Allie Ziebell doesn’t have any exciting summer plans. Instead of returning home to Wisconsin or spending her free time traveling, the rising junior will remain in Storrs for the entire offseason to prepare for the most pivotal year of her career to this point.

“I'm staying here all summer. That was a big emphasis for me, staying here and working out,” she said in June. “It's just been good to get in the weight room here, put in extra work, and that gives you so much confidence… I think I've done a lot better job of understanding what I need to do this year.”

Even before the 2025-26 season ended, Ziebell knew she wanted to spend additional time on campus over the summer but wasn’t sure exactly how long she’d stick around. Once the offseason began in earnest, she realized that staying in Storrs would be best for both herself and the team.

“It was just knowing what we need, what the team needs,” she said. “I need to step up now and I know how to do that and what to do.”

Ziebell didn’t come to the decision on her own. After the season, she sat down with Geno Auriemma to discuss expectations for the upcoming season, which gave her a clear idea of what she needed to do. Her parents were on board, too.

“They even were gonna suggest it to me that I should stay here,” she said.

After a quiet freshman season, Ziebell emerged as a valuable piece off the bench this past year. She appeared in all 39 games, averaging 7.2 points on 41.1 percent shooting from three in 18.0 minutes. Ziebell reached double-figures on 10 occasions, including a 34-point explosion against Xavier in late January.

Now, she’s looking to take another step forward. As UConn navigates life without Azzi Fudd, Ziebell is best equipped to replicate the production of the unanimous First Team All-American and No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft. Ziebell is certainly not Fudd, but she’s the closest thing the Huskies have to a like-for-like replacement. Both are bigger guards who can change games by catching fire from three.

The Wisconsin native is well aware of that, too.

“The scoring and everything like that, we need someone to come in and step up for Azzi’s spot,” Ziebell said.

To reach that next level of her game, Ziebell has to get in the best shape of her life. While she’s still spending time each day on the court — she wants to become more of a mid-range threat — the most important part of her development will come in the weight room this summer.