"The portions here are huge": Paige Bueckers' teammate Jana El Alfy says she misses Egyptian food she once didn't like

UConn women's basketball star Jana El Alfy said she misses her native Egyptian food. In an Instagram reel posted by Storrs Central on Wednesday, El Alfy opened up on her heritage.

Asked what food she missed most, El Alfy replied, "When I was home, I wasn't really, like, into the Egyptian traditional food. I think now I miss it. There's just something about it. I didn't like eating it when I was home, but it's great to have a little bite."

Asked how American food is different from Egyptian food, Paige Bueckers' teammate replied:

"I think it's a lot. It's just too much. I think the portions here are huge. Back home it's not like that at all. Everything is just extra, extra large."

El Alfy also said seafood like sushi, salmon and lobster are her favorite to eat in the US.

El Alfy is a freshman center at UConn, averaging 5.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists on 51.3% shooting per game this season.

Jana El Alfy reflects on her collegiate career after UConn's win vs Marquette

Freshman Jana El Alfy is adjusting well in her new role as a starter for UConn this season. The Huskies center played a key role in No. 7 UConn's 77-45 win over Marquette on New Year's Day, finishing with 10 points, four rebounds, one assist and one block in 15 minutes. It is the second start of her collegiate career.

Reflecting on her career over the past couple of months, El Alfy said (via CT Insider):

“My game has changed. I'm stronger under the rim and with the pace of the game, I feel like I’m faster. Focusing on both ends of the floor was a huge thing. But being surrounded by people that have confidence in you and always push you to get better every day is just amazing.”

El Alfy arrived in Connecticut in January 2023 but spent the second half of the 2022-23 season redshirting on the bench. Her debut was further delayed after she tore her Achilles that summer while playing for Egypt in the 2023 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Spain. She spent a whole year on the bench recovering.

In her official debut for UConn on Nov. 7, the freshman center recorded a double-double, with 17 points, 11 rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 18 minutes of play against Boston.