# 2024–25 UConn Huskies women's basketball team

The 2024–25 UConn Huskies women's basketball team represents the University of Connecticut (UConn) during the 2024-25 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Huskies are led by Hall of Fame head coach Geno Auriemma in his 40th season at UConn, and will split their home games between Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on their campus in Storrs, Connecticut, and the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. UConn is a member of the Big East Conference, which it rejoined in the 2020-21 season; it had been a member of the original Big East Conference from 1979 through 2013, and one of the original women's basketball teams in that conference in 1982.
After losing two graduates to the WNBA, UConn entered this season ranked #2 in both major polls, returning two-time All American Paige Bueckers and a total of six players previously redshirted for injury, with some still unavailable at the season's start. The Huskies added a solid recruiting class including #1 ranked recruit Sarah Strong to the lineup, also picking up Princeton graduate Kaitlyn Chen from the transfer portal.
An early season win against Fairleigh Dickinson was Auriemma's 2017th career victory, making him the winningest head coach in NCAA history. The Huskies won early non-conference victories against Ole Miss, North Carolina, Louisville, and Iowa State, while losing against ranked USC, Notre Dame and Tennessee. In a much anticipated February game of ranked opponents, UConn shocked home team and returning national champion South Carolina, 87–58. The Huskies continued to dominate Big East conference play, going undefeated for the second consecutive season.

## Previous season

UConn was ranked second in pre-season polls but lost three early non-conference games and several key players to injury by midseason. The Huskies went undefeated in Big East conference play and the post-season conference tournament, anchored by previous All-Americans Aaliyah Edwards and Paige Bueckers. Both players were selected to the 2023–24 All-Big East and All-American teams; point guard Nika Mühl was an All-Big East selection and completed the season as UConn's all-time career assist leader. The Huskies entered the NCAA tournament seeded third in their bracket, but emerged victorious with Bueckers awarded the most outstanding player. The Caitlin Clark-led Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the Huskies in their Final Four contest, a match watched by a record 14.4 million ESPN college basketball viewers. UConn ended the season 33–6, ranked #3 in both polls. Both Edwards and Mühl were selected in the 2024 WNBA draft.

## Offseason
### Departures

The Huskies graduated senior starters Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Mühl from the 2023–24 roster, and both were drafted into the Women's National Basketball Association. Two undergraduates chose to enter the transfer portal after the NCAA tournament, senior Amari Deberry and junior Inês Bettencourt.
| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure |
| Aaliyah Edwards | 3 | F | 6'3" | Graduated | Kingston, Ontario | Drafted by the WNBA's Washington Mystics |
| Nika Mühl | 10 | G | 5'11" | Graduated | Zagreb, Croatia | Drafted by the WNBA's Seattle Storm |
| Inês Bettencourt | 21 | G | 5'9" | Junior | São Miguel, Portugal | Transferred to Gonzaga |
| Amari Deberry | 42 | F | 6'6" | Senior | Williamsville, New York | Transferred to Maryland |

### Incoming transfers

The Huskies added Kaitlyn Chen, a graduate student who transferred from Princeton University. While at Princeton, Chen was the 2023–24 Ivy League Player of the Year and was two-time All-Ivy First Team. She has one year of eligibility remaining.
| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Year | Hometown | Previous school |
| Kaitlyn Chen | 20 | G | 5'9" | Graduate student | San Marino, California | Princeton |

### Recruiting
#### Recruiting class of 2024

On December 3, 2022, UConn received a verbal commitment from five-star guard Allie Ziebell. Fellow five-star guard Morgan Cheli committed to UConn soon after. In November 2023, ESPN ranked the Huskies' 2024 class as the sixth-best in the country. On April 6, 2024, the #1 player in the class of 2024, five-star forward Sarah Strong, also committed to UConn.
College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight |
| Sarah Strong F | Fuquay-Varina, NC | Grace Christian School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | N/A |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 98 ||||||
| Allie Ziebell G | Neenah, WI | Neenah High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | N/A |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 98 ||||||
| Morgan Cheli G | San Jose, CA | Archbishop Mitty High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | N/A |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 97 ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: ESPN: 6 ||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2024 Player Commits". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023. ||||||

