Jana El Alfy #8 of the UConn Huskies cheers from the bench during the second half of the game against the St. John’s Red Storm at Madison Square Garden in New York City, United States, on March 1, 2026. (Photo by Federico Torres/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images
STORRS — There are nine countries represented on UConn women’s basketball’s 2026-27 roster. Ten, if you count head coach Geno Auriemma and his Italian roots.
For the past three and a half weeks, Werth Champions Center has been filled with celebratory screams as player support their countries during World Cup watch parties. Most of the screaming, according to KK Arnold, has come from Jana El Alfy and Gandy Malou-Mamel, with lots of frustrated grunts and, of course, friendly smack-talking during the Huskies’ summer bonding parties.
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“I’m very excited,” said Malou-Mamel last week after practice. “My parents are both from (DR) Congo, as most people know. So, being able to support that side of my heritage, and everyone else is supporting their country too; I’m so excited. It’s big for us.”
While not everyone’s country qualified for the World Cup nor is everyone a big soccer fan, getting the chance to cheer on the international Huskies’ home countries has not only made the team’s two new international newcomers feel welcomed but has given them an opportunity to share their culture and background.
“It’s like the nation is here, the whole world is here, all of us are in the World Cup as well, so we all get to like compete about that,” said Malou-Mamel. “I think it’s great to have different cultures here.”
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STORRS, CONNECTICUT – FEBRUARY 22: Gandy Malou-Mamel #42 of the Connecticut Huskies cheers on teammates during player introductions before an NCAA women’s basketball game against the Providence Friars at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on February 22, 2026 in Storrs, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images
Out of the 10 different countries represented in the program, seven qualified for the World Cup. As of Tuesday night, only two remain after Belgium knocked out the U.S., 4-1. El Alfy’s Egypt tost to Argentina on Tuesday in the Round of 16. Spain, where Sarah Strong was born and lived until she was 10, advanced after defeating Portugal, 1-0, marking its first return to the quarterfinals since winning it all in 2010.
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“Oh my god, it’s the best thing ever,” said El Alfy. “I mean, people are really excited back home, and it’s our first time winning a game in the World Cup, and it’s our first time qualifying ever. So, it’s really, pretty special to get to experience that, and, you know, you feel proud that your country’s making history. I think it’s really, really fun.”
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During Group Stage play, the Huskies tried to watch as many games as they could. Games are always on the TVs inside Werth Champions Center, and players stream even more games on their phones.
“It’s definitely a lot of fun, like in the training room, just before practice, after practice, we’re all watching, staring at the TV, just seeing whose teams are doing well, whose teams are in, and whose teams are out,” said freshman Olivia Vukosa. “It’s just a lot of fun, especially with the men’s team too.”
Even though Jovana Popovic’s Serbia didn’t qualify, she was rooting for Portugal and Brazil because of stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. Vukosa was rooting for Croatia, since she holds citizenship in her family’s home country and plays for Croatia in FIBA tournaments. A handful of the Huskies played soccer briefly growing up and still love the sport.
“I really love it,” said sophomore Blanca Quiñonez following Ecuador’s loss in the Round of 32. “My twin plays soccer. I actually played soccer when I was younger. My dad plays soccer, so I’m surrounded by soccer in my family, so I really enjoy it.”
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Allie Ziebell said Malou-Mamel is the biggest soccer fan on the team. And even though Auriemma’s team didn’t qualify, he still enjoyed joining in on the fun.
“Before we started one of our workouts, he asked a question about, like, whose team was still in it, and people raised their hands, and it was a big deal,” said Ziebell. “He can’t (raise his hand). So, I don’t know why we were having a big debate about it.”
STORRS, CONNECTICUT – FEBRUARY 22: Kelis Fisher #7, Blanca Quinonez #4 and Jana El Alfy #8 of the Connecticut Huskies react during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game against the Providence Friars at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on February 22, 2026 in Storrs, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images
Newcomer Marine Dursus’ France is also in the quarterfinals after defeating Paraguay, 1-0. The French have finished in the quarterfinals or better in each of the last four World Cups, including the 2018 World Cup title.
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Even though she didn’t arrive in Storrs until the final week of the Huskies’ summer session, Dursus has already begun teaching her new teammates French.
“Sarah is trying to learn French because I’m living with her,” said Dursus. “So she will try to learn more French, but also Blanca, she knows some words in French.”
El Alfy said she and the older international players have helped the newcomers feel welcome. El Alfy, the longest-tenured player on the Huskies’ roster this season, sees herself in the younger internationals.
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“I feel like having Blanca and Gandy, and I with the new people, I feel like that also helps, because you know we went through the same thing,” she said. “Even though sometimes the new guys don’t ask for stuff, you kind of know what they’re going through and what they need.”
Added Malou-Mamel: “They have a lot of things that they need to learn, like I mean, side of the road is a simple one, and then everything else. So, I think just being like an open book, if they need questions, they can ask me. Jovana knocks on my door a lot, and I’m happy to answer. I was there once, and I’m happy to be that person for her.”