Some may know her from her TikTok’s with her teammates or her livestreams; others may know her from her fiery personality on the hardwood of Gampel Pavilion.
This player is a junior from the UConn women’s basketball team, KK Arnold.
A 5-foot-9 guard out of Germantown, Wis. Arnold has become a fan favorite in just her two years in a Connecticut jersey.
Arnold’s freshman season was unusual compared to any other basketball player entering their first year of collegiate basketball.
In the 2023-2024 season, UConn women’s basketball found themselves plagued by injuries, which put Arnold in a starting position.
Arnold’s freshman campaign was filled with adversity, because of her teams’ injuries, but the program did make it to the Final Four, where they unfortunately lost against the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Flash forward to Arnold’s sophomore season, with the addition of guard Kaitlyn Chen, Arnold was out of the starting lineup.
Although Arnold had a new role of her own next to her teammate, Ashlynn Shade.
If head coach Geno Auriemma felt that he needed a little more spunk added to the game, he would take Chen out of the game and put Shade and Arnold on the court at the same time.
And let me tell you, it made waves.
Last April, Arnold was a big part of the program winning their 12th National Championship in Tampa, Fla.
“Of course it was a great accomplishment last year, but I feel like our team’s whole focus this year we have a new team, kind of a new journey.” Arnold said to the media after the team’s first official practice.
Now, as Arnold begins her first year as an upperclassman, she will be taking on a new role yet again, as a leader, but back in her starting position.
“It kinda is, though, sinking in,” Arnold said to the media on the fact that is she an upperclassman now, “Taking on that role, using my leadership voice, being a leader […] just always being that leader role and if I see stuff, talk to them, be that type of leader stepping up this year.”
With key players like Paige Bueckers and Nika Mühl that are not on the roster anymore, Arnold is using them as an example of what type of leader she should be.
“Just having them to rely on, but also me being an underclassman, me being a freshman, kinda leaning on them and asking them questions, it’s just kinda switched roles now I’m that person for other people to look up to, watch […] but also just ask me questions as I’ve been here for two years now,” Arnold said on how wants to model her leadership on those UConn alumnae, “I know the ropes around what we do in practice, alongside Azzi [Fudd] and everyone that has been through the journey of how we do things here.”
With the women’s basketball season to kickoff this coming Monday against Boston College, it will be interesting for fans to see Arnold in this new, evolved role.
“It’s gonna be a big, big adjustment for KK [Arnold] […] this year it’s going to be more challenging for her.” Head coach of the program Geno Auriemma said to the media, “I think she’s excited to be counted on a little more.”
Auriemma reports to the media, that Arnold, though, has given the appearance that she’s a more confident player.
“Each and every day is another day to develop my leadership skill.” Arnold finished.