As the sports editor, it is my pleasure to welcome you all to campus!
While Weekend of Welcome may be a little daunting, use it as an opportunity to meet new people and try new things. While you’re at it, sit back and relax as you read this article.
Attending sporting events is an integral part of being a UConn Husky, so, here’s a highlight reel on all things UConn Athletics.
Fall
Last fall, UConn men’s soccer made it as far as the Sweet 16 in the playoffs, where they eventually fell to Maryland. Kyle Durham, UConn’s goalkeeper, was the catalyst for his squad between the goalposts.
The New York native started every game, leading the Big East in save percentage and racking up eight clean sheets. In December of last year, Durham was invited to the MLS College Showcase, where only 45 collegiate players from throughout the country were invited.
Durham will be commencing his red-shirt junior season for the Huskies, and students can see the No. 24 squad in action this weekend. Stop by the pitch Sunday evening as the Huskies take on Western Michigan with a kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
The UConn Field Hockey team is also coming off a playoff berth last fall. Despite falling to Liberty in overtime in the Big East Championship, the Huskies still clinched the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
The Huskies advanced to the Elite 8, where they lost to Harvard 1-0. Some of the Huskies’ key players from last season, like Sol Simone and Natalie Bressler, graduated and won’t be returning. With that said, the team will still have goaltender Natalie McKenna between the pipes this fall.
Freshmen can see the Field Hockey team in action at Nancy Stevens Field behind the Gampel Pavilion.
Winter
Both the men’s and women’s basketball programs last season proved why UConn is deemed the basketball capital of the world.
With just 0.3 seconds left in the Elite 8 game versus UConn’s fellow blue blood, Duke, Mullins took the loose ball and nailed a 40-foot three-pointer, punching the Huskies ticket to the Final Four with a 73-72 victory.
The program survived and advanced until the National Championship game against Michigan where they lost 69-63 to the Wolverines.
Even with Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. graduating and heading to the NBA, the Huskies will still welcome back Braylon Mullins for his sophomore season and Silas Demary Jr. for his senior-year campaign.
The women’s basketball program finished their regular season last year undefeated, led by AP Player of the Year Sarah Strong and graduate guard Azzi Fudd.
With the winningest coach in college basketball history Geno Auriemma, at the helm, the program has been extremely successful over his 40-year coaching tenure. The program has tallied 12 National Championships and has made over 25 Final Four appearances.
Their most recent appearance came last year, when they took on Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Phoenix, Ariz. Despite a hard-fought battle, the Huskies lost 62-48.
The Huskies will welcome back Sarah Strong for her junior year, as well as a group of newcomers including 6-foot-5 freshman center Olivia Vukosa.
With both programs entering this season with a chip on their shoulder, basketball games at Gampel Pavilion and PeoplesBank Arena will be something you won’t want to miss.
Spring
Nestled just beyond Gampel Pavilion and the football training center is where both the UConn Softball and Baseball teams call home.
With an 8-3 win over the Creighton Bluejays last May, the UConn softball team secured back-to-back Big East Championship wins.
Then, after defeating the McNeese State Cowgirls, they clinched their first NCAA tournament since 2001. Even though they ended up losing to Texas A & M later in the College Station Regional, they will look to carry this momentum into next season.
UConn baseball is also coming off a successful 2026 campaign, even though their season ended in a Big East Championship loss against Xavier.
The Hook C had an overall record of 32-26, and multiple players received All-American and All-Region honors. In addition, the Huskies flourished in their summer leagues, with 11 of them making All-Star with their respective leagues. This includes Rob Rispoli and Oliver Pudvar, who made the All-Star team for the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Now that you’re all caught up, use this as your opportunity to flex your sports knowledge to the new people you meet!
This is a subtle plug, but if you’re interested in sports journalism, feel free to pop by our sports section meetings at 7 p.m. on Sundays in the Daily Campus building behind Moe’s in Storrs Center.