Roster Outlook Promising for UConn Women

The Story: After a season in which it was often down to only seven or eight healthy players for several games, the UConn women should be able to avoid similar roster issues over the next few seasons. At least it appears that way on paper.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: While injuries took a huge toll on the Huskies from the outset of the season, projections have them entering next season with 14 of a maximum 15 scholarship roster spots filled.

• The following graphic projects UConn’s roster composition over the next three seasons (click image to enlarge):

PORTAL POTENTIAL: Based on recent history, UConn is likely to experience some roster movement due to players opting to enter the transfer portal, which is open until May 11.

• The Huskies have lost an average of nearly two players per year during the portal’s four-year existence. Last season, UConn had three players transfer (Piath Gabriel to UMass, Mir McLean to Virginia and Saylor Poffenbarger to Arkansas).

• One of the best stories of the past season was UConn dipping into the transfer portal to land Fairfield’s Lou Lopez Senechal, who turned out to be a massive success. She earned all-Big East first-team honors and was picked fifth by the Dallas Wings in the WNBA Draft.

WHO’S AVAILABLE? Three of the most intriguing players in the portal are forward Aneesah Morrow, a third-team AP All-American from DePaul; Hailey Van Lith, an honorable mention All-American guard from Louisville; and Stanford center Lauren Betts, who was the No. 1 recruit in 2022, according to HoopGurlz.

A BOON FOR BUECKERS: Because she sat out last season with a torn ACL, Paige Bueckers gained a redshirt season and now has three years of eligibility remaining.

• The former National Player of the Year is also among four players (Aubrey Griffin, Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl being the others) who banked an extra season of eligibility due to COVID-19.

• In what could be best described as a quirk in the system, Bueckers has one more year of eligibility remaining than Azzi Fudd or Caroline Ducharme, although Fudd and Ducharme enrolled a year after Bueckers.

• The graphic above reflects the extra COVID-19 seasons for the four, but it’s highly unlikely all four will remain at UConn until their eligibility expires. A few would possibly leave for the WNBA, and that would provide some roster relief in 2024-25, when the Huskies are projected to have 16 players for 15 spots.

FRESH OUTLOOK: Because Ice Brady missed last season with a dislocated patella in her right knee, she will enter next season as a redshirt freshman. Thus, including Brady, UConn will have five freshmen.

• One freshman — Jana El Alfy, a 6-foot-4 recruit from Egypt — was an early enrollee who practiced with the Huskies but never suited up last season.

THANKSGIVING IN PARADISE: UConn was one of eight teams that will participate in the inaugural Cayman Islands Classic, which will take place Thanksgiving weekend. It’s a loaded field that also includes defending champion LSU, Virginia Tech, UCLA, Virginia, Kansas, Niagara and Tulane.

— David Kull

Morning Reads

• Although Zion Turner spent nearly all of last season as the starting quarterback, Jim Mora said yesterday after a spring practice session that the role is “wide open.” (Hartford Courant)

• Dan Hurley‘s victory lap will continue this morning as he’ll ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. (Hartford Courant)

• George Springer showed up to the Blue Jays’ game against the Tigers last night wearing a Whalers sweatshirt. (SportsLogos.net on Twitter)

Top photo: Geno Auriemma yells to his players during the exhibition against Kutztown. (Courtesy of UConn athletics)