The ultimate 2024-25 UConn women's basketball preview

There’s going to be no shortage of celebrations in Storrs this year.

UConn will honor Geno Auriemma and associate head coach Chris Dailey’s 40th season with the program throughout the campaign, though the main event will be on Nov. 20 when scores of alumni descend on campus. If the Huskies start the year 3-0, Auriemma will become college basketball’s all-time wins leader that night.

This is also Paige Bueckers’ last season at UConn. The superstar could break multiple program records with her play and will see her name and number go into the Huskies of Honor on senior night.

Even with all that, UConn hopes the ultimate celebration will come in April with a 12th national championship. Eight seasons have now passed since the Huskies last won it all back in 2016.

The quest to change that begins tonight, Thursday Nov. 7, with the season opener against Boston University at the XL Center.

A message from the publisher

As another new season begins, we wanted to thank you for reading the UConn WBB Weekly and ask that, if you aren’t already, you consider becoming a premium subscriber.

We’re a local, homegrown operation. We aren’t funded by some big corporation or hedge fund. Instead, all our revenue comes from you, the readers. By subscribing, you’re helping to support the best UConn women’s basketball coverage out there.

I grew up in Connecticut, graduated from UConn and will be entering my 10th (!!!) season on the beat. That means I’ve been around for a quarter of Geno Auriemma’s tenure in Storrs. I pride myself in knowing the current team inside and out while also understanding the history and the context of all the Huskies’ success.

We understand not everyone can afford a subscription — and that’s okay. If you want to remain a free reader, we’re happy to have you and you’ll still get plenty of content throughout the season. But if you can, please considering supporting the Weekly.

To celebrate the new campaign, we’re offering 20% off annual subscriptions. This is the only time throughout the year we offer a discount. Act now before it’s too late:

Meet the team

Paige Bueckers

Redshirt senior | Guard | 6-0 | Hopkins, Minnesota

• Paige Bueckers plans on upcoming season being her last at UConn

• The final step in Paige Bueckers' development? Being more selfish

• How Paige Bueckers is taking advantage of her first normal offseason at UConn

• Paige Bueckers is ready to be selfish: "Leave nothing up to chance"

• UConn still figuring out what it has beyond Bueckers

Awards section:

• Paige Bueckers named Big East Preseason Player of the Year

• Paige Bueckers named AP Preseason All-American

• Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd named to Naismith Trophy Watch List

Kaitlyn Chen

Graduate | Guard | 5-9 | San Marino, California | Princeton

• Princeton transfer Kaitlyn Chen commits to UConn

• With Kaitlyn Chen, UConn is leaving nothing to chance

• Film Room: Kaitlyn Chen is a force on offense

• 'Everything fit': How Kaitlyn Chen ended up at UConn

• So far, it's Paige Bueckers, Kaitlyn Chen, then everyone else

• How does Kaitlyn Chen fit into UConn's backcourt?

• Kaitlyn Chen setting the tone for UConn

Aubrey Griffin

Sixth-year | Forward | 6-1 | Ossining, New York

• Injury updates: Aubrey Griffin hoping to be back before the new year

Azzi Fudd

Redshirt junior | Guard | 5-11 | Arlington, Virginia

• With renewed love of the game, Azzi Fudd eager to return

Caroline Ducharme

Redshirt junior | Guard | 6-2 | Milton, Massachusetts

• Injury updates: Fudd, Ducharme and Griffin won't be ready for start of season

Ice Brady

Redshirt sophomore | Forward | 6-3 | San Diego, California

• Is Ice Brady primed for a breakout season?

Ayanna Patterson

Redshirt sophomore | Forward | 6-2 | Fort Wayne, Indiana

• Is Ayanna Patterson still part of UConn's frontcourt of the future?

• Injury updates: Ayanna Patterson dealing with shoulder injury

KK Arnold

Sophomore | Guard | 5-9 | Germantown, Wisconsin

• KK Arnold's job this summer? Annoy the freshmen out of their shells

Ashlynn Shade

Sophomore | Guard | 5-10 | Noblesville, Indiana

• The moments that made Ashlynn Shade

Qadence Samuels (No. 10)

Sophomore | Guard | 6-0| Forestville, Maryland

Jana El Alfy (No. 8)

Redshirt freshman | Center | 6-5 | Cairo, Egypt

• How Jana El Alfy got an assist from Breanna Stewart during achilles recovery

• 'She's a dawg': Despite extended absence, hopes remain high for Jana El Alfy

• Film Room: Jana El Alfy is not a typical post player

Morgan Cheli (No. 23)

Freshman | Guard | 6-2 | San Jose, California

• Morgan Cheli fitting in quick with UConn

• Everything you need to know about UConn women’s basketball’s incoming freshmen

Sarah Strong

Freshman | Forward | 6-2 | Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina

• Sarah Strong officially signs with UConn

• Sarah Strong impressing in early days at UConn

• Film Room: Sarah Strong puts passing, shot blocking on display at U18 3x3 World Cup

• The plan for Sarah Strong? ‘Impact winning’

• Geno: Sarah Strong "will significantly change the trajectory of our program"

Allie Ziebell

Freshman | Guard | 6-0 | Neenah, Wisconsin

• Allie Ziebell enjoying the hard work at UConn

• How Morgan Cheli and Allie Ziebell's friendship predates UConn

Geno Auriemma

40th season | Head coach

• Geno Auriemma signs five-year contract extension

• With contract extension, Geno still motivated to keep coaching

Team-wide storylines

• UConn opens at No. 2 in AP Preseason Poll

• Despite three seasons of injuries, hope springs eternal for UConn

• What we learned from UConn's summer workouts

• Paige Bueckers breaks down UConn's newcomers

• UConn begins new season with more flexibility, but less experience

Predictions

• UConn women’s basketball 2024-25 season predictions

The rotation

• UConn hoping to have a deep rotation this season

• Will UConn's competition for minutes affect team chemistry?

Uni watch

• UConn women's basketball unveils new jersey numbers

• Breaking down UConn's uniform usage

The schedule

• UConn women’s basketball releases full 2024-25 schedule

• UConn releases tip times and TV info for 2024-25 season

• A deep dive into UConn's non-conference schedule

• Breaking down UConn's complete 2024-25 slate

Opponent previews

• The marquee matchups

• NCAA Tournament caliber teams

• Everyone else

Game coverage (so far)

Fort Hays State

• The Aftermath: Paige Bueckers wastes no time taking over in exhibition

• Stock watch: Who's up and who's down after UConn's exhibition

Boston University

• Preview: How to watch, injury report, UConn connections, by the numbers

Chasing Perfection Podcast

Each week, myself and Megan Gauer discuss the Huskies on our podcast, Chasing Perfection. Listen on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

• Starting a new season

• Breaking down the roster

• Previewing the exhibition

• Season predictions