#### Recruiting class of 2025

College recruiting information (2025) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight |
| Kelis Fisher PG | Baltimore, MD | IMG Academy | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | N/A |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 96 |||||||
| Gandy Malou-Mamel C | Limerick, Ireland | Gill St. Bernard's School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | N/A |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 92 |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2025 Player Commits". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on January 20, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2025. |||||||

#### Recruiting class of 2026

College recruiting information (2026) :
| Name | Height | Weight |
| | N/A | N/A |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2026 Player Commits". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024. |||||||

### Coaching

Hall of Fame head coach Geno Auriemma and Hall of Fame associate head coach Chris Dailey returned for their 40th season. Assistant coach Jamelle Elliott was a UConn assistant coach from 1998 to 2009 and returned after a nine-year head coaching stint at Cincinnati. Assistant coach Morgan Valley was the head coach of the Hartford Hawks when hired by the Huskies. Elliott and Valley are both former UConn players. Tonya Cardoza, another former Huskies assistant, returned to UConn in 2023 after serving as Temple's head coach for 15 years. In 2023, UConn announced Ben Kantor was promoted to assistant coach from his previous staff position serving as the team's video coordinator since 2015. The November 20 home victory against Fairleigh Dickinson was Auriemma's 2017th, making him the winningest head coach in NCAA history.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Exhibition |||||||||
| November 3, 2024* 12:00 p.m., WWAX | No. 2 | Fort Hays State | W 89–49 | | 27 – Bueckers | 9 – 2 Tied | 5 – Chen | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,299) Storrs, CT |
| Regular season |||||||||
| November 7, 2024* 7:00 p.m., SNY | No. 2 | Boston University | W 86–32 | 1–0 | 17 – 2 tied | 11 – El Alfy | 7 – Bueckers | XL Center (13,355) Hartford, CT |
| November 10, 2024* 4:30 p.m., SNY | No. 2 | South Florida | W 86–49 | 2–0 | 22 – Bueckers | 7 – 2 tied | 7 – Chen | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,299) Storrs, CT |
| November 15, 2024* 6:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 2 | vs. No. 14 North Carolina | W 69–58 | 3–0 | 29 – Bueckers | 13 – Strong | 6 – Strong | Greensboro Coliseum (10,467) Greensboro, NC |
| November 20, 2024* 7:00 p.m., SNY | No. 2 | Fairleigh Dickinson | W 85–41 | 4–0 | 20 – Strong | 9 – Bueckers | 6 – Strong | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,299) Storrs, CT |
| November 25, 2024* 7:30 p.m., FloHoops | No. 2 | vs. Oregon State Baha Mar Women's Championship semifinals | W 71–52 | 5–0 | 23 – Bueckers | 8 – Strong | 6 – Bueckers | Baha Mar Convention Center (567) Nassau, Bahamas |
| November 27, 2024* 7:30 p.m., FloHoops | No. 2 | vs. No. 18 Ole Miss Baha Mar Women's Championship finals | W 73–60 | 6–0 | 29 – Bueckers | 9 – El Alfy | 4 – 2 tied | Baha Mar Convention Center (1,507) Nassau, Bahamas |
| December 3, 2024* 7:00 p.m., SNY | No. 2 | Holy Cross | W 88–52 | 7–0 | 22 – Strong | 7 – 2 tied | 7 – Chen | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,299) Storrs, CT |
| December 7, 2024* 9:00 p.m., FOX | No. 2 | vs. No. 22 Louisville Women's Champions Classic | W 85–52 | 8–0 | 21 – Strong | 10 – Bueckers | 6 – Bueckers | Barclays Center (9,114) Brooklyn, NY |
| December 12, 2024* 7:00 p.m., ESPN | No. 2 | at No. 8 Notre Dame Rivalry | L 68–79 | 8–1 | 25 – Bueckers | 7 – Strong | 2 – 4 tied | Purcell Pavilion (9,149) South Bend, IN |
| December 15, 2024 1:30 p.m., SNY | No. 2 | Georgetown | W 79–44 | 9–1 (1–0) | 24 – Bueckers | 14 – Strong | 5 – Strong | XL Center (15,684) Hartford, CT |
| December 17, 2024* 8:30 p.m., FS1 | No. 4 | vs. Iowa State Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Showcase | W 101–68 | 10–1 | 29 – Strong | 9 – 2 tied | 8 – Chen | Mohegan Sun Arena (6,812) Uncasville, CT |
| December 21, 2024* 8:00 p.m., FOX | No. 4 | No. 7 USC | L 70–72 | 10–2 | 22 – 2 tied | 13 – Strong | 5 – Strong | XL Center (15,684) Hartford, CT |
