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Alexa Philippou
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The UConn Huskies, the team holding the championship title, initiated their 2025-26 season mirroring their prior success: securing victory in an undeniably commanding style.
UConn, claiming the No. 1 spot in the AP preseason survey, defeated No. 20 Louisville 79-66 on Tuesday in the Armed Forces Classic, a contest in which the Huskies’ advantage peaked at 28 points before clinching their 30th consecutive season-opening triumph, marking the second-longest active streak in Division I.
The event — representing the inaugural women’s game within the Armed Forces Classic — was originally designated for Ramstein Air Base in Germany but underwent a relocation to the Naval Academy less than two weeks prior, attributed to the government shutdown.
It signified the debut performance for the restructured Huskies subsequent to the departure of three-time All-American and 2025 No. 1 draft selection Paige Bueckers for the WNBA. Nevertheless, with their former luminary spectating from the stands, the Huskies validated their No. 1 position.
Sarah Strong, an All-American preseason first-team selection, and Azzi Fudd, the 2025 Final Four Most Outstanding Player, spearheaded the charge, amassing a collective 41 points, while junior KK Arnold (13) and USC transfer Kayleigh Heckel (14) supplemented the offensive effort. Wisconsin transfer Serah Williams garnered her initial career start as a Husky, concluding with 4 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists.
“This team presents a distinct character compared to last year, despite only minor personnel changes. The contributions of these new additions are truly significant,” Fudd commented. “Tonight was exceptionally enjoyable. As the season unfolds, and we further cultivate our synergy and discern optimal collaborative strategies and our individual strengths, the experience will become even more gratifying and uniquely memorable.”
UConn initiated the game with considerable momentum, surging to a 25-9 lead by the conclusion of the first quarter and sustaining a 21-point advantage into halftime. Despite experiencing difficulties from beyond the arc throughout the evening (4-for-26 on 3-pointers), the Huskies effectively dominated the Cardinals in the paint, outscoring them by a margin of 50-18.
“The manner in which we achieved that substantial lead was noteworthy,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma remarked, “attaining a 28-point advantage despite limited success from 3-point range is not an easily accomplished feat.”
Strong, who exhibited remarkable prowess as a freshman during UConn’s championship quest, contributed 9 rebounds and 5 assists, marking her fifth career game with at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Capitalizing on increased ball-handling opportunities, the Huskies prospered when the 6-foot-2 Strong secured defensive rebounds and initiated fast breaks, showcasing her adaptability as a matchup challenge and demonstrating playmaking abilities with a game-leading five assists.
“I anticipate teams will explore various strategies against Sarah, prompting us to experiment with diverse approaches,” Auriemma stated. “We sought to position her in areas where she possessed a clear advantage over her defenders. A player of Sarah’s caliber, capable of rebounding with such proficiency and initiating the break while advancing the ball up the court, introduces an entirely new dimension. I firmly believe this significantly enhances our offensive capabilities. Given her exceptional passing skills, numerous opportunities arise when she possesses the ball. Consequently, we endeavor to place the ball in her hands as frequently as feasible.”
The Huskies encountered a temporary setback in the second half as the Cardinals adopted a zone defense and prioritized drawing fouls to reach the free-throw line. Louisville narrowed the deficit from 25 to 10 with 2:22 remaining in the fourth quarter before Strong responded with consecutive baskets, effectively sealing the victory.
“Each experience serves as a learning opportunity,” Fudd articulated. “Firstly, avoiding the complacency we exhibited in the fourth quarter, and secondly, refining our execution during critical junctures. The game grew somewhat tight. Sarah executed some decisive shots late in the game, we demonstrated sound defensive decision-making, indicative of effective team basketball. This provided valuable practice, offering us pivotal moments to refine and further develop our collective performance.”
Auriemma did not express excessive concern regarding his team’s more challenging second-half performance.
“Permit me to express it in this manner: I never aspire to conclude a game this season, by virtue of our status as UConn, the reigning national champions, and the preseason No. 1 team, with victories resembling defeats due to an insufficient margin of victory, a perceived deficiency in our execution, an abundance of lulls, or excessive sloppiness.
“Today, we resembled a typical basketball team — slightly above average — but generally speaking, that’s the inherent nature of basketball games. Fluctuations in performance are inevitable. Periods of strong play alternate with periods of subpar play. Shooting accuracy varies. Thus, for the initial game, I deemed it a resounding success.”
The contest signified UConn’s first season opener against a ranked opponent since 2017-18, when they confronted No. 10 Stanford in Columbus, Ohio. The program now holds a record of 7-1 when initiating a season against a Top 25 team.
