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UConn Women's Basketball: One Thing We Want to See vs. Michigan
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- UConn Women's Basketball: One Thing We Want to See vs. Michigan
After a dominant 65-point win on Monday night, the task gets much tougher for the No. 2 UConn Huskies women's basketball program on Thursday.
UConn will battle No. 5 Michigan in Ann Arbor at 6:30 p.m. ET. It's just one of several high-profile non-conference matchups for the Huskies that include Michigan, Duke, Notre Dame, South Carolina and LSU.
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Geno Auriemma's team went 38-1 a season ago, suffering its only loss in the Final Four. Michigan went 28-7, losing to Texas in the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight.
UConn defeated Michigan 72-69 last season. It was the closest game the Huskies played all year.
So, with the early-season matchup on deck, what's one thing we want to see from the Huskies?
For Blanca Quinonez to look like Blanca Quinonez
This is a big ask for the Huskies, but it's necessary if UConn is going to win this game in a tough road environment.
Quinonez put together an excellent 2025-26 season, playing in 31 games for Auriemma and averaging 10.7 ppg and 3.1 rebounds. She was named the Big East's Sixth Woman of the Year and was also an All-Big East selection.
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However, she had surgery over the offseason on her ailing shoulder and missed the entire preseason schedule.
She returned on Opening Night, but did not start, and played just 15 minutes. She had only four points and was just 1-of-4 from the floor with three rebounds.
UConn Huskies forward Blanca Quinonez (4) shoots against Cornell Big Red forward Ashley Childers (10) in the first half at PeoplesBank Arena. David Butler II-Imagn Image
While freshman Jovana Popovic stepped up big and is becoming a big part of this roster , UConn can't be at its best without Quinonez at her best.
Again, it's probably unfair to ask her to be at her best this quick after her return, but if you're asking me what I want to see? It's Quinonez looking like a player who was named to the preseason watch list for Player of the Year.
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Also in the news for UConn women's basketball
Another tough matchup comes on Sunday for UConn as it will take on Iowa at Gampel Pavilion. The Huskies will honor former standout Azzi Fudd in that game, as she'll be inducted into the Huskies of Honor .
Fudd helped UConn win the national championship in 2024-25 and was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft in 2026. She plays for the Dallas Wings, where she pairs with another former Huskies star, Paige Bueckers.
The duo made the playoffs, but Fudd's season was cut short by knee surgery.
