ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The defending champion UConn Huskies picked up the place they left off to start out the 2025-26 season: profitable in (largely) dominant vogue.
UConn, ranked No. 1 within the AP preseason ballot, took down No. 20 Louisville 79-66 on Tuesday within the Armed Forces Basic, a recreation the Huskies led by as many as 28 factors earlier than securing their thirtieth consecutive season-opening win, the second-longest energetic streak in Division I.
The occasion — the primary girls’s matchup within the Armed Forces Basic — was initially imagined to be performed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany however was moved to the Naval Academy lower than two weeks in the past due to the federal government shutdown.
It was the primary recreation for the new-look Huskies since three-time All-American and 2025 No. 1 draft choose Paige Bueckers departed for the WNBA. However with their former famous person watching from the stands, the Huskies lived as much as their No. 1 billing.
Sarah Robust, a preseason first-team All-American, and Azzi Fudd, the 2025 Remaining 4 Most Excellent Participant, led the way in which with a mixed 41 factors, whereas junior KK Arnold (13) and USC switch Kayleigh Heckel (14) rounded out the assault. Wisconsin switch Serah Williams earned her first profession begin as a Husky, ending with 4 factors, 8 rebounds and 4 assists.
“This staff is tremendous totally different than final 12 months, regardless that it was just a few totally different items. However I feel what these items convey are so helpful,” Fudd stated. “Tonight was numerous enjoyable. … I feel because the season goes on and we proceed to construct our chemistry and discover ways to maintain enjoying properly collectively and what our strengths are, it’s going to be much more enjoyable and actually particular.”
UConn got here out of the gates rolling, leaping forward 25-9 by the top of the primary quarter and going into the break forward by 21. The Huskies struggled from deep all evening (4-for-26 on 3-pointers) however nonetheless managed to overwhelm the Cardinals within the paint by a 50-18 margin.
“The best way we received there [up by so much] was fairly cool,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma stated, “not making any 3s and nonetheless getting up 28, that’s not a simple factor to do.”
Robust, who dazzled as a freshman throughout UConn’s title run, added 9 rebounds and 5 assists for her fifth profession 20-5-5 recreation. With the ball in her fingers greater than ever, the Huskies thrived when the 6-foot-2 Robust rebounded the ball on protection and ran the break, additionally shining as a matchup nightmare and a passer together with her game-high 5 dimes.
“I feel we’re going to see groups attempt various things in opposition to Sarah, so we tried various things,” Auriemma stated. “We tried to place her in areas that we thought she had a bonus over the folks that have been guarding her. And I feel when you may have a participant like Sarah that may rebound the ball like she rebounds it, after which begin the break and produce the ball up the ground, I feel that’s a complete new dynamic … I actually consider that provides a special dimension to our offense. And since she’s such a gifted passer, there’s numerous alternatives when she has the ball in her fingers. So we attempt to put the ball in her fingers as usually as potential.”
Issues stalled a bit for the Huskies within the second half as soon as the Cardinals went right into a zone and have been extra intentional about attending to the free throw line. Louisville reduce the deficit from 25 to 10 with 2:22 left within the fourth quarter earlier than Robust answered with consecutive baskets to place the sport out of attain.
“All the things’s a studying expertise,” Fudd stated. “So, one, not form of letting up like we did in that fourth quarter but in addition figuring issues out on the finish. It received form of shut. Sarah had some clutch pictures on the finish, we made some nice selections on protection, simply good staff basketball. In order that was good observe, good little moments for us to work on and maintain constructing on.”
Auriemma wasn’t overly preoccupied along with his staff’s rockier second half.
“Let me put it this fashion: I don’t ever need to stroll off the court docket this 12 months as a result of we’re UConn and we’re defending nationwide champions and we’re preseason No. 1 and make wins really feel like losses as a result of we didn’t win by sufficient, we didn’t win the best means, we had too many lulls, we have been too sloppy.
“At this time we have been a typical basketball staff — somewhat bit higher than typical — however usually talking, that’s what occurs in basketball video games. You might have peaks and valleys. You play rather well. You don’t play properly. You shoot good. You don’t shoot good. So for the primary recreation out, I assumed it was an incredible success.”
The matchup marked UConn’s first opener in opposition to a ranked opponent since 2017-18, when it confronted No. 10 Stanford in Columbus, Ohio. This system is now 7-1 all-time when beginning a season in opposition to a High 25 staff.
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