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

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Headlines

News

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

• Aaliyah Edwards, Kia Nurse named to Canadian Olympic Team

• Paige Bueckers named NIL Store’s Top Earning Female Athlete

• Big East Conference announces media rights deal with FOX, NBC and TNT

Analysis/coverage

• Paige Bueckers breaks down UConn's newcomers

• How a year away from home prepared Ashlynn Shade for UConn

Last week’s Weekly

• Azzi Fudd talks recovery, Paige Bueckers up for an ESPY and more

News of the week

• The Hartford Courant’s Dom Amore reported that this upcoming season will be SNY’s final one broadcasting UConn women’s basketball. When the Big East’s new media deal kicks in, they’ll air through a property of either Fox, NBC and TNT. That’s all the information available for now.

• Saniya Chong is set to be inducted into the Westchester County Hall of Fame. During a stellar career at Ossining High School, Chong became the school’s all-time leader in points scored with 2,988 and led the Riverhawks to their first state championship.

• Bob Joyce, the radio voice of UConn women’s basketball, revealed that the Huskies’ matchup with UNC in Greensboro will be on Friday, Nov. 15.

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

KK Arnold might be coming off her freshman season, but she’s already one of UConn’s the most experienced players. Her 33 starts with the Huskies are tied with Ashlynn Shade for the third-most on the roster behind only Paige Bueckers and Aubrey Griffin.

Now that she has a full year under her belt, Arnold has taken on a larger leadership role this summer — particularly with the freshmen. In fact, she was tasked with getting the freshman out of their shells after they arrived on campus, so she did so the only way she knew how.

“That was my job,” Arnold said, “annoying them 25/8.”

Her best idea? A podcast-type video series where she gets to interview a guest. First up was Sarah Strong, who fielded questions that ranged from her favorite Husky of all-time to the winner of the Kendrick Lamar-Drake beef.

The trick worked. Strong was shy initially but the freshman felt comfortable enough to tease Arnold by the end.

“Oh, your hand was little,” Strong said after dapping Arnold up.

While Strong has been the only guest on The Sit Down Series so far, Arnold said more are coming in the future.

As for Allie Ziebell, she was also quiet initially but quickly settled in.

“Allie, she’s out of her shell,” Arnold said.

Meanwhile, Arnold didn’t have to do much to get Morgan Cheli comfortable.

“Morgan came in with a great energy, yelling every time she walks into a room,” she said. “I don't think she needed any help.”

Still, it’s a perfect role for Arnold. While the point guard was plenty gregarious and outgoing as a freshman, she’s noticeably more comfortable this summer — whether it’s featuring in team content or just speaking with the media.

Some of that can be attributed to the natural maturation process that comes with being a sophomore, but Arnold has also been given the green light to be her true self by Geno Auriemma.

“KK doesn't have any problem with chemistry with anybody, ever. She creates the chemistry,” he said. “We talked about this: ‘There should never be a time when you're in the building and I don't know you're here because you have to play to your personality.’ And that's her personality. So if she's ever anything other than that, that's a bad day for her.”

The way Arnold views it, this is an apprentice year in terms of leadership. Paige Bueckers will be around for another season, so the sophomore is trying to learn all she can from the superstar.

“Still having Paige here, it's helped me through the ropes of a leadership style,” she explained.

Arnold is already one of UConn’s most experienced players, so it was simply a matter of acting like it.

“I kind of carry myself differently,” she said. “I've been here before.”

Best of social media

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