Defending national champion Huskies win first exhibition game 

UConn coaches and fans got a good look at the 2025-26 women’s basketball team on Monday, and the first impression was a good one.

The Huskies defeated Boston College 84-67 in the Hall of Fame Exhibition Game at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Three starters scored in double figures and the Huskies shot nearly 50% from the floor. The downside? The 19 turnovers.

Head coach Geno Auriemma, entering his 41st season, gave mixed reviews of his team.

"They're exhibitions for a reason," he said. "We saw a bunch of good things and a bunch of bad things. That's what makes these games successful."

But Auriemma definitely was happy to see the on-ball defense of Azzi Fudd, the return of reigning national Freshman of the Year Sarah Strong and the debut of Wisconsin transfer Serah Williams.

Fudd scored 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting with three rebounds and four assists.

Strong added 17 points, five rebounds and five assists.

And Williams dropped in 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting with five rebounds.

After the game, he was glowing in his review of Strong's outing.

"She's really good," he said. "And I thought she was really, really good last year. I think this year she's even better."

"Her game, I mean," he continued, "is at a whole other level than last year." 

UConn shot 49.3 percent overall, including a blistering 16 of 27 (59.3%) percent in the first half, and the Huskies took a 43-30 lead at halftime.

The lead grew to 26 points in the fourth quarter before the Eagles went on a 9-0 run to close the game.

Teion McDaniel came off the bench to score 23 for the Eagles and Amira Anderson also finished in double figures with 10 points, despite 2-for-11 shooting. She added a team-leading six rebounds.

Boston College shot 38.9% for the game. The Eagles turned the ball over 21 times, which let to 29 points off turnovers for UConn.

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