| December 29, 2024 1:30 p.m., SNY | No. 7 | Providence | W 67–41 | 11–2 (2–0) | 23 – Bueckers | 4 – 2 tied | 4 – Bueckers | XL Center (15,684) Hartford, CT |
| January 1, 2025 2:00 p.m., SNY | No. 7 | at Marquette | W 77–45 | 12–2 (3–0) | 15 – Strong | 7 – Strong | 7 – Arnold | Al McGuire Center (3,750) Milwaukee, WI |
| January 5, 2025 1:30 p.m., SNY | No. 7 | at Villanova | W 83–52 | 13–2 (4–0) | 21 – Strong | 5 – 3 tied | 9 – Buckers | Finneran Pavilion (6,501) Villanova, PA |
| January 8, 2025 7:30 p.m., SNY | No. 7 | Xavier | W 81–27 | 14–2 (5–0) | 23 – Fudd | 7 – Strong | 3 – 4 tied | XL Center (13,529) Hartford, CT |
| January 11, 2025 4:00 p.m., SNY | No. 7 | at Georgetown | W 73–55 | 15–2 (6–0) | 21 – Fudd | 9 – Strong | 6 – Strong | McDonough Arena (3,827) Washington, D.C. |
| January 15, 2025 7:00 p.m., SNY | No. 6 | at St. John's | W 71–45 | 16–2 (7–0) | 13 – Fudd | 6 – El Alfy | 5 – Strong | Carnesecca Arena (4,917) Queens, NY |
| January 19, 2025 1:00 p.m., SNY | No. 6 | Seton Hall | W 96–36 | 17–2 (8–0) | 23 – Strong | 11 – Strong | 7 – Bueckers | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,299) Storrs, CT |
| January 22, 2025 7:00 p.m., SNY | No. 6 | Villanova | W 100–57 | 18–2 (9–0) | 22 – Strong | 8 – Bueckers | 9 – Bueckers | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,299) Storrs, CT |
| January 25, 2025 5:30 p.m., FOX | No. 6 | at Creighton | W 72–61 | 19–2 (10–0) | 26 – Strong | 12 – Strong | 4 – Bueckers | CHI Health Center Omaha (11,141) Omaha, NE |
| January 29, 2025 7:00 p.m., SNY | No. 6 | at DePaul | W 84–58 | 20–2 (11–0) | 17 – 2 tied | 8 – Strong | 5 – Fudd | Wintrust Arena (8,305) Chicago, IL |
| February 2, 2025 1:00 p.m., SNY | No. 6 | Butler | W 101–59 | 21–2 (12–0) | 18 – Bueckers | 5 – 2 tied | 5 – 3 tied | XL Center (15,684) Hartford, CT |
| February 6, 2025* 6:30 p.m., ESPN | No. 5 | at No. 19 Tennessee Rivalry | L 76–80 | 21–3 | 18 – Strong | 9 – Strong | 8 – Bueckers | Thompson-Boling Arena (16,215) Knoxville, TN |
| February 9, 2025 12:00 p.m., CBSSN | No. 5 | at Providence | W 77–40 | 22–3 (13–0) | 20 – Bueckers | 9 – Strong | 7 – Arnold | Amica Mutual Pavilion (7,483) Providence, RI |
| February 12, 2025 7:30 p.m., SNY | No. 7 | St. John's | W 78–40 | 23–3 (14–0) | 34 – Fudd | 9 – Griffin | 4 – 2 tied | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,299) Storrs, CT |
| February 16, 2025* 1:00 p.m., ABC | No. 7 | at No. 4 South Carolina College GameDay | W 87–58 | 24–3 | 28 – Fudd | 13 – Strong | 10 – Bueckers | Colonial Life Arena (18,000) Columbia, SC |
| February 19, 2025 7:00 p.m., SNY | No. 5 | at Seton Hall | W 91–49 | 25–3 (15–0) | 23 – Bueckers | 9 – Bueckers | 5 – Bueckers | Walsh Gymnasium (1,350) South Orange, NJ |
| February 22, 2025 4:30 p.m., SNY | No. 5 | at Butler | W 86–47 | 26–3 (16–0) | 23 – Bueckers | 9 – Strong | 10 – Bueckers | Hinkle Fieldhouse (9,100) Indianapolis, IN |
| February 27, 2025 7:00 p.m., CBSSN | No. 5 | No. 22 Creighton | W 72–53 | 27–3 (17–0) | 22 – Strong | 9 – Strong | 7 – Bueckers | XL Center (15,684) Hartford, CT |
| March 2, 2025 2:00 p.m., FS1 | No. 5 | Marquette | W 92–57 | 28–3 (18–0) | 19 – Bueckers | 5 – Strong | 7 – Bueckers | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,299) Storrs, CT |
| Big East tournament |||||||||
| March 8, 2025 12:00 p.m., FS1 | (1) No. 3 | vs. (8) St. John's Quarterfinals | W 71–40 | 29–3 | 20 – Bueckers | 14 – Strong | 4 – 2 tied | Mohegan Sun Arena (8,816) Uncasville, CT |
| March 9, 2025 2:30 p.m., FOX | (1) No. 3 | vs. (5) Villanova Semifinals | W 82–54 | 30–3 | 23 – Bueckers | 16 – Strong | 6 – Bueckers | Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville, CT |
| March 10, 2025 7:00 p.m., FS1 | (1) No. 3 | vs. (2) No. 22 Creighton Championship | W 70–50 | 31–3 | 24 – Bueckers | 11 – Strong | 4 – Strong | Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville, CT |
| NCAA tournament |||||||||
| March 22, 2025* 1:00 p.m., ABC | (2 S4) No. 3 | (15 S4) Arkansas State First Round | | | | | | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion Storrs, CT |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Final |
| AP | 2 (2) | 2 | 2 | 2 (9) | 2 (7) | 2 (8) | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 (7) | 3 (5) | |
| Coaches | 2 (3) | 2 (1) | 2 (1) | 1 (13) | 2 (14) | 2 (8) | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 (3) | 3 (3) | |

