Four games into Big East play in 2025-26, UConn women’s basketball stars Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong have yet to play a single minute in a fourth quarter.
In fact, the No. 1 Huskies have been so dominant through the start of their conference schedule that they don’t have a single starter averaging more than 22.5 minutes per game. UConn’s bench has outscored opponents by itself twice amid a 4-0 start in the Big East, and the second unit came just two points shy of outscoring Butler during the team’s 94-47 victory in Indianapolis on Sunday.
Entering another Big East matchup on the road Wednesday at Providence, the Huskies rank 10th in the country in bench points and have utilized at least 12 players in nine of their 13 games. The team’s depth has been challenging for coach Geno Auriemma to manage at times, and while the core rotation is largely solidified at this point, he said conference play provides a chance for players further down the bench to prove themselves.
“Whether you’re in the game the first five minutes or you’re in the game the last five minutes or anytime in between, we’ve talked a lot about, it’s an opportunity for you to play,” Auriemma said Saturday. “It’s an opportunity for you to get get better … It’s not the easiest thing to be in that situation. Everybody handles it differently, but for the most part, it’s go out there and play and get better and build good habits. We’ve had some success over the years with players using that time to improve, and it pays off.”
Freshman forward Blanca Quinonez and USC transfer Kayleigh Heckel have established themselves as the clear top two off the Huskies’ bench, but sophomore guard Allie Ziebell is also emerging as a key piece in the rotation. Ziebell hit a pair of 3-pointers to finish with nine points in the win at Butler, and she is averaging 50% shooting from the field plus 42.1% from beyond the arc this season — both massive leaps from her freshman year splits. If she continues to develop through the second half of the season, she can give UConn another dangerous scoring threat come NCAA Tournament time.
The Huskies still need more from their post players outside of Strong and Quinonez, especially from redshirt sophomore Jana El Alfy. El Alfy started 27 games in 2024-25 but transitioned into a supporting role off the bench this year with the arrival of Wisconsin transfer Serah Williams. The 6-foot-5 center is currently averaging 4.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in just over 10 minutes per game, but she played a season-high 15 minutes against Butler logging nine points, three boards and three assists.
“The big thing for her has been her conditioning, getting up and down the floor and trying to get a little more consistent with the ball in the lane,” Auriemma said. “Making sure defensively that we’re making progress that way. There’s no one particular thing. This time of year, you’ve got two months left in the regular season, so you’re just trying to carve out some time for yourself. Go out there in practice every day, go in the game whenever you get in and just make a case for yourself.”
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Providence comes into its matchup with the Huskies after traveling to face No. 3 South Carolina on the road Sunday, and the Gamecocks handled the Friars 96-55 even with star guard Ta’Niya Latson out for much of the game. Providence also has losses to Howard and Middle Tennessee State on its record, and it dropped its Big East opener 61-47 to a Xavier team that UConn routed by 65.
The Huskies trailed for the first time in conference play in the first quarter against Butler, but they flexed their ability to put a game out of reach in minutes with a 27-0 run in response to the brief four-point deficit. To keep UConn from breaking open an insurmountable lead early, Providence’s best hope is to lean on its defense, which is arguably the second-best unit in the Big East. The Friars are second in the conference behind the Huskies in points allowed giving up just 57.6 per game, and they rank above UConn in both 3-point defense and defensive rebounding.
But even if Providence can limit the Huskies’ scoring, it likely won’t be able to capitalize on its own offensive end. Defensive pressure is at the heart of UConn’s identity this season, and the team is currently averaging 42 points off of 28.3 forced turnovers across their four Big East wins to date. The Friars enter Wednesday’s game with the worst offense in the conference, ranking last in points and assists and second-to-last in field goal and 3-point percentage. They also average 16.4 turnovers, which doesn’t bode well for their hopes of keeping the Huskies in the half court.
How to watch
Site: Amica Mutual Pavilion; Providence, R.I.
Time/date: 3 p.m., Wednesday
Team records: UConn 13-0, Providence 8-6
Series record: UConn leads 50-21
Last meeting: 77-40 UConn, Feb. 9 in Providence, R.I.
TV: NBC Sports Network
Streaming: Peacock
Radio: UConn Sports Network on FOX Sports 97.9