The Freshmen

#4 G Moriah Jefferson

If speed kills, then Mo deserves the electric chair. That's how fast Geno's first-ever recruit from Texas actually is on the court. This lightning-quick guard, is a tornado. And like a tornado, if you misjudge her abilites, she will catch before you could blink and leave you in pieces. Reports say she is a true floor general and is already displaying leadership skills well beyond her years. And with Hartley being out, she may start her first game in a Husky uniform in that PG spot. UConn has lacked a true PG with scoring capabilities since Renee Montgomery's graduation in 2009. If Mo can hit open shots and dribble penetrate to either score or dish with regularity, she and UConn will be unstoppable. And she's just a freshman folks. Wow! Can you imagine with all the talent on this team, if Geno designates her as his starting PG from day 1 and keeps her there even when Hartley returns? He said the next couple of years were going to be special in Storrs, and I'm so sure he's right that I'm already excited to find out just how special they really going to be.

#30 F Breanna Stewart

And speaking of special, I think you'll find the consensus HS POTY and #1 recruit Breanna Stewart's picture listed next to that word in Webster's Dictionary. Already being touted as maybe the best recruit in the history of the UConn program, Stewie, as her teammates call her, isn't taking any praise lightly or for granted. She is here to become the best and work her butt off everyday to get there. She knows she has the chance to leave UConn in the same breath as the long list of Husky Greats that have come before her and she is off to a great start. In just two exhibition games, she has already provided fans and media with plenty of ohs and ahs; from a pull-up 3 on the break to a tip-in around the rim to a nasty block from out of nowhere. Breanna just has that incredible knack for being in the right place at the right time and she can do it all: score from anywhere (inside the arena), handle the ball, pass, defend, block shots, rebound, hit 3's, finish with either hand, create her own shot, and has just about every post move you can think of in her arsenal. If it were up to me, she would start from day 1, but Geno's the expert so I will trust his judgment if she doesn't(but it won't take long if she doesn't...she's just that good). These next four years are going to be out-of-this-world spectacular. So UConn fans all around the world buckle up and get to know #30 fast because they're going to go by in a blur. And I assure you, you won't want to miss a thing.

#3 F Morgan Tuck

Wearing the #3 jersey at UConn comes with a TON of pressure and this frosh is more than ready to take on that challenge. Perhaps the least talked about freshman of the self-proclaimed "Three Musketeers" (a nickname I hate, btw. Come on girls, you can think of something better!!), Morgan Tuck may just turn out to be the best of the 3 in the end. Like her fellow frosh Stewie, she too has the total post arsenal and can step out and hit the 3 easily. Where they differ is in their bodies and comfort zones. While Stewie is a post in a guard's body who loves mixing things up all over the court, Morgan is a post in post's body who loves being in the post while occasionally stepping out to nail a 3. She is strong, physical, confident, and determined. She is also a lot like Kelly Faris in the sense that she won't blow you away in any one particular area, but she just finds a way to get it done, but unlike Kelly, Morgan can flat out score! She'll always fill up the stat sheet and while she may have a quiet game here and there, I don't ever expect her to have a bad one. I also expect Morgan to be a big game player, so be on the look out for increased numbers against ranked foes and when the tournaments come rolling around. She may just be the most competitive person on this team, and if she can infuse that will into her teammates - this team is going to go from very good to ____ (we need to invent a new word for scary) good by March.

2/2 Connecticut Huskies (0-0)

Results: Connecticut 119, Holy Family 50
Player of the Game: So. G Brianna Banks (20p, 5r, 5a, 23m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. C Kiah Stokes (6dr, 1s, 7b, 20m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. F Breanna Stewart (21p, 4r, 2a, 2s, 2b, 25m)
Stat of the Game: 3pt. FGs: UConn 18-34, Holy Family 8-21

Summary: Let's face facts people, 18 three's made in one game by 7 different players no matter who the opponent, is just plain sick. Especially when you are playing without your All-American PG Bria Hartley. Without the "eldest" Bree (ankle) for the 2nd game, it was the "other" Bree's, Fr. F Bree Stewart and So. G Bree Banks, who helped UConn pull away late in the 1st half to turn the game into a blowout. Each scored 21 and 20 pts., respectively as the Huskies steam-rolled the Tigers 119-50. Now the team turns its attention to the "real" season as they begin their quest for their 8th NCAA Championship against the College of Charleston on Sun., Nov. 11th at 1:30pm ET on their new network, SNY. Check local listing or subscribe to watch online.

