UConn in the WNBA: 2024 season preview

On Tuesday, the WNBA will kick off its most anticipated season yet. As always, the league is full of former UConn players spread evenly across the league. There are 16 Huskies on opening day rosters with 11 of the 12 teams in the league (the Chicago Sky are the lone squad without one). Nobody has more than two.

The group ranges from rookies like Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Mühl, to solid role players such as Kiah Stokes and Katie Lou Samuelson, all the way to superstars like Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier and Diana Taurasi.

New York Liberty

Former Huskies: Breanna Stewart

Top storyline: After winning the offseason by acquiring Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot and Jonquel Jones in 2023, the Liberty couldn’t turn that talent into a title and fell to the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA Finals. With everyone back, New York has the best chance to prevent a three-peat by the Aces. Will they get redemption, or is an embarrassing 101-53 exhibition loss to the Chicago Sky a sign of things to come?

Trips to Connecticut: June 8, July 10

Minnesota Lynx

Former Huskies: Napheesa Collier, Dorka Juhász

Top storyline: Through five seasons in the WNBA, Napheesa Collier has established herself as one of the top players in the league and the Lynx’s new face of the franchise. Is she about to emerge as a legitimate MVP candidate for the first time in her career?

Trips to Connecticut: May 23, Sept. 17

Seattle Storm

Former Huskies: Nika Mühl

Top storyline: Nika Mühl made the Seattle Storm for many of the same reasons she became so invaluable at UConn: Her leadership and intangibles. Still, she has to produce to see the floor and while she’s already well-regarded by her coaches and teammates, how much of an impact will Mühl have in her rookie season?

Trips to Connecticut: Sept. 1, Sept. 3

Dallas Wings

Former Huskies: Lou Lopez Sénéchal

Top storyline: After missing her entire rookie year with a knee injury suffered in the loss to Ohio State, Lou Lopez Sénéchal will finally make her WNBA debut. Will she live up to her billing as the No. 5 pick in the 2023 draft?

Trip to Connecticut: May 31

Washington Mystics

Former Huskies: Stef Dolson, Aaliyah Edwards

Top storyline: The Washington Mystics coveted Aaliyah Edwards in the lead-up to the draft and nabbed her with the sixth overall pick. Will she meet their expectations and establish herself as a foundational piece of their frontcourt?

Trips to Connecticut: May 17, June 4

Connecticut Sun

Former Huskies: Moriah Jefferson, Olivia Nelson-Ododa

Top storyline: The local squad has two former Huskies with Moriah Jefferson and Olivia Nelson-Ododa. While the Aces and Liberty garner the headlines as the league’s two superteams, the Sun should be viewed as a darkhorse to win it all.

Trips to Connecticut: Literally every home game

Phoenix Mercury

Former Huskies: Diana Taurasi

Top storyline: At 41, Diana Taurasi is nearing the end of her storied career. This summer, she has a chance to win her sixth gold medal and will try to nab a fourth WNBA title before all is said and done. Is this the final ride for the greatest player in the history of the sport?

Trips to Connecticut: May 28, July 14

Atlanta Dream

Former Huskies: Tina Charles, Crystal Dangerfield

Top storyline: After a tumultuous 2022 campaign in which she left the Phoenix Mercury and ended up with the Seattle Storm, Tina Charles did not play in the WNBA last season. She’s back with the Atlanta Dream in hopes of proving that she’s still one of the best players in the league.

Trips to Connecticut: June 28, July 7

Las Vegas Aces

Former Huskies: Kiah Stokes

Top storyline: At UConn, Kiah Stokes helped win three straight championships from 2013-15. Now, she has to three-peat in the WNBA with the Las Vegas Aces after winning the title in 2022 and 2023.

Trip to Connecticut: Sept. 6

Los Angeles Sparks

Former Huskies: Kia Nurse, Azura Stevens

Top storyline: While the Sparks have two former Huskies, Azura Stevens will miss at least 12 weeks after suffering an arm injury overseas.

Trips to Connecticut: June 18, Aug. 20

Indiana Fever

Former Huskies: Katie Lou Samuelson

Top storyline: Katie Lou Samuelson spent all of last season with the Los Angeles Sparks, but she never actually played due with them to the birth of her daughter, Aliya. After bouncing around to four teams in four years, can she stick in Indiana?

Trips to Connecticut: May 14, June 10

Free agents

Former Huskies: Bria Hartley, Christyn Williams, Gabby Williams, Evina Westbrook (injured)

Top storylines: Bria Hartley missed all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL in 2022 and couldn’t make a loaded Las Vegas Aces squad in training camp this spring. Christyn Williams is still awaiting her WNBA debut after she went down with a season-ending knee injury in her rookie year. Gabby Williams isn’t expected to play in the WNBA this season due to overseas and international commitments. Evina Westbrook is out for the year due to a major knee injury.