After achieving a perfect regular season record of 31-0 and a perfect conference record of 20-0, the top-ranked UConn women’s basketball team is now shifting their focus to the post season.
Their first task? The Big East Tournament.
The Huskies will gear up for their sixth Big East conference tournament, as they look to stay undefeated in the conference championship since joining in the 2020-21 season.
Throughout their 2025-26 campaign, the Huskies were the juggernaut of the conference, with their skilled starting lineup and the depth of their bench.
On Thursday morning, the conference announced their end-of-season honors, with Connecticut’s Sarah Strong taking home the Big East Player and Defensive Player of the Year Awards.
Strong finished her second year as a Husky leading the squad in almost every category including, points, blocks, steals and rebounds, averaging 18.6 points per game and ranking second in the Big East conference in scoring.
With Strong taking home this honor, the forward is the 21st Husky to win Big East Player of the Year and the eighth time a Husky has earned the Big East Defensive Player of the Year honor.
Joining Strong with these accolades is freshman Blanca Quiñonez, who earned the Big East Freshman of the Year award and Big East Sixth Woman of the Year award. Throughout her first season in the Basketball Capital of the World, Quiñonez was an integral player for her squad and was the catalyst in changing the tide of the game, should her team have struggled in any way.
The Ecuador native won the Big East Freshman of the Week honor seven times this season and ranked third on the Huskies with an average of 10.0 points per game and was a unanimous selection for All-Freshman Team.
On Friday, Quiñonez said to the media her parents will be in attendance for the tournament, this being the first time they have visited the United States. Quiñonez said that she’s been showing them around Storrs and is excited for them to see her play in person.
Along with Strong, KK Arnold and Azzi Fudd were named to All-Big East First team, and junior Ashlynn Shade was named an honorable mention.
Head coach of the squad Geno Auriemma, also earned the Big East Coach of the Year Award his 14th time winning this award in the Huskies’ time in the Big East conference.
With all of this to say, UConn is the team to beat this tournament. The Huskies finished their season outscoring their opposing programs in the conference by an average margin of +41.5 points per game in the regular season.
That brings up the question, though, that despite UConn’s dominance, what players in the conference should the Huskies look out for?
Jasmine Bascoe, a guard out of the No. 2-seeded Villanova Wildcats, joined Strong, Fudd, and Arnold in earning the First Team All-Big East Honors. Bascoe led the league this season with an average of 18.7 points per game and in assists with 146.
Mariana Valenzula, a forward out of Seton Hall, also earned First Team All-Big East honors. The 6-foot-2 Mexico was second on her squad with an average 12.9 points per game and has been a catalyst for her squad at rebounding on the defensive end.
The Huskies first game will be against the Georgetown Hoyas after they defeated the Butler Bulldogs 62-58 in the first round of the tournament. Both conference foes will faceoff on Saturday afternoon.
This marks the fourth time that both programs have faced each other in the tournament, the most recent when the Huskies defeated the Hoyas in the 2024 Championship.
“Everybody’s got I think, something to play for, and you just got to expect everybody’s best shot, regardless of who you’re playing for,” Auriemma said to the media when asked about entering the postseason.
Tip-off is scheduled for noon from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Husky fans can stream the game on Peacock.