UConn women's basketball unveils new jersey numbers

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Headlines

News

• Nika Mühl expected to make WNBA debut on Wednesday

• Photos: Washington Mystics at Connecticut Sun

Analysis

• Film Room: Kaitlyn Chen is a force on offense

Last week’s Weekly

• How former UConn players and coaches fared this past season

UConn unveils new jersey numbers

On Monday, UConn women’s basketball revealed new jersey numbers next season for its four newcomers as well as two returners. All the incoming players picked double-digit jersey numbers, while the returners will become the first and last players to wear theirs.

Jana El Alfy — No. 8

Total players to wear it: 0
Most recent: None
Most notable: None

When El Alfy finally makes her long-awaited debut, she’ll make history as the first UConn player ever to wear No. 8. Previously, the NCAA only allowed basketball players to use numbers with digits 0-5 (i.e 10-15 but not 16-19), until last year. While that happened too late in the calendar for El Alfy to switch for the 2023-24 campaign, it didn’t make a difference since she never played in a game with No. 24.

Qadence Samuels — No. 10

Total players to wear it: 5
Most recent: Nika Mühl (2020-24)
Most notable: Sue Bird (1998-2002)

While Samuels picked No. 4 as a freshman, she switched to her preferred No. 10 — which she wore for her high school and AAU teams — once Nika Mühl graduated. Samuels will likely be the last UConn player to wear the number with Sue Bird expected to be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in the next few years, which would prompt the school to retire her number.

Allie Ziebell — No. 11

Total players to wear it: 9
Most recent: Lou Lopez Sénéchal (2022-23)
Most notable: Debbie Baer (1988-89), Kia Nurse (2014-18)

Ziebell wore No. 1 during her high school and AAU career but since Geno Auriemma doesn’t allow that number to be worn, she doubled the digit to No. 11. It’s unlikely Ziebell would’ve gotten her top choice regardless — even if it was allowed, Paige Bueckers almost certainly would’ve taken it.

It’s a fitting choice for the freshman. She’s been billed as an offensive-first guard who can score from all three levels — similar to the last No. 11, Lou Lopez Sénéchal.

Kaitlyn Chen — No. 20

Total players to wear it: 8
Most recent: Olivia Nelson-Ododa (2018-22)
Most notable: Renee Montgomery (2005-09)

Chen will stick with the same number that she wore during her three seasons at Princeton. After playing for former Husky Carla Berube, she’ll now don the same jersey number that one of her new coaches, Morgan Valley, wore at UConn.

Sarah Strong — No. 21

Total players to wear it: 6
Most recent: Inês Bettencourt (2022-24)
Most notable: Jennifer Rizzotti (1992-96)

21 is one of the least-used jersey numbers below 30 with just six players wearing it in program history. Only No. 10, No. 13 and No. 15 have been picked less. Strong, who wore the digits in high school, will take it over from Inês Bettencourt, who transferred out this past offseason.

Morgan Cheli — No. 23

Total players to wear it: 13
Most recent: Azura Stevens (2016-18)
Most notable: Maya Moore (2007-11)

Like Samuels with No. 10, Cheli will likely be the last UConn player to wear No. 23. Maya Moore is eligible for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this year and assuming she’s inducted on the first ballot (which she should be), the school will likely retire her number alongside Rebecca Lobo’s No. 50 and Swin Cash’s No. 32.

That shouldn’t affect Cheli. When UConn men’s basketball retired Rip Hamilton’s No. 32, Donovan Clingan was allowed to continue wearing it. The same should go for the freshman.

This will be a new number for Cheli. She donned No. 13 for USA Basketball and No. 33 in high school. She split the difference and grabbed No. 23.

Best of social media

A must-watch:

How Nika Mühl picked her new jersey number:

Only Nika:

Big honor for the freshman:

Just a couple Huskies: