The 2025-26 NCAA Women’s Basketball season has been filled with upsets, an outstanding freshman class, and new ranked teams. The evolution of women’s college basketball continues to grow with amazing talent that has boosted many programs to succeed.
Over the course of this season, many teams went undefeated with some programs surpassing their win total from last season. As the month of January concludes, only one team remains unbeaten.
UConn (22-0) the reigning national champions enter the season as the number one ranked team looking to win another championship in back-to-back seasons. The champions lose veterans Paige Bueckers (19.9 ppg, 53.4 FG%, 4.4 rpg, 2.1 spg) and Princeton transfer Kaitlyn Chen (6.9 ppg, 51.4 FG%, 3.4 apg, 1.1 spg) to the WNBA.
They return fifth-year guard Azzi Fudd (13.6 ppg, 43.6 3PT%, 1.8 apg, 1.4 spg) Big East Freshman of the Year Sarah Strong (16.4 ppg, 58.6 FG% 8.9 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 2.3 spg). Impact players KK Arnold (5.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.5 spg) and Ashlynn Shade (7.7 ppg, 41.1 3PT%, 2.7 rpg, 1.8 apg) bring back the experience as they become upperclassmen.
The Huskies also added two transfers along with three freshman, sophomore guard from USC Kayleigh Heckel (6.1 ppg, 45.9 FG%, 1.9 apg, 1.3 spg) and senior center from Wisconsin Serah Williams (19.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.1 spg, 2.3 bpg). Geno Auriemma, entering his 41st season in Connecticut, always prepares his teams to compete against high profile programs and produce championships.
The expectation of the program is winning but what is the main factor of the group staying undefeated this season. Is the conference not challenging or does their non-conference schedule revolve around playing power four teams outside the top 25 ranking.
This season UConn has become an aggressive defensive team by pressing full court, limiting second chances opportunities and holding their opponents below 50 points. Huskies led the Big East in points allowed (50.5 ppg), steals (16.0 spg), turnovers forced (25.4), and second in rebounds (37.2).
Strong leads the conference in steals (3.5 spg) and third in blocks (1.6 bpg). Arnold is third in steals (2.7 spg) and Williams is fourth in blocks (1.5 bpg) behind Strong.
Since rejoining the conference, UConn has not taken their foot off the gas but motivates their opponents to recruit better. Huskies’ depth has been pivotal to the team’s success and staying unbeaten in conference play. The Big East is the only conference that does not get recognition for beating teams in the power four.
The Huskies are usually playing against power conferences but teams like Villanova, Marquette, and St. Johns in the last four seasons have picked upset wins against these teams. Not every team in the Big East will have UConn’s number but the conference produces great competition.
Auriemma’s teams in his coaching career compete against programs that have a winning culture and NCAA tournament experience. His plan is to prepare the group for March when every team is playing different from the regular season. The Huskies this season put on a non-conference schedule of familiar and new teams that were ranked or unranked in the power four.
The biggest test so far was against then sixth ranked Michigan in the Hall of Fame Showcase last November. The Wolverines are led by sophomore trio Syla Swords (13.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.9 spg), Olivia Olson (18.7 ppg, 47.4 FG%, 5.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.9 spg) and Mila Holloway (13.3 ppg, 48.4 FG%, 3.8 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.5 spg).
UConn led huge in the first half until Michigan gained momentum in the third quarter holding the Huskies to four points and trailing by single digits. Both teams gruelled in the fourth quarter leading the Huskies winning 72-69 in the final second.
Being undefeated is not easy for any team who have done it before but if UConn wants to continue the strike of staying unbeaten, they will need to be ready for whatever challenge comes against them.
