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UConn begins its 2024-25 women's basketball season determined to win their 12th national title and first since 2016. Last season, the Huskies were two points close to making it to the national final, losing to the Caitlin Clark-led Iowa in the Final Four.
The setback to Iowa has prompted UConn's top star Paige Bueckers to forgo her WNBA draft plans and return for another season. Bueckers leads a young but competitive squad that is out to dethrone South Carolina and give legendary coach Geno Auriemma another women's basketball crown in his 40th season with the Huskies.
Here's a deeper look into UConn's 2024-25 campaign from its biggest games to the key players to watch out for this season.
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UConn's biggest games of the 2024-25 season
UConn will start its season with a home game against Fort Hays State on Nov. 3. After four more games against lower-ranked opponents, the Huskies will go to the Bahamas to compete in the Baha Mar Women's Championship where they'll meet Oregon State in the opener on Nov. 25.
Action picks up in December as they're lined up to face Louisville on Dec. 7, Notre Dame (Dec. 12), Iowa State (Dec. 17) and the new-look USC (Dec. 21). UConn begins its Big East regular season against Providence on Dec. 29 and will play on the New Year against Marquette.
Sandwiched between its conference slate is UConn's visit to SEC powerhouse Tennessee at the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville on Feb. 6. Ten days later, the Huskies face their biggest test in the regular season, as they face the defending champions South Carolina at the Colonia Life Arena in Columbia.
UConn concludes its regular season games against Creighton (Feb. 27) and Marquette (Mar. 2).
Top UConn players to watch out for in the 2024-25 season
#1. Paige Bueckers
Paige Bueckers is coming off an excellent season for UConn, where she led the team in scoring (21.9 points per game) and blocks (1.4 bpg). She is also the team's second-best swiper and passer, tallying 2.2 steals and 3.8 assists per contest.
The six-foot Bueckers returns to UConn with a chip on her shoulder, looking to carry the Huskies to their 12th NCAA women's basketball title. Her chances of fulfilling that mission are high, considering they have arguably one of the best lineups on paper with Azzi Fudd and KK Arnold providing veteran leadership and a bunch of transfers and freshmen raring to contribute to the team's glory.
#2. Azzi Fudd
Azzi Fudd is coming off a season-ending knee injury that sidelined her for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign. Before the injury, Fudd had 11.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 2.5 apg while shooting at a low 32% clip from the field.
The 5-foot-11 fourth-year player is back and determined to complete a full season. She's expected to be the team's second in command, providing Paige Bueckers some assistance on both sides of the floor in the 2024-25 college basketball season.
#3. Sarah Strong
Sarah Strong is the consensus No. 1 high school recruit in the class of 2024. Strong guided Grace Christian School to three straight NCISAA state titles and led the team to 41 consecutive wins and 91-4 overall.
The 6-foot-2 forward averaged 21.0 ppg, 16.8 rpg, 4.6 apg and 2.8 spg in her senior season where she was named the Naismith High School Player of the Year. She was also selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Girls Game where she gained co-MVP honors.
Predictions for UConn's 2024-25 season
UConn comes into the season as one of the top women's basketball teams on paper, with Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd running the show as veteran court leaders. In his 40th season as coach, Geno Auriemma will be focused on guiding the Huskies to their 12th national title, which would add to his legendary status in the college hoops scene.
The Huskies are deep by all standards with Princeton transfer Kaitlyn Chen and highly-rated rookies Sarah Strong, Allie Ziebell and Morgan Cheli strengthening the team's core going into the new season. UConn is expected to dominate the Big East just like the previous years and at the top of the championship conversation for this year's NCAA Tournament.
Will UConn dethrone South Carolina and win its 12th national title? Let us know your views in the comments section below.
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