Breaking down UConn's 2025-26 roster

UConn women’s basketball completed its 2025-26 roster by adding USC transfer Kayleigh Heckel out of the portal, so there’s finally a clear picture of what the team will look like. The Huskies will have 15 players — their largest group since 2000-01 when they had 16. They have plenty of depth, but that also means playing time will be at a premium.

Departures

Although UConn only had four departures, it lost some significant talent.

Paige Bueckers earned her spot on the among the program’s all-time greats with a national championship — there’s no replacing her. Few Huskies have ever carried as much of a load as her while still producing at a high level every night. Her leadership proved valuable in tough moments during the NCAA Tournament, too. UConn will have to figure out what life looks like without her.

The Huskies will also have a new point guard with Kaitlyn Chen off to the pros, while Aubrey Griffin exhausted her eligibility and Qadence Samuels transferred out after spending the entire season as the last player in the rotation.

Returners

Sarah Strong

Strong completed one of the best freshman seasons in program history, earning spots on the WBCA All-American and Final Four All-Tournament Teams while finishing in the top five in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks on UConn’s freshman record lists. It’s not premature to say she’s on track to become one of the best players ever to come through Storrs.

With Bueckers gone, this is Strong’s team now and she should be a frontrunner — perhaps even the favorite — for national player of the year in 2025-26.

Azzi Fudd

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