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No, the calendar has not even turned to 2026. But 10 games into the 2025-26 season, No. 1 UConn has just about answered any question, dissuaded any doubts and proven that they are poised to repeat.
The undefeated Huskies are a juggernaut, most recently having turned what was supposed to be a compelling top-20 matchup into a near-immediate laugher as UConn traveled to LA and trounced USC.
The pounding earned the pair of Azzi Fudd and Blanca Quiñonez the latest Big East honors, with the super senior Fudd receiving the fourth Player of the Week selection of her career and Quiñonez taking her third Freshman of the Week award this season.
Azzi Fudd, Blanca Quiñonez sweep Big East honors
Against the Trojans, Fudd again demonstrated the continued development of her game.
UConn’s leading scorer did not only score a game-high 17 points—with a 3-for-6 effort from behind the arc that actually lowered her season-long 3-point percentage—but she also was the primary defender on point guard Jazzy Davidson, who head coach Geno Auriemma called “the best freshman in the country” before the game, helping to hold Davidson to a season-worst shooting performance and just 10 points.
Meanwhile, Quiñonez made her bid for the “best freshman in the country” crown.
In 21 off-the-bench minutes, the second-most she’s logged this season, Quiñonez tallied 12 points, four boards, four steals and two assists. She’s quickly raised the expectations of her head coach, who noted her mistakes standout only because “all the other moments are amazing.”
The best is yet to come for UConn because of Blanca
Quiñonez also might be the antidote to the potential UConn weakness identified by Josh Felton.
UConn fans, do you have any concerns about your Huskies? Or, are you confident that another national championship will soon stock the trophy case in Storrs? Share your thoughts on The Feed.
Josh asked, “Does UConn have the self creator in the halfcourt who can punish teams that have the talent to play aggressive defensive coverages?”
Although empowering Quiñonez to create in the halfcourt might result in some mistakes, the amazing moments, to borrow Auriemma’s assertion, seem likely to compensate for any bits of chaos.
Her combination of size, strength and skill has made her hard for opponents to handle off the dribble, as she seemingly can get to the basket whenever she wants. That she has a more-than-threatening jumper makes her drive game even more imposing.
Quiñonez’sdynamism is a huge reason why that the Huskies—even though this year’s roster is without the near-unanimous WNBA Rookie of the Year in Paige Bueckers—are even more impressive this season.
The Quiñonez curveball, on top of the growth of Fudd and sophomore Sarah Strong, plus the team’s improved depth with transfers Serah Williams and Kayleigh Heckel, has these Huskies reviving recollections of the dynastic 2010s.
Expect another display of UConn dominance against Marquette
On Wednesday, the team will take the court in Hartford for the second time this season, welcoming Marquette for their third conference contest of the season (7 p.m. ET, Peacock).
Expect another uncompetitive affair that only adds to UConn’s overwhelming resume.
The Huskies own the best net rating in the sport, with their mark of 71.36 clearing second-ranked UCLA by almost 10 full points. Per Basketball Reference’s simple rating system, which grades teams by accounting for their point differential and strength of schedule, the Huskies’ 54.73 rating exceeds second-place Michigan by almost seven points. The nation’s best defense and second-best offense are the foundation of UConn’s lofty status.
To attempt to puncture UConn’s near-perfection, look for the Golden Eagles to rely on the 3-ball. While not a particularly high-volume 3-point shooting team, Marquette is converting 39.9 percent of their triples as a team, the fifth-best percentage in the nation that is actually (slightly) superior to UConn’s 39.6 percent. The Huskies, however, take and thus make more 3s per game, indicating Marquette needs to increase their volume to have a chance. But, that’s easier said than done against UConn. The Golden Eagles struggle with ball security, meaning moving the ball around in search of 3s very likely could lead to giveaways that quickly turn into transition buckets for the Huskies.
Strong, the foundation of the UConn defense, leads the Big East in steals per game at 3.4, while both Fudd and junior KK Arnold secure at least two takeaways per game. Those steals, along with other miscues, fuel a frequent transition attack that is one of the most efficient in the nation. Five Huskies—Strong, Fudd, Quiñonez, Arnold and Williams—average more than 1.5 points per play on the break, illustrating the elite effectiveness with which UConn turns defense into offense. (Does UConn have a halfcourt offense concern if they are so good at avoiding the halfcourt?)
Marquette’s best strategy, therefore, could become their undoing, a scenario that captures the challenge of simply competing with, much less defeating, the defending champs.
