UConn’s 5-star Isuneh Brady enters transfer portal after Final Four loss.

Geno Auriemma and the Connecticut Huskies’ highly successful season faced an abrupt conclusion Friday night. The premier-seeded Huskies suffered a 62–48 defeat against Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks during the Final Four round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. After achieving an undefeated regular season record and dominating the initial stages of the tournament, the Huskies failed to sustain their momentum on the grand stage.

UConn, a team that relied significantly on sophomore forward Sarah Strong and senior guard Azzi Fudd throughout the season, experienced offensive struggles in the semifinal. The pair collectively managed to shoot only 7-of-31 from the field, equivalent to 22.5%. South Carolina’s performance was spearheaded by senior guard Ta’Niya Latson, who compiled 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

Auriemma stands as one of the most significant figures in women’s college basketball. With an impressive collection of 12 national championships, six seasons without a single loss (a feat no other program has achieved more than once), and eight Naismith Coach of the Year honors, he has transformed Connecticut into a dominant force. His legacy was solidified in 2006 when he became a member of both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Despite his considerable influence, Auriemma and his Huskies have recently drawn attention for atypical circumstances. While he has consistently represented excellence and reliability in women’s college basketball, his recent defeats have garnered considerable scrutiny.

The loss to South Carolina in the Final Four was noteworthy, but the midcourt incident involving Staley and Auriemma at the game’s conclusion represented an even greater setback. Both Auriemma and Staley issued public statements following the confrontation, with Geno admitting in a public apology that “I’ve lost more games in the Final Four than any coach in history. But Friday, I lost something more important. I lost myself.”

Auriemma is set to face yet another departure, as On3 reported on Wednesday that junior guard Isuneh Brady plans to enter the transfer portal. Brady arrived in Storrs as the No. 5 overall-ranked recruit in the 2022 class, coming from San Diego, California. She achieved her most successful season with the Huskies during her freshman year, participating in 39 games and averaging 4.5 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game across 17.4 minutes per game.

Brady has not been able to build upon her freshman-year accomplishments. Known by the nickname “Ice,” the 6-foot-3 guard appeared to be sidelined by coach Auriemma, playing progressively fewer minutes per game in each subsequent season with the Huskies. Brady made only two appearances in the 2025-26 season for Connecticut before suffering from knee inflammation during an 85-31 victory against Loyola Chicago on November 12. She underwent successful knee surgery in February and intends to recover fully before the commencement of the 2026-27 season.

“BREAKING: UConn’s Ice Brady plans to enter the transfer portal,” On3’s Talia Goodman wrote on X. “Her representative at @koyersport told @On3 . The 6-3 junior averaged 2.5 ppg this season in two games and averaged 3.6 ppg last year.”