UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, center, talks to his players in a huddle during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Cornell, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Jessica Hill/AP Photo/Jessica Hill
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The No. 2 UConn women’s basketball team faces its first challenge Thursday when it travels to Ann Arbor to play No. 5 Michigan.
It’ll be the first time this year’s Huskies play in a hostile environment and on the road. It’s their first top-five matchup of the year and just their second game with two key players back in the fold. Oh, and the Wolverines are looking for revenge after last year’s close game at Mohegan Sun Arena.
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Yet, Thursday is also a challenge for Geno Auriemma.
Now that the Huskies’ head coach has two of his three injured players back in the mix, including star sophomore Blanca Quiñonez, he’s back to tinkering with his lineups as he looks to settle on the Huskies’ best look.
“I don’t know that we’ll find it between now and the game; I think that’s going to take a little more experimenting,” he said following Monday’s season-opening win over Cornell. “The crazy thing is, you might think, ‘Wow, this group would look really, really great together,’ and that’s not always the case. … Thursday may give us some idea of how the process will go.”
UConn played all 12 of its available players Monday against the Big Red. Ten players got in within the game’s first eight minutes, 11 scored by the game’s final whistle and nine played 15 minutes or more. Quiñonez made her season debut after missing the preseason recovering from shoulder surgery, and freshman Marine Dursus made her collegiate debut after also missing the preseason due to a foot injury.
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UCONN head coach Geno Auriemma, center, watches his team Cornell 100-35 in the women’s first regular season game at the PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford on November 2, 2026.
Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media
Auriemma started Sarah Strong, KK Arnold, Ashlynn Shade, Jana El Alfy and freshman Jovana Popovic — the same starting five who began UConn’s three preseason exhibitions. While Strong, Shade and Arnold are starting-five staples, Auriemma has more quality depth this season than in years past and thus has more flexibility with the other two spots.
Quiñonez was UConn’s best postseason and off-bench performer last year. Not only was she the Big East Freshman of the Year but also the conference’s Sixth Player of the Year. And Auriemma likes Strong and Quiñonez on the floor together. The two open up UConn’s offense and have strong chemistry. Based on her productivity from last season, Quiñonez is expected to jump into the starting lineup soon. She was limited to a minute restriction Monday, yet that will lift the more she plays.
Yet, Popovic proved in the preseason that she’s needed on the floor at all times. She’s a reliable scorer who can push the pace and boost the Huskies’ defense. She can also pitch in and play point guard.
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Then there’s the post. El Alfy has the most experience out of UConn’s bigs, but is quick to get pulled by Auriemma. Freshman center Olivia Vukosa brings aggression and size, yet she’s still learning the college game.
Kayleigh Heckel, Kelis Fisher and Allie Ziebell have also proved their worth. Heckel is one of the team’s best defenders. Fisher has improved on both sides of the ball, and Ziebell provides a much-needed 3-point threat.
Getting everyone ample minutes and putting out the best five for each opponent will be a seasonlong challenge for Auriemma — starting Thursday against the Wolverines, who play small and quick and demand aggressive defenders.
“That’s always a coach’s toughest job,” said Auriemma of figuring out his rotations. “… There comes a point where they have to understand, the players, that they are the ones that are deciding whether they play or not. So, you watch them every day in practice, and you see what they do on a regular basis. See how they respond to different challenges, and then you say, ‘Alright, I think right now we have eight, or I think we have nine, or I think whatever it is.’
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“… The hardest thing is to keep players engaged, and they’ve got to be the right players. And fortunately, you know, for us, we mostly get the right players. But that’s where it’s challenging as the season goes on.”
UConn guard Jovana Popovic (13) shoots a basket as UConn forward Blanca Quiñonez (4) looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Cornell, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Jessica Hill/AP Photo/Jessica Hill
The Wolverines begin their season Thursday. Michigan finished last year with a 28-7 overall record and was the No. 2 team in the Big Ten — the program’s best finish in the conference since 2000. It returns its top five scorers, including stars Syla Swords and All-American Olivia Olson.
Last year, Michigan came back from a double-digit deficit to force a late-game finish against the Huskies. Despite getting within a single possession in the game’s final 10 seconds, UConn’s defense, led by Arnold, spoiled Michigan’s final possession to secure the UConn victory.
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“They have a style of play that I think is fun to watch,” Auriemma said of Michigan. “They share the ball. They move the ball. They shoot the ball great. They’re well-coached, and I’m sure they’re incredibly good at home because that’s what all good teams are; they’re good at home. I’m sure that the game last year gave them a sense of, you know, ‘If we didn’t get down 20 last year, we could have won that game.’ So, I would expect it to be a great game.”
He added: “They’ve got a couple really, really good players that carried them a lot last year, and I’m sure they’re going to be even better this year.”
Thursday’s game marks the first top-5 women’s basketball game at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. Michigan has never beaten a top-4-ranked team and is 0-31 all-time against such opponents, including 0-11 against No. 2-ranked teams. The Wolverines have twice beaten a No. 5-ranked team and nearly upset No. 2 UCLA last February, losing 69-66 at home.
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For UConn, Thursday’s game is the first of four straight top-18 ranked opponents. Eight of the Huskies’ next 10 games are against ranked teams.
“That’s why you schedule teams like this,” said Auriemma. “You know you’re going to be tested, and if you play well and you don’t win, you come out of there feeling, ‘Hm.’ If you play really poorly, you’re going to be really like, ‘Damn.’ If you play well and you win, that’s a great win. So, all good things will come out of this game and the next three after that.”