FAIRFIELD — As soon as the UConn women’s basketball team stepped onto the floor at Sacred Heart’s Pitt Center on Sunday afternoon, the arena vibrated with palpable excitement. Thousands of fans packed into the small gym in Fairfield for the opportunity to get an early look at the reigning national champions as they prepare to begin the 2025-26 season.
UConn wasn’t at complete strength for the open practice, though all 15 members of the roster were in attendance. Sophomore Morgan Cheli was the only player not fully dressed as she continues recovering from season-ending ankle surgery she underwent in late February. Redshirt sophomore Jana El Alfy and freshman Blanca Quinonez also did not participate, though neither had any visible injury. El Alfy was healthy in 2024-25 but redshirted her freshman year after suffering an Achilles tear during the offseason. Quinonez joined the Huskies for the first time in August after missing the team’s summer session to finish her high school graduation requirements in Italy where she has spent the last several years playing professionally.
Junior Ashlynn Shade was limited on Sunday, going through all of the non-contact drills with a wrap around her right upper leg. She sat out of the team’s intrasquad scrimmage. Sophomore Allie Ziebell was a full participant, but she was still practicing in the face mask that she has worn most of the offseason.
There were some expected growing pains for UConn playing in front of a crowd for the first time since winning the national title in Tampa, but the team has yet to even begin official practices for the new season and has more than a month before it tips off its first game against Louisville on Nov. 4.
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Azzi Fudd, Caroline Ducharme look like dynamic duo
Injuries have kept Azzi Fudd and Caroline Ducharme from playing significant time together for most of their UConn careers, but the redshirt senior duo’s connection didn’t show any rust during Sunday’s practice. Ducharme scored the first points of the scrimmage on a layup off a crisp assist from Fudd, and both appeared to be staples of the Huskies’ first rotation along with star sophomore Sarah Strong, junior guard KK Arnold and redshirt junior Ice Brady.
It took Fudd some time to find her shot in the scrimmage, but once she did, there was no stopping her. She connected on three consecutive 3-point attempts to lead the blue team with 13 points on top of a strong defensive performance, and she also played a handful of possessions bringing the ball up to initiate the offense.
Ducharme looked confident and comfortable on both ends of the floor, far more so than she did in her limited appearances late last season. She was also one of the loudest voices on the court for UConn, leading team huddles and constantly communicating throughout the practice.
UConn guard Azzi Fudd (35) lines up a shot during practice at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Newcomers still in adjustment period
Wisconsin transfer Serah Williams was highly-anticipated as a potential day 1 starter for the Huskies, who desperately needed to bolster their frontcourt alongside Strong. There’s still plenty of time until the season gets underway, but it was apparent the 6-foot-4 senior is still figuring out how to handle the leap to UConn’s level from a program perennially at the bottom of the Big Ten. Williams looked solid defensively and had a standout block during the scrimmage, but she struggled on the offensive end and seemed uncomfortable navigating in the post against the Huskies’ practice players.
Alumni often describe freshman year at UConn as one of the hardest experiences of their lives, and that showed for Kelis Fisher and Gandy Malou-Mamel on Sunday. Fisher is reminiscent of a younger Arnold, playing with so much speed that she is often unable to control it. She made several flashy passes and snagged a pair of steals, but she was also turnover-prone and struggled to keep up with rotations on defense. Malou-Mamel saw limited playing time in the scrimmage, and it was clear she’s also grappling with the adjustment to the pace of the college game.
The notable exception among the newcomers was USC transfer Kayleigh Heckel, who looked like a seamless fit with the Huskies’ system. The sophomore nailed a pair of 3-pointers early in the scrimmage and showed herself to be a capable playmaker, giving UConn another strong option at point guard behind Arnold. With the departure of three-time Nancy Lieberman Award winner Paige Bueckers and starting point guard Kaitlyn Chen from last year’s roster, Heckel can make an immediate impact to fill that void.
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Who else stood out?
Brady’s position in the first rotation was something of a surprise considering the addition of Williams, but the redshirt junior seemed as confident as she ever has on the court. Her defense continued to shine through after taking a leap in 2024-25 with a block and a steal in the scrimmage, and she looked more comfortable making offensive moves in the post rather than searching for outside shots as she often did last season.
Redshirt junior Ayanna Patterson hasn’t seen the court in two years after a knee injury and shoulder injury sidelined her for back-to-back seasons, but the forward looked like herself again during the open practice. She was active on the boards showing off the elite athleticism that made her stand out as a recruit, and it won’t be a surprise to see her play a significant role in the Huskies’ frontcourt rotation.