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UConn Women's Basketball: 3 Things to Watch vs. Syracuse
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- UConn Women's Basketball: 3 Things to Watch vs. Syracuse
UNCASVILLE, Conn. - The UConn Huskies women's basketball team will kick off its exhibition season on Monday night (6:30 p.m. ET) against the Syracuse Orange at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
The two teams met in Storrs in March, with the Huskies rolling the Orange 98-45 in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.
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Syracuse went 24-9 and beat Iowa State in the Round of 64 before losing to the Huskies.
Here's three storylines we're watch for in the exhibition opener. We'll have live coverage for UConnRoundtable.
Will frontcourt duo play for Huskies?
Both Sarah Strong and Blanca Quinonez are coming off injuries for head coach Geno Auriemma, with Quinonez having offseason shoulder surgery.
Will they play in this game? And if they do, how many minutes can they play? And how will they look?
While the results ultimately don't matter at this point in the calendar, you want to see UConn at its best, and it's at its best when they are on the floor.
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Strong is the reigning National Player of the Year while Quinonez was the Big East Rookie of the Year.
Connecticut Huskies forward Sarah Strong is interviewed at 2026 Big East Media Day at Marriott Marquis. Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
How about the star first-year?
Olivia Vukosa out of New York City was the No. 2 recruit in the country for the Class of 2026 and she showed well on the international stage this summer while representing Croatia. She's a forward who stands to see a lot of playing time, especially if Strong or Quinonez don't play or are limited.
If you're looking for the next great Huskies player to follow, she is it.
Who will handle the ball after KK Arnold?
KK Arnold returns to this team, but Azzi Fudd is gone after being the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft. As a result, who is the next-best ballhandler for the Huskies? Arnold can't play 40 minutes a night, and she can't handle all the pressure by herself. Finding out who the next guard in line is is a major storyline for this team, and that begins on Monday.
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Of note
If you're looking for the storyline on the other side, it's sophomore standout Uche Izoje. The reigning ACC Rookie of the Year, she averaged 16.8 ppg and 10 rebounds.
The two men's programs will play on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET and we'll have live coverage from there as well. It will be the first game for Gerry McNamara as Syracuse head coach.
