For the first time in 2026, the top-ranked UConn women’s basketball team (17-0, 8-0) will return to Gampel Pavilion to take on the Villanova Wildcats (14-3, 7-1) Thursday evening.
Even though both these squads are the top two teams in the Big East, fans will have the chance to witness something more than just an exciting conference matchup.
UConn plans to induct the 2015 and 2016 National Championship teams into the Huskies of Honor, with some former players in attendance.
These players include: Napheesa Collier, Moriah Jefferson, Tierney Lawlor, Kia Nurse, Briana Pulido, Katie Lou Samuelson, Breanna Stewart, Kiah Stokes and Morgan Tuck.
While Geno Auriemma, Head Coach of the program, has experienced immense success in his 41 years at UConn, he has not experienced something as unique as when his squads gave him four straight national championships from 2013 to 2016.
“It’s never been done before, and I can’t imagine it ever being done again.” Auriemma said to the media Wednesday afternoon.
Auriemma recalled when Stewart originally committed to UConn and made the claim that she could win four National Championships in a row.
“The fact they were able to transcend all that pressure […] I thought she [Breanna Stewart] was crazy.” Auriemma said.
Now, just a mere decade later, players like Stewart and Collier, who were on the 2015 and 2016 have not only impacted the program but impacted women’s basketball and the WNBA as a whole.
“I’ve always been…I guess not completely surprised, but surprised at the level that they’ve accomplished when they left here.” Auriemma said when asked about their success, “When you look back 10 years and the level of success, it really is beyond what you could have predicted back then.”
Now, with his current roster undefeated, he looks ahead to the next games on their schedule. He emphasized that he wants his players to still play with the UConn standard in mind, but to put the pressure on themselves that they must finish the season undefeated and win another championship.
Instead, they will take things in one game at a time.
On Villanova’s squad, the Huskies should keep tabs on sophomore guard Jasmine Bascoe, who averages 17.4 points per game and is shooting an average of around 40% from the field. With the way the Wildcats spread out the court to create offensive opportunities, it’ll give the Huskies a chance to defend in places that, perhaps, they’re not usually used to.
The Huskies will get to showcase their consistent, gritty defense. Or, as Serah Williams calls it, a “flow state.”
“When we reach flow state on defense…it’s like wow.” Williams said to the media Wednesday afternoon.
Players like Williams, Kayleigh Heckel and KK Arnold have proved this season that anywhere on the defensive end, they can wreak havoc to get the ball back into their hands. These assets will be integral to staying undefeated and vanquishing the Wildcats.
“Flow state is just flow state, I don’t know how to explain it.” Arnold said to the media on the teams d, “Once you’re in that mode, you’re in that mode, like Serah [Williams] said. So, whether that’s getting a stop, making sure that our man doesn’t get a pass, just creating that energy, whether that’s clapping or talking, I feel that just really gets us going.”
The induction ceremony will begin 30 minutes prior tip-off and will be streamed on Instagram and YouTube for fans who cannot attend the game. Tip-off between these two Big East foes is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Gampel Pavilion. Husky fans can tune in to the game on FS1 or listen in on 97.9 FM.