## Player statistics

| Player | Games Played | Minutes | Field Goals | Three Pointers | Free Throws | Rebounds | Assists | Blocks | Steals | Points |
| StrongSarah Strong | 34 | 955 | 225 | 46 | 47 | 286 | 116 | 54 | 83 | 543 |
| BueckersPaige Bueckers | 32 | 951 | 231 | 56 | 89 | 144 | 156 | 21 | 64 | 607 |
| ChenKaitlyn Chen | 34 | 791 | 92 | 28 | 23 | 60 | 111 | 1 | 38 | 235 |
| ShadeAshlynn Shade | 34 | 768 | 105 | 46 | 13 | 92 | 46 | 5 | 49 | 269 |
| ArnoldKK Arnold | 34 | 749 | 71 | 9 | 35 | 88 | 95 | 3 | 55 | 186 |
| FuddAzzi Fudd | 28 | 712 | 136 | 63 | 22 | 59 | 46 | 8 | 28 | 357 |
| El-AlfyJana El-Alfy | 34 | 552 | 81 | 1 | 24 | 171 | 35 | 19 | 19 | 187 |
| BradyIce Brady | 26 | 419 | 43 | 3 | 15 | 78 | 49 | 10 | 18 | 104 |
| CheliMorgan Cheli | 24 | 318 | 25 | 10 | 1 | 58 | 30 | 1 | 9 | 61 |
| ZiebellAllie Ziebell | 29 | 249 | 32 | 22 | 5 | 17 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 91 |
| SamuelsQadence Samuels | 29 | 172 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 43 |
| GriffinAubrey Griffin | 11 | 145 | 21 | 0 | 18 | 43 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 60 |
| DucharmeCaroline Ducharme | 6 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 |