When you’re the reigning national champion, just as the UConn women’s basketball team is, what can you do for an encore?
Win again.
The preseason Associated Press Top 25 rankings aren’t out yet, but that doesn’t mean the 2025-26 version of the Huskies aren’t capturing attention. ESPN got the jump, issuing its preseason rankings on Tuesday, and picked UConn as the No. 1 team in the country.
Yes, the Huskies lost Paige Bueckers to the WNBA since they won the NCAA Tournament in March. She was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft and won league Rookie of the Year honors. But as usual, coach Geno Auriemma’s team is loaded.
The Huskies return Sarah Strong, who was an exceptional complement to Bueckers last season as a freshman. A 6-foot-2 forward, Strong led the team in rebounds (8.9 per game), steals (2.3) and blocks (1.6). She was second to Bueckers in points (16.4), assists (3.6) and minutes (28.7).
A second-team All-American, she set the NCAA record for most points in an NCAA Tournament by a freshman (114).
She’s joined by Azzi Fudd, a fifth-year player back for one last spin with the Huskies. Fudd was named the 2025 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player after averaging 17.5 points per game in the tournament. She scored 24 points and had five rebounds and three steals when UConn crushed South Carolina in the title game, 82-59.
In the regular season, she averaged 13.6 points and led the team by shooting 43.6% from 3-point range. The sharpshooter also made 91.7% of her free-throw attempts.
New Woman in Town
According to ESPN, however, it’s Sarah Williams, a transfer from Wisconsin, who could put UConn over the top as it strives for its 13th championship of the Auriemma era.
This is what Charlie Creme of ESPN said about Williams:
“From the moment Williams entered the transfer portal, she seemed a good fit for the defending champion Huskies. Pairing with Sarah Strong could give UConn the most productive frontcourt duo in the country,” Creme said.
“Third in the Big Ten in scoring (19.2 ppg) and rebounding (9.8 rpg) last season, Williams put up big numbers throughout her three-year career in Madison, but she never played on a winning team. That changes with the move to Storrs.”
The Huskies finished the 2024-25 season with a 37-3 record – a perfect 18-0 in Big East play.
UConn opens the season against Louisville – No. 16 in the ESPN rankings – in one of five home games before the Thanksgiving break.
And their nonconference slate of games throughout the season is a tough one, facing teams that include Southern California, Iowa, Notre Dame and Tennessee.
It’s a good bet that Auriemma will have the Huskies ready for any team they encounter.
And the Rest
Curious about which teams also landed in ESPN's preseason rankings? Here's the entire list:
- UConn
- South Carolina
- UCLA
- Texas
- LSU
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- North Carolina State
- Duke
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- Ole Miss
- Iowa State
- Notre Dame
- Michigan
- Louisville
- Southern California
- Baylor
- Richmond
- Iowa
- TCU
- Oklahoma State
- Michigan State
- Vanderbilt
- Washington