UConn vs Tennessee, UNLV dates revealed, Huskies named to Team USA, Vukosa makes history
The Huskies were in the headlines all over this week, both in the states and overseas. From scheduling to Team USA to records broken, this is what you need to stay in the loop with UConn women’s basketball.
UConn vs. Tennessee, UNLV dates announced
As we continue to inch closer to the start of the NCAA women’s basketball season, information about the non-conference schedule is beginning to come to light and the picture of what lies ahead is being painted for the UConn faithful.
A familiar foe is up first with a bit of a difference this year. The matchup between UConn and Tennessee is always one that eyes will dart to, but this year you will find it at a different part of the calendar. The game will take place on December 12th, as opposed to finding itself wedged into a gap in conference play for both teams. The matchup comes in between games against Maryland and LSU as the schedule currently stands, creating a tough stretch into the turn of the calendar.
UNLV also announced their non-conference schedule, which includes a matchup with UConn on December 2nd. The two programs have only met once in their history, a dominant win for the Huskies in 1997.
While UConn will be the home team for both of these matchups, the time and locations have yet to be announced.
Team USA selects Bueckers, Stewart, and Collier for World Cup roster
Well, if you want to win it all, whether it be a championship or a gold medal, having UConn Huskies on your roster is often a good place to start. That is exactly what USA Basketball Managing Director Sue Bird decided when including Paige Bueckers, Breanna Stewart, and Napheesa Collier on Team USA’s World Cup roster for Berlin.
For Bueckers, this will be her first official major tournament with the Team USA senior team. Bueckers joined Team USA for the World Cup qualifiers in Puerto Rico earlier this year, where she was able to get her first taste of playing with the senior team, but it is ultimately different once you are in the official competitions. That is when Team USA brings their all of their best to the court.
Included in that best will be both Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, who did not compete in the qualifiers.
To put it plainly, Stewart is already one of the most accomplished players to play for Team USA women’s basketball. Three Olympic gold medals and three World Cup wins, and now she will look to go for a fourth. An already stacked resume across the board, including the 2018 FIBA World Cup MVP, Stewart will once again be playing a major role for the red, white, and blue.
As for Collier, she absolutely already possesses accolades with Team USA, but attending a World Cup will be a first. After securing gold at the 2020 Olympics, the 2022 World Cup fell around her maternity leave. She would make her Team USA return to win gold at the 2024 Olympics. This time the World Cup has lined up as she makes her return from injury for Collier to make a long deserved World Cup debut.
Olivia Vukosa makes history at FIBA U18 Eurobasket tournament
Speaking of Huskies making waves at international tournaments, freshman Olivia Vukosa created more than just a wave at the FIBA U18 Eurobasket tournament, it was more a record-breaking tsunami.
Vukosa, competing for Croatia, set the single-game scoring record with 46 points, en route to earning a spot on the tournament’s All-Star Five. Vukosa averaged 24.9 points and 14.3 rebounds per game, leading all players in both.
It certainly isn’t hard to convince anyone on why they should be excited about what Olivia Vukosa is bringing to the Basketball Capital of the World, and her performance at this tournament should only fuel that excitement for UConn fans going into this season.
