Breaking down UConn's five newcomers

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Daniel Connolly
October 30, 2025

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Photo: Evan Rodriguez — Storrs Central

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Breaking down UConn’s five newcomers

While UConn returns a significant chunk of its roster from last year, it’s not just running it back after winning the national championship. The Huskies lost a few key players — ever heard of Paige Bueckers? — but tried to offset those departures with some key additions via the transfer portal and traditional route.

Serah Williams

How she got here: The top big in the transfer portal this offseason, Williams picked UConn over LSU. She joins the Huskies after three years at Wisconsin, where she was thrice named to the All-Big Ten First Team and earned the 2024 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award. A native of Brooklyn, she played for former UConn assistant Marisa Moseley, who was the head coach of the Badgers until she resigned in March. Williams hit the portal shortly after.

Preseason recap: Williams struggled in the Huskies’ open practice on Sept. 21 but has since made major strides and starred in the two exhibitions, posting 15 points in 17 minutes during both contests. She dominated with her back to the basket, shooting 73.3 percent from the floor while going to the line eight times in the preseason. Williams also hauled in a combined 10 rebounds.

Expectations this season: With just one year of eligibility remaining, Williams doesn’t have time to ease her way in. Barring a surprise, she’ll start at center and should be UConn’s third scorer behind Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd. Williams still has much to learn — Geno Auriemma said after the SCSU exhibition that she still doesn’t know many of the team’s offensive sets — but her ability to score and defend in the low post gives her a good foundation to build off.

Kayleigh Heckel

How she got here: Heckel spent her freshman season at USC, where she averaged 6.1 points, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals in 16.9 minutes per game. She then entered the transfer portal and ultimately landed with UConn — the team that ended the Trojans’ season. A native of Port Chester, New York — the first town over the border from Connecticut — Heckel picked the Huskies in part to be closer to her family but also because she felt “it’s the place I need to be.” She’s the first rising sophomore to transfer to UConn since Batouly Camara in 2016.

Preseason recap: While it’s been an up-and-down preseason from Heckel, there’s been far more good than bad. She shined in the open practice and the second exhibition, showing off comfort and command with the ball in her hands. On Sunday, Heckel did a little bit of everything with seven points, four steals, three assists and three rebounds.

She had a rough outing against Boston College with two points on 1-6 shooting, four fouls and three turnovers in just 16 minutes, though it can probably be chalked up to nerves more than anything.

Expectations this season: Heckel will be the deputy to KK Arnold at the point and, if substitution patterns during the exhibition are any indication, will start the season as UConn’s top guard off the bench.

Blanca Quiñonez

How she got here: Quiñonez has taken quite the journey to Storrs. At age 14, she left her native Ecuador and moved to Italy in pursuit of a basketball career. Over the last five years, she’s played in a professional environment (though hasn’t been a professional herself), going up against WNBA players as well as former Huskies such as Dorka Juhász and Anna Makurat in the EuroLeague. UConn first discovered Quiñonez during a Basketball Without Borders event at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix and she ultimately committed last October.

Preseason recap: Quiñonez missed summer workouts while finishing school back in Italy, so she didn’t have the chance to acclimate to UConn during the month of June like the other newcomers. She finally arrived for the start of the fall semester and has hit the ground running. Quiñonez didn’t participate in the open practice but has wowed during the two exhibitions. Her size, length and athleticism is evident from the moment she steps on the court and she has a well-developed skillset — even if she doesn’t quite know how to use it. Turnovers have been a major problem (11 in the two games) but Auriemma has already said he plans to live with them for now.

Expectations this season: Nobody on the roster can raise UConn’s ceiling like Quiñonez. If she can minimize the mistakes, the freshman is going to be a major piece for this team. At worst, she’ll be a nice boost off the bench.

Kelis Fisher

How she got here: Though originally a native of Baltimore, Fisher comes to UConn from IMG Academy in Florida. The No. 25 ranked recruit in the class of 2025, she won a high school national championship the day before the Huskies claimed their 12th banner.

Preseason recap: The 2025 Big East Preseason Freshman of the Year, Fisher has been mistake-prone during the three showcases this fall. In the open practice, she had a team-high four turnovers. Against BC, she picked up two fouls in her first 16 seconds on the floor and didn’t make an appearance in the second half until 3:56 remained. She then went on to commit back-to-back turnovers and ended up back on the bench before two minutes had elapsed. To her credit, Fisher rebounded on Sunday with five points, two boards and only two turnovers in 13 minutes.

Expectations this season: Fisher’s talent is evident when she steps on the floor. She’s an explosive athlete who defends well and can get to the rim. There have been moments where she looks like a potential spark plug off the bench but until she gets the fouls and turnovers under control, playing time will be hard to come by.

Gandy Malou-Mamel

How she got here: Much like Quiñonez, Malou-Mamel uprooted her life to chase her basketball dreams. In 2022, she moved from her native Ireland to the United States, where she lived with a host family in New Jersey. One year later, Malou-Mamel committed to UConn. Listed at 6-5, she was ranked as the No. 75 recruit in her class.

Preseason recap: Malou-Mamel didn’t play much in the preseason. She saw just four minutes of action — all of which came late in the fourth quarter — against BC then missed the SCSU game with an injury.

Expectations this season: Since she only began playing basketball at age 12 — and didn’t begin training in a serious environment until she came to the US at 16 — Malou-Mamel is still incredibly raw. She has the physical tools to succeed, so UConn will try to help her develop a skillset to take advantage of that size. Malou-Mamel is a lottery ticket, so any potential contributions from her will come down the line, not this season.

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