Be sure to tune into SNY’s premiere of Huskies All-Access tomorrow night - Thurs., Nov. 8th at 8pm ET for a behind-the-scenes look at the UConn Women’s Basketball team. Prior to the show, SNY will also preview the season at 7:00pm ET with the UConn Women's Basketball Preview show. This one-hour special will feature Head Coach Geno Auriemma live in-studio along with former UConn greats and current analysts Meghan Culmo and Kara Wolters, play-by-play announcer Andrew Catalon, John Altavilla of the Hartford Courant and host Gary Apple. The show will take an in-depth look at the upcoming season, and include exclusive interviews with players as well as provide analysis of the key storylines and players to watch.

The Sophomores

#13 G Brianna Banks

The coaching staff has raved about the player Brianna Banks has been so far this preseason and that's a great sign. Even Bri, herself, says she's a completely different player from last season after deciding in the offseason that she was going to stop worrying about messing up and just play. Sometimes players are instinctual players rather than IQ players and it would seem that Brianna is just that. Her instincts are what led her to UConn and not using them is what almost led her to leave unexpectedly. So it's great to hear that she didn't give up on herself and instead put in the time and effort necessary to be successful at the nation's top women's basketball program. While I've heard reports that her shooting has improved, I believe it when I see it because last year she couldn't buy one - outside of a lay-up. Offensively, look for her to slowly build on the glimpses of success she showed us last season (i.e. - scoring off fast breaks and beating defenders off the dribble) while hopefully making teams pay this year for leaving her wide open on the perimeter. Defensively is where she will shine the most. She will be the head of our full-court press, play the passing lanes, rack up steals, and try to overtake Faris as the team's best one-on-one stopper.

#23 W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis

"Girl can shoot!" That's what Kaleena has heard all her life and frankly, she's sick of it. Why would a player ever be sick of hearing that compliment, you ask? Because she's driven to be the best and the best do more than just shoot. Kaleena has set out to prove to all the critics out there that she is more than just a lights-out shooter. She wants to be an all-around player who can shoot the lights out! And if her coach knows a thing or two about what he's seen so far this young season (and I'm going to go out a a very short limb and say he does!) then UConn and women's basketball fans everywhere are in for a real treat. Last season's leading scoring (as a freshman, no less), Kaleena is an All-American in waiting and I expect nothing less than that type of play this season (even if the accolades don't follow). I also expect her to lead the team in scoring once again. As a spot-up shooter, she is money from outside at nearly 1 out of every 2, which is phenomenal. If she can start being that accurate when she takes people of the dribble or pulls up for a jumpshot, she will be unstoppable. Rebounding numbers will increase this season as well since she should be more comfortable playing the 4 at times. Getting to the FT line at a much high clip is a must this season especially on plays where she is posting up smaller defenders and/or finishing through contact for And-1's. Her coach also challenged her to get better defensively and so far he likes what he sees.

#41 Kiah Stokes

If Kiah Stokes ever reaches her potential and the physical gifts she was born with, we may be looking at the next Lisa Leslie. That's how much raw talent and skill resides in her bones. She is a shot-blocking machine and with more effort, heart, and desire could become a rebounding machine (ala Tina Charles, Cheryl Ford, or even Courtney Paris). She has the face-up game, the post moves, can finish with either hand, and can take people off the dribble. However, offense will always just be an added bonus from Kiah so long as she's content with it being that way. When your coach was just the head coach of the gold medal winning USA Senior National Women's Basketball Team, and he says you are a player who could average 15/10 a night and you only average just under 5/5 then you are 1) not playing up to your potential (duh!) but 2) going to spend a lot of time in his doghouse. And that my UConn friends is where Kiah is going to spend a lot of time this season if she doesn't (play to her potential). He may go easy on her at first as she has only been cleared to play since August after having offseason foot surgery, but once Big East play rolls around there will be no more Mr. Nice Guy. The parts are all there for Kiah. The wheels are on (the bad one has been fixed), there's fuel in the engine, and the keys are in the ignition. Now it's up to her to start the car and let Geno teach her how to become one of the world's greatest drivers!!

Game notes (pdf) for today's exhibition game vs. 9 Holy Family Tigers (DII).

