UConn women’s basketball 2025-26 begins with the Huskies ranked No. 2 in the AP preseason poll, a position that reflects both the program’s standing and the unfinished business left by a 38-0 season that ended in the national semifinals against South Carolina.
How a Perfect Season Ended
UConn arrived at the 2025 Final Four undefeated. The semifinal against South Carolina ended that run and produced a 48-point output, the lowest NCAA Tournament total for the program in 34 years. The result alone would have made for a difficult offseason. What followed made it more complicated.
After the game, Geno Auriemma confronted Dawn Staley over handshake protocol. The exchange drew scrutiny of the Hall of Fame coach’s postgame conduct and overshadowed the result itself. Auriemma later said he regretted not containing his reaction for a few more seconds. He also spoke about how public praise and criticism are both unreliable, and he cited long-tenured public coaches such as Nick Saban when discussing the scrutiny that can affect a coach’s desire to continue.
Video of the exchange is expected to draw attention when the teams meet again on Nov. 24 at Mohegan Sun Arena. That early-season date now carries a storyline beyond the box score.
Roster Turnover and a Deliberate Choice
The offseason brought significant change. Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 overall WNBA pick, and Serah Williams left for the professional ranks. UConn did not use the transfer portal to replace them, instead turning to its returning core and a highly regarded freshman class.
Sarah Strong, the AP Player of the Year, headlines the returners. KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade give the Huskies veteran guard play, and Blanca Quiñonez, the top freshman last season, is back for her sophomore year. Shade said the South Carolina loss motivates the team’s offseason work, and she noted that winning a title feels different from losing.
New Faces in Storrs
The freshman class includes Jovana Popovic, a Serbian national team player who was among UConn’s best players in exhibitions against Syracuse and Texas; Olivia Vukosa, a 6-foot-5 center who was the No. 2 recruit last year and has been part of the Croatian national team since 2023; and Marine Dursus, a guard who has been with France’s youth national team since 2021.
Gandy Malou-Mamel, a sophomore who played for Ireland at the 2024 FIBA U20 EuroBasket Division B, saw almost no time as a freshman but is expected to take on a larger role following Williams’s departure. Morgan Cheli is returning from ankle surgery that caused her to miss the 2025-26 season. Allie Ziebell, Kayleigh Heckel and Jana El Alfy each averaged over 10 minutes per game last season and add depth.
Auriemma's Assessment and the Road Ahead
Auriemma has been candid about last season’s team. He said the 38-0 record hid deficiencies, and that the staff knew some issues could not be fixed if they surfaced. The staff questioned whether those problems could be hidden for another weekend. The loss to South Carolina exposed them.
UConn’s history under Auriemma includes title streaks—three straight with Diana Taurasi in the early 2000s and four consecutive with Breanna Stewart from 2012-13 to 2015-16. The current group will try to start a new run, with Strong leading a mix of veterans and international freshmen. The No. 2 preseason ranking places the Huskies near the top again, but the Nov. 24 rematch at Mohegan Sun Arena will offer an early measure of how much has changed.
