Head coach Geno Auriemma delivered a significant boost to the University of Connecticut women’s basketball program on Saturday, confirming that every player on the roster participated in practice for the first time this season. This milestone comes just two days before the Huskies open their 2024-25 campaign against Cornell at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford on Monday at 5 p.m. Auriemma noted that while the full squad was present, not every athlete practiced at 100 percent intensity, suggesting the coaching staff will monitor workload closely as they define the team’s on-court identity.
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The return of key personnel marks a critical shift from the early exhibition period, where injuries sidelined several projected starters. Blanca Quinonez, the Big East’s top freshman and sixth player from last season, missed all three exhibition games due to offseason shoulder surgery. Additionally, French shooting guard Marine Dursus has been absent while recovering from a foot injury, and Morgan Cheli, who returned briefly against Syracuse on Oct. 12 after missing two seasons with a stress fracture, has not played since. With these pieces now in the mix, Auriemma expects to see how the lineup coalesces during the season opener.
The full availability of the roster provides UConn with its best opportunity to establish rhythm and defensive structure before the regular season intensifies. While the men’s team faces Gardner-Webb at 9 p.m. Monday, the women’s game serves as the primary stage for evaluating the integration of returning veterans and new additions like Jovana Popovic. Auriemma’s emphasis on “seeing what the identity will start to look like” underscores the importance of Monday’s contest as a baseline for the season’s trajectory, moving beyond exhibition noise to test competitive readiness against a Big East rival.
Source: Yahoo Sports