Location: XL Center (Hartford, CT)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: none
Internet: HuskyVision
Radio: UConn Student Radio
Live Stats: GameTracker

The Juniors

#31 C Stefanie Dolson

There's losing weight and getting into better shape and then there's Stef Dolson. According to Geno, the press, the camera, the fans, and my own godmother/aunt, she is an entirely new person. Stef has transformed herself and her body into a work of art: strength, muscle, and energy. Those who questioned if she could ever play sustained minutes in college have all crawled back under their rocks. The disappointment of the last two Final 4's are fresh in Dolson's mind maybe more than anybody else's on this team. Plagued by foul trouble her freshman year, her team fell behind too far to catch up to Notre Dame even with Magnificent Maya's huge second half, and her coming out party during her sophomore year still wasn't enough to power her team past Notre Dame in to the title game. Stef Dolson is on a mission this season. That mission is UConn's 8th National Championship, and Baylor, Griner, Notre Dame, Diggins, and all the rest of the teams/players out there in the NCAA are going to have to pry it from her cold, dead fingers to get it from her. She can finish with either hand, has face-up ability, and has almost every post move in the book. And now that she finally has talented post players by her side in the paint, she won't be forced to deal with double- & triple-teams on a nightly basis. Look for her to lead the team in FG %, average a career-high in points/rebounds/assists, and be in the discussion for All-American honors come seasons end. She is already the Best Passing Center in the country, but Geno's proclamation of Dolson being the 2nd Best Center in the country from last season is about to come true. He's already warned the officials that they better start treating her better, which must mean he sees it coming as well. So watch out America, Momma Stef is on the prowl.

#14 G Bria Hartley

The lone All-American on the squad is slowly but surely creating her own legacy here at UConn. Fresh off her 3-on-3 Gold Medal, the one missing piece of her Husky legacy is a NCAA Championship and if last year was a sneak preview to just how good Bria Hartley truly is then Huskies fans better buckle up and enjoy the ride she is going to take us and her teammates on this season. Bria lives for the big games, the big moments, and the big shots. Unfortunately, last season it was the big shots that failed her, but 2012-13 is a whole new season and a whole new opportunity to show America what we UConn fans already know...the girl is a BIG TIME!! Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins may get all the pub and the subsequent accolades, but in my opinion, Hartley is better and will show it this season. She can pass, defend, handle the rock, score any way she wants and finish through contact (maybe she'll finally start getting "Diggins" calls). There will be no month-long shooting slump this year. Bottom line, Bria has all the tools of an All-American (which is why she is one). Problem was last year's honors felt more like some of the voters said, "We need to pick a UConn player, I guess we'll go with Bria since she scored a lot in games vs. ranked opponents" rather than all of the voters saying, "Bria Hartley is unquestionably UConn's best player and there aren't 10 players in the country better than her". This season, if her troublesome ankle ever fully heals, she will once again be an All-American. This time though, voters will be unanimous in their opinion and if she is left of the AP 1st team All-American list it will be because of numbers (due to UConn's balance and depth), not value! UConn will go only as far as Bria will take them, and I have no doubt she will do everything in her power to take them to Bourbon Street this year to celebrate #8.

The Seniors

#32 C Heather Buck

This 5th-year Senior knows her role and knows it well. At this point in her career, Heather is UConn's 11th man and is strictly on the court to play defense, rebound, set screens, and get the Huskies second chance opportunities. The CT native is most comfortable doing all the "dirty, little" things for her teammates and we(and her teammates) love her for it. I don't think there is another player on this roster that has more fans rooting for good things to come her way than Buck. Scoring will always be just a bonus and usually will likely only come off second chance opportunities or late in blowouts. However, for her to get more court time this season, she needs to continue to do all those "dirty, little" things but also consistently hit 10-15 foot wide-open jumpers that opponents will dare her to take. 



#5 G Caroline Doty

Who doesn't love this 5th-year Senior (besides bitter Duke fans)? Caroline's season will come down to this very simple fact...staying healthy enough to play! When healthy, Sweet Caroline is as good a shooter as any in the country. And the girl is as tough as nails and loves to play. So you know when she's out, it is killing her. She is the emotional leader of this team and will play a large role in instilling confidence in her teammates as the competition gets tougher. If healthy enough to play, she is Geno's choice to start in the backcourt (has started 92 of her 93 career games at UConn) and rightfully so despite many fans thinking otherwise. She knows the system, has a great basketball IQ, is a great ball-handler, and has Championship experience. I (and Geno) will take those any day over raw talent. Look for her to play 18-20mpg against inferior competition but 25-28mpg against better competition because Geno loves her on the floor (even if she isn't scoring) when the going gets tough. And if the reports are correct, Geno says she is whole different player this year - more confident, mentally stronger, and understands she has to be cerebral.

