Arizona is on a tear against its in-state rival.
For a fourth straight season, the Wildcats won the Territorial Cup Series over ASU, dominating the 22 common varsity sports the two schools compete in. Arizona won this year’s series by a margin of 13.5 to 8.5.
Since 2009, Arizona has won the Territorial Cup Series 11 times compared to six times for ASU. The UA has won seven of the last nine years.
A school is awarded one point for each sport. In sports that play once a year (football), the point is given out for that game, while in sports like baseball and softball, the team that wins the season series earns the point. If the schools split or tie the regular season season match-ups, then each team earns half a point.
For sports like cross country and golf, the point is awarded to whichever school finishes higher at conference or national championships.
Here’s a look back at the 2025-26 Territorial Cup Series, listed (mostly) chronologically.
Women’s volleyball: ASU
The Sun Devils swept the two matches, winning both by a score of 3-1. ASU is on a six-match winning streak in women’s volleyball.
Arizona and ASU drew to a 0-0 tie at UA’s Mulcahy Stadium. It was the first time the two teams tied since 2003. Arizona won the matchup nine out of 10 season from 2016 to 2024.
Men’s and women’s cross country: Arizona (x2)
The Arizona cross country programs outperformed the Sun Devils at the Big 12 Championships, with the Wildcats men taking 8th to ASU’s 12th, and the women finishing 15th to ASU’s 16th. Arizona has outpaced ASU in cross country for much of the last decade.
Women’s triathlon: Arizona
Arizona won the Collegiate Triathlon National Championship in Tempe, beating runner-up ASU for a second straight year. ASU was the nation’s top triathlon program for close to a decade, but Wes Johnson’s program has usurped the Sun Devils.
The Territorial Cup trophy is back in Tucson after Arizona defeated ASU 23-7 at Sun Devil Stadium. The victory marked Arizona’s first win in Tempe since way back in 2011. Arizona has won three of the last four games in the series after ASU won five in a row from 2017-21.
Men’s basketball: Arizona
Arizona swept the series for a third consecutive year, beating ASU 89-82 in Tucson and 87-74 in Tempe. To ASU’s credit, the Sun Devils covered the spread both games.
Arizona has won seven straight games against ASU and is 10-1 in the series under coach Tommy Lloyd.
Women’s basketball: ASU
ASU swept the regular season series, winning 68-61 in Tempe and 75-69 (OT) in Tucson. Sun Devils coach Molly Miller and Arizona coach Becky Burke, both coaching in their first year, embraced the rivalry. It was Miller who got the last laugh when ASU beat Arizona again in the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City by a score of 54-51.
Women’s beach volleyball: ASU
ASU controlled the series, beating Arizona four times this spring. The Sun Devils beat Arizona 5-0 at the Cactus Classic in Tucson, then won 3-2 at the Sun Devil Classic in Tempe. Later on in the season, ASU won 5-0 at the Big 12 Preview and 4-1 at the Big 12 Tournament.
Arizona has lost eight straight matches to ASU dating bavk to 2024.
Men’s and women’s swimming and diving: ASU (x2)
ASU swept the Big 12 Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships to rack up two points in the series. Arizona finished runner-up in both competitions. ASU has outscored Arizona four straight years at men’s and women’s conference championships.
Women’s gymnastics: Arizona
The Arizona GymCats edged ASU 196.400 to 196.000 in Tucson. Arizona scored over 49 in each rotation, while ASU struggled on the floor.
While Arizona earned the Territorial Cup point, ASU came out on top at NCAA Regionals, topping Arizona 195.425 to 194.900.
Men’s and women’s indoor track and field: Arizona (x2)
Arizona outscored ASU at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., with the UA men taking 37th to ASU’s 56th and the Arizona women finishing 52nd to ASU’s 53rd.
Arizona received All-American performances from Emma Gates (high jump), Mason Lawyer (60m dash) and Tapenisa Havea (shot put).
The Sun Devils defeated Arizona 4-2 in Tempe, giving ASU the Territorial Cup point. Arizona won the head-to-head last year, but ASU has dominated the series over the past decade, winning 10 of the last 11 matches.
The most dramatic of all the series, Arizona defeated ASU in games two and three at Hillenbrand Stadium after the Sun Devils took the opener in run-rule fashion. Arizona won the Saturday game in a 9-8 thriller that saw the Wildcats nearly blow an 8-run lead. Arizona then held on in the rubber match 4-0 to earn the point.
However, ASU ousted Arizona in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals with a 2-1 win.
Arizona has won the Territorial Cup point in four straight seasons.
ASU won three out of five games between the two schools, including taking two out of three from Arizona at Hi Corbett. Arizona and ASU split two non-conference games played at ASU’s Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Arizona played ASU twice, with only the conference head-to-head matching counting towards the standings. The Wildcats won both matches by a score of 4-0, extending Arizona’s winning streak in the series to eight. Arizona has swept the last four matches between the schools.
ASU finished in a tie for fourth, while Arizona took 11th at the Big 12 Championships. Arizona had won the women’s golf point the previous four seasons.
Despite ASU going into the Big 12 Championships with the higher ranking, Arizona came out ahead, finishing runner-up to ASU’s distant ninth-place showing. Arizona taking the men’s golf point was arguably the biggest surprise of the year.
Arizona last finished higher than ASU at the 2021 Pac-12 Championships, which the UA won outright.
Men’s and women’s outdoor track and field: Arizona (x2)
Arizona put an exclamation point on the Territorial Cup Series by sweeping the men’s and women’s outdoor track and field points at the Big 12 Championships in Tucson last weekend.
The Arizona men took runner-up to ASU’s 9th place finish, and the UA women finished third compared to 11th for the ASU women.
This marks the fourth straight year Arizona has swept the outdoor track and field points.
