The start of the 2026-27 season is five months away, yet the prep work begins now. 

UConn women’s basketball begins its summer workout session next week in Storrs. The Huskies report to campus this week and will spend the next month working out, bonding with new teammates and, of course, taking summer academic courses. After the summer session, the players won’t return to campus until August for the start of fall academics and preseason training.

After falling short of going back-to-back, the Huskies, the 2025 national champions, will look to redeem last season’s Final Four collapse. UConn returns 10 players from last season, led by National Player of the Year Sarah Strong and Big East Freshman and Sixth Player of the Year Blanca Quiñonez. Three incoming freshmen will join the squad, including two with international professional experience and one of the nation’s top high school recruits.

While national championships aren’t won in June, Geno Auriemma and his staff will take the summer session to experiment with lineups, acclimate new players, test abilities and begin building team chemistry. This next month will set the standard to which next year’s Huskies will use as their foundation. Auriemma and longtime associate head coach Chris Dailey begin their 42nd season in Storrs, looking to raise banner No. 13.

The 2025-26 season ended in April at the Final Four in Phoenix when Auriemma’s late-game altercation with South Carolina’s Dawn Staley spoiled the Huskies’ otherwise perfect season. Since Auriemma has made amends with Staley. Both issued apologetic statements, and Auriemma later admitted he regretted his actions. The two Hall of Fame head coaches were even seen recruiting at a youth basketball event, sitting a few people apart on the same sideline.

While Auriemma has been out recruiting — the Huskies signed 2026-27 late addition Marine Dursus on Friday, May 22  — his players, both former and current, have also been busy.

Azzi Fudd and Serah Williams are living out their dreams playing in the WNBA. Dallas selected Fudd as the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft, reuniting her with former UConn teammate Paige Bueckers. The two have helped Dallas to a 4-3 start, including Fudd’s 24-point performance Sunday in the Wing’s victory over New York. Williams is out on the West Coast playing for the Portland Fire. The former Wisconsin transfer is averaging 3.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks and 0.3 assists in 11.0 minutes per game.

Former Husky Caroline Ducharme also got to participate in a WNBA training camp with the Golden State Valkyries before being waived. Since getting cut, Ducharme has remained ready by not only working out with trainers in New York but also attending WNBA games as a fan to cheer on her former Husky teammates. Most recently, she was in New York to support Williams during the Liberty’s game against the Fire.

KK Arnold, Ice Brady, Kelis Fisher and Strong have also taken turns being fans. All four made the trip out to Dallas to support Fudd and Bueckers. The Huskies were seen sitting courtside during a Dallas home game before also celebrating Arnold’s birthday during their trip to Texas.

Brady and Ayanna Patterson were the only two players UConn lost to the transfer portal this spring. Brady will continue her career at Florida State, despite sitting out next season recovering from the season-ending knee surgery she had in February. Patterson announced her transfer to Kentucky. Both Brady and Patterson have two years of eligibility remaining.

Also dealing with recovery is Quiñonez. UConn announced the rising sophomore had shoulder surgery on May 18 to repair a left torn labrum. Quiñonez, UConn’s second-leading returning scorer, is expected to be healthy to start the 2026-27 season.

Additional offseason updates on the Huskies will come in June as Auriemma will attend the Coaches Road Show on June 3 at Kinsmen Brewing Company in Southington and host his annual Geno for the Kids Charity Golf Tournament on June 16 in West Hartford.