#34 G Kelly Faris

Does anyone not think that if Geno had to play one person 40mpg every night, it would be Miss Kelly Faris? As the team's lone true Senior, Kelly is the clear leader and MVP of this UConn squad and the epitome of work ethic, heart, and drive. She is the very definition of an all-around player. She can score, pass, rebound, defend, and lead. She is by far the team's best one-on-one defender and would/could defend all 5 positions on the court, if her coach asked her to. Prior to her freshman season, Geno said she would never play a bad game at UConn and boy, if he was a betting man, he should have bet the farm. While she may have, in fact, had a few bad games along the way over the past 3 years, I wouldn't want any other player on our team in replacement of her even if you paid me (and we're taking about a career 6ppg scorer here folks). She's just the valuable!! Her shot needs to get much more consistent and she needs to look to score more when open, but other than that she's well on her way to what I predict to be her most impactful season yet.

Today SNY, the official television home of the UConn Huskies Women's basketball program, announced its all-access programming lineup for the 2012-13 UConn Women's basketball season. Featuring an unprecedented 340+ hours of exclusive programming, SNY will tip off its comprehensive coverage this Thursday, Nov. 8th at 7:00pm ET with the UConn Women's Basketball Preview show, presented by Connecticut Lighting Centers. This one-hour special will feature Head Coach Geno Auriemma live in-studio along with former UConn greats and current analysts Meghan Culmo and Kara Wolters, play-by-play announcer Andrew Catalon, John Altavilla of the Hartford Courant, and host Gary Apple. The show will take an in-depth look at the upcoming season and include exclusive interviews with players as well as provide analysis of the key storylines and players to watch. Immediately following the UConn Women's Basketball Preview show on Nov. 8th, SNY will premiere Huskies All-Access at 8:00pm ET. Huskies All-Access takes a behind-the-scenes look at the UConn Women's Basketball team during the intense first week of practice. SNY's cameras follow the team and coaches on and off the court, offering fans an insider's view of the nation's top women's basketball program. Founded by Sterling Entertainment Enterprises, Time Warner and Comcast, SNY is available to viewers throughout New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania, and nationally on DIRECTV, Verizon FiOS, Comcast Cable and AT&T U-Verse. For additional details on the network including channel line-ups, visit SNY online.

2012-13 UConn WBB Season Preview

And for those who enjoy visiting this blog, here's a new treat. Player previews and season predictions. Enjoy!!

Season Preview:
Monday: The Seniors
Tuesday: The Juniors
Wednesday: The Sophomores
Thursday: The Freshmen
Friday: Predictions

2/2 Connecticut Huskies (0-0)

Results: Connecticut 105, Indiana (PA) 28
Player of the Game: So. W Kaleena M. Lewis (24p, 9r, 4a, 2s, 31m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. G Brianna Banks (2dr, 7s, 1b, 21m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. F Breanna Stewart (15p, 8r, 2a, 2s, 4b, 24m)
Stat of the Game: Steals: UConn 21, IUP 3

Summary: Even playing tonight without Jr. All-American G Bria Hartley (ankle) and 5th-year Sr. G Caroline Doty (knee), all 5 starters (including the Fr. duo of G Moriah Jefferson and F Morgan Tuck) along with Fr. sensation Breanna Stewart (off the bench) scored in double figues led by So. W Kaleena M. Lewis as the Huskies cruised to a 105-28 exhibition victory over Indiana (PA) tonight in Gampel Pavilion. The Huskies dominated on the defensive side of the ball holding the Crimson Hawks to just 21% shooting while turning them over 28 times (including 21 steals) and blocking 11 shots.

Game notes (pdf) for today's exhibition game vs. Indiana (PA) Crimson Hawks (DII).

Location: Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, CT)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: none
Internet: HuskyVision
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

Today the 2012-13 Preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll was released and the UConn  Huskies are ranked #2 behind unanimous #1 choice Baylor, just like they were in the preseason AP poll. Duke, Stanford, and Maryland round out the rest of the Top 5.

Today UConn All-American Jr. G Bria Hartley and So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis were selected as 2012-13 Preseason AP All-American Honorable Mentions. Both Huskies were also named to the 2012-13 Preseason Wade Trophy Watch List along with teammate Jr. C Stefanie Dolson.

