UNCASVILLE — Former Wisconsin star Serah Williams spent the first three years of her college career playing on losing teams, but the UConn women’s basketball transfer looked like a winner in the team’s 84-67 exhibition game victory over Boston College on Monday.
The 6-foot-4 senior seemed dramatically more comfortable against the Eagles than she did even three weeks ago when the team held an open preseason practice for fans. In just 17 minutes on the court, Williams finished with 15 points shooting 5-for-7 from the field plus five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. The Huskies were plus-18 when she was on the floor.
“She’s pretty intense,” coach Geno Auriemma said after the exhibition. “She’s a really good rebounder, obviously. She finishes around the basket. Defensively, she has a pretty good idea of how to use her size and athleticism. Ever since we started practice two weeks ago, she’s gotten better and better every day.”
Having a confident scorer in the post is a breath of fresh air for UConn. Gone are the days of “point center” Paige Bueckers, of 6-foot-2 Sarah Strong being the tallest player on the floor. For the first time in years, the Huskies’ best option isn’t to play small.
UConn guard Azzi Fudd, left, and UConn forward Serah Williams, right, pressure Boston College guard Ava McGee, center, in the first half of an exhibition NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
On Monday, Auriemma experimented with lineups that few teams in the country will be able to match for size. Williams and Strong were frequently on the floor together, and adding 6-foot-2 freshman Blanca Quinonez creates an ultra-versatile combination of two forwards with guard skills next to a more traditional post presence. Ice Brady struggled at times last year to handle physicality in the paint as the Huskies’ starting center, and the rotation against Boston College indicated that the 6-foot-3 redshirt senior can play significant minutes in a more comfortable spot as a power forward beside Williams.
“The last couple of years, we had to play one way, and that was it,” Auriemma said. “We had to be very, very cautious. So if we’re able to develop some of this depth as the game goes on, we can change how we play and combinations that go out there as the season goes on. Some players will thrive with certain other players on the floor, and we’ve got to find out who they are.”
What we learned about UConn women’s basketball in exhibition victory vs. Boston College
Williams admits her transition to UConn has been more difficult than she expected, in part because of the heightened intensity and the championship standard that the program demands. But it’s also a major change on the court. Over three years at Wisconsin, Williams got used to being the top line of each opponent’s scouting report. In both her sophomore and junior seasons, she was the only Badgers player averaging more than 11 points per game, and she quickly began to face double- and triple-teams every time she touched the ball. And though Williams learned to navigate that level of defensive pressure successfully, averaging a career-high 19.2 points plus 9.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 2024-25, the experience got old quickly.
When she was suddenly surrounded in the Huskies’ starting lineup by four former top-15 recruits, Williams found herself moving through the paint with more space than she knew what to do with.
“I’m learning how to play slower, because I don’t have to score as quickly anymore,” Williams said after practice last week. “That was one of my big things in the portal was I wanted to play with other good players … I’m just learning how to play team basketball and be part of the team, feeding off people and having the different aspects that come with an all-around good team. I really wanted that experience.”
Williams is slowly but surely getting acclimated to her new reality, and Monday’s game script showed how important the senior center is to unlocking the rest of UConn’s offense. She and Strong dominated the first half, accounting for 10 of the team’s 18 made field goals and 25 of their 43 points.
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But after Boston College went to a zone defense to try to limit the Huskies’ paint touches, it opened up a wealth of opportunities for the team’s shooters. Star guard Azzi Fudd attempted just four shots in the first half, then hit five consecutive 3-pointers in the third quarter including a pair from the same spot in the left corner. Sophomore Ashlynn Shade also went 2-for-2 beyond the arc in the second half, and the team shot a combined 8-for-11 after entering halftime 2-for-17.
“She’s a really good player, so playing with Serah is a lot of fun,” Strong said. “She has a high IQ, and she knows where to be at the right time, so it’s easy to play with her.”
It’s still October, and the Eagles are far from the best opponent the Huskies will see this season, but this is also likely the worst Williams will be as she continues settling in to the brand-new system. The senior came to UConn because she was tired of watching the NCAA Tournament from home, and if the team is competing for a national title again in April, Williams will be a big part of the reason why.
“It’s not the easiest thing in the world to play one way for three years and then come in and be thrown into a scenario like ours, but I think she’s going to be a huge help to us,” Auriemma said. “How many minutes did she play today? 18? She’ll probably play a lot more than that in the future.”