Inside UConn Women’s Basketball’s NCAA Tournament Outlook
The University of Connecticut has consistently set a high standard for women’s college basketball. With 12 national titles, dozens of WNBA prospects, and high-standard coaching, they’ve never let their fans down. Their most recent NCAA title came in 2025, a dominating performance that left no one to stop them. One year later, the pressure is on. Can the UConn Huskies fight their way to another title?
22-0: The Best Overall Record Since 2021
Geno Auriemma and his Huskies are steamrolling across the Big East Conference, knocking out opponents by an average of 38.9 points. Some recent notable non-conference wins included eighth-ranked Iowa, ninth-ranked Michigan, USC, and Notre Dame. UConn makes these ranked wins look easy, especially with the leadership of Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, who are the top two scorers for the Huskies. Fudd, who is in her fifth year at UConn, has battled back from injury and is now a vital playmaker who averages 16.7 points per game. Strong, who is often compared to UConn greats like Maya Moore and Napheesa Collier, averages 19.1 points per game and an impressive eight rebounds. Fudd and Strong account for almost half of the points scored in games. This will be an important factor for the Huskies as they prepare for the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Looking Back on UConn’s Iconic 2025 NCAA Tournament Run
The Huskies were crowned National Champions on April 6th, 2025, after beating the reigning champions, the South Carolina Gamecocks. The team was led by Paige Bueckers, who now plays in the WNBA for the Dallas Wings. Bueckers led her team through the tournament with a staggering 24.5 points per game. In their tournament run, UConn defeated three of the four number-one seeds, proving that the rankings never mattered to them and showing their confidence in themselves. The 2025 National Championship marked Auriemma’s 12th title in his 40 seasons as head coach. Many speculated that Geno would retire after Bueckers left, but he continued to show up and coach his team into the 2026 season.
Hurricane UConn is Looking to Make Landfall
National title contenders hoping to make it far in the NCAA Tournament should be thinking about one thing: how are they going to make it past a team like UConn? The crafty guards, solid posts, three-point shooting ability, and brick wall defense are hard to stop once they get rolling. It’s difficult for opponents to scout the Huskies when Auriemma has such a deep bench at his disposal. Allie Ziebell recently tied the program record for three-pointers made in a game with 10 off the bench. Ashlynn Shade is a constant spark for the Huskies, with her quick defense and offensive rebounding abilities. Kayleigh Heckel, a transfer guard from USC, is making her presence known in Storrs and has been a vital addition to the team. Going into the tournament in March, look for dominating performances from Sarah Strong and lights-out shooting from Fudd and Ziebell. Head guard KK Arnold has been having a career season after taking over for Bueckers, but could be replaced with Heckel at any point if needed. Look for impressive post performances from Serah Williams, a transfer from Wisconsin, who has been the perfect partner for Strong in the paint. The depth of the UConn women’s basketball team is rare, and it’s one of the reasons they’ve been able to build their dynasty. Can the Huskies claim another national title in March? Most signs are pointing to yes.
