 are to be determined. 

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer, sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.

The AAU Girls Basketball Championships represent the summit of youth basketball competition with 21 Division I, Division II, and Division III national title events for 2nd grade through 11th grade divisions. When Visit Knoxville last hosted this event in 2023 for 3-8th grade players, 183 teams from 23 different states featuring more than 2,700 athletes participated. 

The Visit Knoxville Sports Commission has hosted several AAU events, including the 2020 AAU Girls Basketball 7th Grade National Championships, the 2022 AAU Cross Country Nationals, the 2023 AAU Girls World Championships, the 2024 AAU Girls Basketball 3-on-3 National Championships, and the annual AAU Gymnastics Ozone Invitational.

“This is an exciting announcement for Knoxville,” said Kim Bumpas, President of Visit Knoxville. “To welcome AAU Girls Basketball for five years is a testament to both our destination as it relates to sporting events and the relationship we have with AAU to keep coming back.” 

“We’re thrilled to continue our outstanding partnership with AAU,” said Chad Culver, Senior Director of Visit Knoxville Sports Commission & Convention Sales. “We have consistently provided a top-notch experience in Knoxville and look forward to working with their team for the next several years on this annual event.” 

“We are beyond excited to call Knoxville the official destination for our AAU Girls Basketball World Championships for the next five years,” said Jo Mirza, AAU President. “Knoxville, Tennessee is the home of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and so many of the women inducted had their legacy begin with the AAU. Through the AAU World Championships, we will continue to build on the historic tradition of women’s basketball in this wonderful city. 

“This is a big partnership for the city of Knoxville and AAU Girls’ Basketball. This will improve the visibility of Girls’ Basketball throughout the country because we know the history of Women’s Basketball in Knoxville, Tennessee, and the major contributions Pat Summit brought to the game itself,” said Boo Williams, AAU National Basketball Chair. “You combine that history, along with the attraction of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame matched with the next generation of basketball stars competing in the AAU World Basketball Championships, and the experience will be special.” 

For more information, visit AAU Girls Basketball and Visit Knoxville.

ABOUT AAU 

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer sports organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports programs. Founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by nearly a million members and 150,000 volunteers across 45 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts. For more information, visit www.aausports.org.

ABOUT VISIT KNOXVILLE SPORTS COMMISSION 

The Visit Knoxville Sports Commission (VKSC), established under Visit Knoxville in 2016, is responsible for bringing tournaments and sporting events to Knoxville and Knox County. The VKSC has hosted top-tier events including the Bassmaster Classic, USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships, and the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Diving. The VKSC was recognized as Sports ETA’s 2019 Sport Tourism Organization of the Year and was awarded SportsTravel’s Best Professional Event and HospitalityTN’s Purple Iris Award Special Event of the Year for the 2023 Bassmaster Classic. For more information, visit sports.visitknoxville.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram. 

Kristen Combs 

Director of Communications 

Visit Knoxville 

865.306.4341

kcombs@knoxville.org