The UConn women’s basketball team start their season off in Uncasville, Conn. at Mohegan Sun Arena on October 13 against Boston College. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and remember what Mohegan Sun Arena looked like the last time our Huskies were there…
The Huskies hope to repeat this energy and dominance throughout this 2025-2026 basketball season with the addition of new recruits and transfers. During this off-season, the UConn WBB program has accrued success and accolades that will carry over very well into the start of the new season, whether it be alum Kaitlyn Chen’s first professional season with the Golden State Valkyries in their inaugural season, UConn WBB’s 2024-2025 team being nominated for Best Team at the ESPYS or the number one WNBA draft pick Paige Bueckers being named Rookie of the Year. For more details on this past WNBA season and why women’s basketball deserves your attention, check out Meredith Lloyd’s article!
While the UConn WBB team has a lot to be proud of, there is so much more in store as we head into a new season, with new faces, new dynamics, new talent — but still the same UConn energy!
- uconn welcomes three New Freshman
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Blanca Quiñonez from Milagro, Ecuador. Quiñonez is a 6’2 forward who contributed nearly 11.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game during her 2024-25 season competing for Magnolia Basket Campobasso in Italy’s Serie A1 league. Quiñonez will be the first UConn player from South America. That’s what we like to call history, baby!
Next we have Kelis Fisher, or “Big Fish” as she likes to be called. According to head coach Geno Auriemma, nobody calls her that, so maybe we can help a girl out with that one. Fisher is a 5’9 guard from Baltimore, Maryland. Fisher committed to UConn as a sophomore, joining her teammate Ice Brady on the short list of youngest UConn recruits. Fisher is a fast player with lots of athleticism, and we can’t wait for her to finally step foot onto the court as a Husky!
Last but certainly not least, we welcome Gandy Malou-Mamel from Limerick, Ireland. Malou-Mamel is a 6’5 Center. According to Auriemma, Malou-Mamel is “18 going on 32” and we are excited to see her mature approach to life manifest itself on the court. It seems like our freshman class is really into making history, because Malou-Mamel will be the program’s first player from Ireland EVER.
- Transfer athletes making their mark on uconn wbb
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UConn WBB has some hidden gems on their roster. Let’s talk about our new transfers.
Kayleigh Heckel is a sophomore guard from Port Chester, N.Y. who transferred from the University of Southern California to join our Huskies this past summer. Heckel is coming off of a high as she helped the USA Basketball team win GOLD at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup. Last season Heckel averaged 6.1 points, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
Serah Williams is a Senior Forward is joining us from Wisconsin with a long list of accolades on her resume. Williams left her mark on Big Ten WBB, but the Big East isn’t ready for her. Last season Williams averaged 19.2 Points, 2.4 assists, 9.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. I can’t wait to see how her style translates onto the court as a Husky!
- The People’s princess
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You didn’t think we weren’t going to mention our People’s Princess Azzi Fudd right?
Our very own People’s Princess Azzi Fudd just got back from the 2025 Curry Brand World Tour in China with Stephen Curry. Our princess put in a lot of work throughout the off season and we know that there is so much in store for this season.
In the NCAA Tournament, Fudd averaged 17.5 points per game. She also scored her 1,000th point in the National Championship game against South Carolina this past April. Along with that, Fudd earned a number of honors: 2025 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, 2025 BIG EAST All-Tournament Team and 2025 All-BIG EAST First Team. Fudd is beyond ready to continue showing us why we love Husky hoops so much. In what we expect to be her last season at UConn before heading to play professional basketball in the WNBA, Fudd proposes a promising season after her success throughout last season.
All things considered, it’s looking bright for Fudd and the Huskies as we enter the 2025-2026 season.
A Team worth watching
With all of the talent, character, and love for the game of basketball seen in all 15 of our Huskies, we know the season ahead holds great promise. Along with our typical Big East Conference match-ups, this season we have some action-packed match ups that will surely have us on the edge of our seats. I can’t wait to see our talent translate to the court. One game that stands out to me this season is a rematch game against Notre Dame on Jan. 19, 2026. Our Huskies are hungry and looking for a win against the Fighting Irish. With our new freshman, transfers and seasoned veterans, I am sure the best is yet to come, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for our reigning national champions!