UConn coach Geno Auriemma went mostly overseas in the offseason to bolster his roster to fill the void left by the departure of Azzi Fudd and help the Huskies return to the Final Four . The international players are expected to play key roles for UConn this season. — Lori Riley, Hartford Courant
No. 2 KK Arnold, 5-9, senior guard:The Huskies' point guard started in all 38 games last year and led the team with 174 assists (4.6 per game) and was second in steals (102) and set a single-season school record with a 4.05 assist-to-turnover ratio. She and Ashlynn Shade will be the veteran team leaders this season.
No. 8 Jana El Alfy, 6-5, redshirt junior center:El Alfy, one of two starters remaining from UConn's national championship team, could play an important role in the post and the Huskies could use her rebounding, defensive effort and leadership this season. Last year, El Alfy came off the bench behind Serah Williams and averaged 4.0 points and 4.1 rebounds while playing 11 minutes a game and shot 62 percent from the field.
No. 12 Ashlynn Shade, 5-10, senior guard:A veteran who brings poise, defensive prowess and who can also hit big shots and rebound, Shade, along with Arnold, will be one of the key leaders of the Huskies this season. She was on the floor the most minutes (1,050) behind Fudd (1,144) last season, averaging 7.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and had 110 assists.
No. 13 Jovana Popovic, 5-9, freshman guard:Popovic, who came to UConn from Serbia this summer, was somewhat of an unknown but has made her presence felt quickly in UConn's exhibition games, when she handled the ball like a veteran against the likes of Final Four team Texas and also had 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists. She's earned a starting spot, will be a big presence for the Huskies this season and she's only 19.
No. 21 Sarah Strong, 6-2, junior forward:Strong has pretty much done everything for the Huskies from Day 1 and now she's working on becoming a more vocal leader of the team. As a sophomore last year, she swept the player of the year honors, winning the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award, Wade Trophy and AP Player of the Year. Last year, she he led the team in scoring (18.4 points), rebounds (7.7), blocks (1.6) and steals (3.4).
No. 4 Blanca Quinonez, 6-2, sophomore forward:Quinonez has been out during the preseason after having shoulder surgery in May and when she returns, much is expected of her, after her rookie year where she won Big East Freshman of the Year and Sixth Player of the Year. Quinonez averaged 10.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and two blocks and shot 53 percent from the field and 39 percent from the 3-point line in 31 games off the bench last year.
No. 5 Marine Dursus, 5-10, freshman guard:Dursus has missed the preseason due to a foot injury but the combination of her scoring, ballhandling and playmaking ability, coupled with her international playing experience, is expected to be an asset off the bench.
No. 7 Kelis Fisher, 5-9, sophomore guard:Fisher didn't get a lot of minutes last year but her teammates said over the summer that she had developed more confidence. She played four minutes in the exhibition game against Texas, hitting two free throws.
No. 9 Kayleigh Heckel, 5-9, junior guard:Auriemma said in the preseason he thinks Heckell will have a big impact this year but he's not sure where yet, or in what capacity. Heckel averaged 6.9 points per game and shot 53 percent (110 for 204) from the field last year in 39 games off the bench.
No. 11 Allie Ziebell, 6-0, junior guard:Ziebell was the team's second best 3-point shooter last year (41 percent, 58 for 141) after Fudd, and her school record-setting single-game performance against Xavier, shooting 10 for 15 from 3, showcased what she's capable of (34 points off the bench in the January victory). With Fudd gone, Ziebell, who averaged 7.2 points last year, will be counted on for perimeter shooting. Though she stayed in Storrs all summer to work on her game, she injured her ankle in the first practice and missed part of the preseason but was back for the final two exhibition games, averaging 23 minutes and 10.5 points.
No. 23 Morgan Cheli, 6-2, junior guard:Cheli missed last season after having ankle surgery in February 2025. She returned to the court for the first time in an exhibition game against Syracuse and played 17 minutes and had a rebound and an assist.
No. 25 Olivia Vukosa, 6-5, freshman center:Vukosa, she arrives from powerhouse Christ the King as the nation's No. 2-ranked recruit, bringing a big presence into the post, along with confidence and ball-handling skills. While she acknowledged she needs to get used to the physicality of the college game, that will come.
No. 42 Gandy Malou-Mamel, 6-5 sophomore center:Malou-Mamel, who began playing basketball seriously at age 16, is still a work in progress after a year under her belt in the program. She has gotten stronger in the past year and hopes to be able to contribute.
