KK Arnold is a fully capable point guard.

Last season, she took over the reigns of the offense after serving as understudy through her first two years and came out with the program’s single-season record for assist to turnover ratio at 4.05. Arnold also took some crucial steps forward, improving her 3-point percentage from 21.3 percent to 33.3 while setting career-highs in assists (4.6) and steals (2.7).

The postseason proved to be the perfect representation of Arnold’s floor and ceiling.

In the Big East Tournament, she reached double-figures in all three games and averaged 13.3 points despite playing just 17.8 minutes. She landed on the Big East All-Tournament Team and probably should’ve been Most Outstanding Player as well, though the honor ultimately went to Sarah Strong.

“But I wouldn't trade her right now for anybody else,” Geno Auriemma said about Arnold after the Big East Tournament.

But in the NCAA Tournament, Arnold put up a total of 15 points across five contests. It was both a product of a lack of attempts — she shot the ball once in the second round versus Syracuse, then only three times against both UNC and South Carolina — and missed shots — she went 0-6 in the Elite Eight against Notre Dame. Still, Arnold chipped in elsewhere with 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals in the tournament.

There’s a laundry list of reasons UConn lost to South Carolina. Arnold isn’t one of them. She had four of the team’s 15 assists and didn’t turn the ball over. At the same time, the junior didn’t do a whole lot to help the Huskies win, either.

So as Arnold enters her senior season, it’s fair to wonder which version of her UConn will get in 2026-27.

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Gene Bontatibus 1 hour ago

She's at her best when she makes the outside shot. It opens up the inside. I also hope you will look at Ashley chase for the work. She does, I think she's one of the most underrated players in ladies basketball

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Joseph Pullaro3 weeks ago(edited)

A healthy Cheli or Heckel will as the season progresses take more and more minutes from Arnold as she has yet to show, into her senior year, any evidence that she will improve and she needs to improve immensely.

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Walter Kroczak3 weeks ago

Heckel for sure. Cheli not a point guard.

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Joseph Pullaro3 weeks ago

Cheli, the number five ranked recruit who carried her high school team to the number one ranking, played all five positions including point guard most of the time.

She has excellent handles, can shoot comfortably from inside or the perimeter and is a damn good passer.

She is, when healthy, Geno’s Swiss Army knife which he covets.

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Steve Carter3 weeks ago

More scoring from KK would be welcome, of course. Remember, last year, her PG numbers, especially assist-to-turnover, were excellent. Except she didn't play as well against the ranked teams. Some drop off is expected but her dip was larger than her teammates’. That’s the opportunity for KK this year.

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Walter Kroczak3 weeks ago

My "laundry list of reasons UConn lost to South Carolina" consists of two items: (1) Sarah choked, and (2) Fudd was a dud. (The media are still very protective of the People's Princess even though the Wings, for years to come, will pay a very stiff price for choosing her over Miles.)

Strong and Senorita Q are indeed two All-American-caliber talents, but Sarah's legs could be an issue and Quinonez needs to romp a little less like a bull in a china shop.

Who will be the team leader on the floor? I pick Ash12--mishandled by Coach and nearly invisible to the media.