After Jamelle Elliott stepped down to launch a leadership consultation business earlier this offseason, UConn hired a different member of UConn’s 1995 national championship squad to replace her. On Monday, the Huskies announced that Nykesha Sales will join Geno Auriemma’s staff as an assistant coach.

“Bringing Nykesha back to UConn is absolutely the best decision that we could make,” Auriemma said in a release. “Having our current players work with one of college basketball’s best players and an all-time WNBA great is a dream come true. Kesha has become an accomplished coach, teacher and recruiter, and she will add a new dimension to our program.”

“Returning to UConn is a full-circle moment for me,” Sales added in the release.

Analysis: This was a layup for Geno Auriemma. Sales is one of the best — and maybe the most underrated — players in program history, which will bring her instant credibility with the players. But she’s also established herself as a coach all on her own, spending the last 10 years working for Katie Abrahamson-Henderson at UCF and Georgia.

Even though Sales is a former Husky herself, the fact that she hasn’t been around the program since she graduated in 1998 should be viewed as a positive. Auriemma and Chris Dailey are going into their 42nd season. Morgan Valley has a decade in Storrs under her belt. Tonya Cardoza served on staff from 1994-2008 and then returned in 2023. Sales can provide a fresh, outside perspective.

Full thoughts:

With the most pivotal season of her career looming, Allie Ziebell will spend the entire summer in Storrs working to improve her game. The rising junior knows she’ll be counted on to help replace Azzi Fudd and doesn’t want to let the team down.

“I know I can shoot already… but I feel like there's so much more that I can tap into,” Ziebell explained. “I needed to get in shape. Also, just physicality-wise, if someone hits me and knocks me off, or even defensively getting over ball screens, I feel like lifting weights and doing all the agility and hurdle things that we do, that gets you prepared for that.”

Analysis: It can be easy to forget that Ziebell arrived at UConn as the No. 7 recruit in the class of 2024. Talent has never been the problem. Instead, she has struggled with being overly deferential to the team’s stars instead of just playing her game. Ziebell flashed her potential with a 34-point explosion against Xavier in January and proved to be a useful piece off the bench as a sophomore.

Now that the Sales hire is official, UConn’s personnel for the 2026-27 season is set. The Huskies have their coaching staff in place and the roster is finalized. The next piece of the puzzle we’re waiting on is the schedule.

Over the past few years, UConn has released its non-conference slate in August over the last few seasons. The remaining games — as well as the arena designations — come out when the Big East drops its schedule, which is typically in September. Tip-times and broadcast information follow shortly after.

But otherwise, this is the quietest portion of the calendar. Most of the players are back home and won’t return to Storrs until the start of the fall semester. We’ll still be cranking out stories from the summer session, but don’t expect much in the way of news or updates.

One date to circle on the calendar? Friday, Aug. 21. That’s when the UConn docuseries on Apple TV premieres.

You don't have to read everything — just the right thing. 1440's daily newsletter distills the day's biggest stories from 100+ sources into one quick, 5-minute read. It's the fastest way to stay sharp, sound informed, and actually understand what's happening in the world. Join 4.5 million readers who start their day the smart way.

Join for free today!

Pretty entertaining:

Never change, CD:

A dominant showing overseas for UConn’s top freshman:

Nobody loves a Shirley Temple like Paige Bueckers:

Nika Mühl has finally joined up with the Portland Fire:

Former players, WNBA, Princeton/Vanderbilt

According to 247Sports’ Dushawn London, Haylen Ayers — the No. 6 player in the class of 2027 — will take an official visit to UConn on Nov. 6. That’ll be the day after the Huskies face Michigan on the road. A 6-0 guard out of Jackson, Tennessee, Ayers will go on an official visit to Vanderbilt on Oct. 24 and also has Duke, Kentucky and Texas on her list of five finalists.

UConn doesn’t have a single 2027 commitment yet, though only five players in ESPN’s top 25 have made a decision so far.