2012-13 AP Preseason All-America Team^:
Sr. F Elena Delle Donne, Delaware*
Sr. G Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame*
Sr. C Brittney Griner, Baylor*
Jr. F Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford
Jr. G Odyssey Sims, Baylor
Jr. F Alyssa Thomas, Maryland

* - unanimous selection
^ - 6 players selected due to a tie in voting

With the season less than one week away, the 2012-13 Preseason AP Poll was released today and the UConn Huskies are ranked #2. The defending champion Baylor Lady Bears were the unanimous choice as #1. Led by 6-foot-8 senior center and reigning national Player of the Year Brittney Griner and junior All-American point guard Odyssey Sims, the Lady Bears return all five starters from last season’s 40-0 team. They also return 90.4 percent of their scoring and 86.8 percent of their rebounding. UConn coach Geno Auriemma has a lot of optimism about his team this season that has lost in the Final Four the last two years. He's telling anyone who will listen that his team is "really, really, really good," and he believes they can win it all. The Huskies return four starters, including junior All-American Bria Hartley, junior Stefanie Dolson and sophomore Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, and usher in talented freshmen Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson. The Lady Bears and Huskies will play in Hartford at the XL Center on Feb. 18, 2013. The Lady Bears’ winning streak could stand at 65 at the time of the meeting. Duke, Stanford and Maryland round out the top five.

Today the Big East WBB Coaches picked the UConn Huskies as their favorite to win 2012-13 Big East Conference Regular Season Title at Big East Media Day in NYC. It was the 19th time since the 1992-93 season the Huskies were selected as the favorite in the Big East. Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins was chosen as the 2012-13 Preseason Big East POTY (2nd straight season), while Connecticut's Breanna Stewart was unanimously selected as the 2012-13 Preseason Big East FOTY. The trio of UConn's Bria Hartley, Stefanie Dolson, and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis were all selected to the 2012-13 Preseason All Big East Team.

2012-13 Preseason BIG EAST Coaches’ Poll:
1. Connecticut (12) 194
2. Notre Dame (3) 182
3. Louisville 167
4. St. John’s 144
5. Rutgers 143
6. DePaul 138
7. Syracuse 105
8. Georgetown 104
9. South Florida 97
10. Villanova 78
11. Marquette 75
12. Cincinnati 61
t-13. Pittsburgh 31
t-13. Seton Hall 31
15. Providence 25

( ) - First-place votes

2012-13 Preseason Big East Player of the Year:
Sr. G Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame

2012-13 Preseason Big East Freshman of the Year:
Fr. F Breanna Stewart, Connecticut*

2012-13 Preseason All-Big East Team:
Jr. C Stefanie Dolson, Connecticut
Jr. G Bria Hartley, Connecticut*
So. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Connecticut
Sr. G Anna Martin, DePaul*
Sr. G Sugar Rodgers, Georgetown*
Jr. G Shoni Schimmel, Louisville*
Sr. G Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame*
Sr. C Monique Oliver, Rutgers
Sr. G Nadirah McKenith, St. John's
Sr. W Shenneika Smith, St. John’s
Sr. C Kayla Alexander, Syracuse

* - unanimous selection

2012-13 Preseason All-Big East Honorable Mention:
Sr. W Monique Reid, Louisville
Sr. F Laura Sweeney, Villanova

Finally!!!

Today UConn finally received its first verbal commitment from the Class of 2013. During her official visit to UConn this weekend, 5'9 G Saniya Chong (Ossining, NY) chose UConn over Louisville and Ohio State. As a H.S. prospect, she is ranked 75th overall by ESPN HoopGurlz, 72nd overall by Blue Star, and 20th overall by All Star Girls Report. Chong has been a starter since she was a freshman and topped the 2,000-point plateau this season, leading Ossining to its second straight Section 1 Class AA title. As a junior, she averaged 33.3 points, 9.7 assists, 5.2 rebounds, 5.0 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. In 70 career varsity games, Chong has led Ossining to a 61-9 record and averaged 29.4 points, 6.8 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.2 steals per game. Ossining reached the state semifinal, losing to eventual champ Cicero-North Syracuse and star Breanna Stewart, who's now a freshman at UConn. Welcome to Storrs, Saniya!!!

Congrats to former UConn Star, Tffany Hayes!!!

Today the 14th overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream was voted onto the 2012 WNBA All-Rookie Team (voting done by the coaches). Hayes received 9 of the 11 possible votes for the team. I'm guessing a lot of coaches especially the ones who are also GMs were pissed at themselves when writing down Tiff's name on the ballot, thinking about how they passed over her in the draft for some young, unproven "big" who might help them down the road when they have to face the new WNBA MVP Tina Charles, Sylvia Fowles, or incoming rookie, Brittney Griner. Oh well, Atlanta knew what they were doing and kudos to them for realizing her talent and potential. The #1 overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft, Los Angeles F Nneka Ogwumike (Stanford) was named the 2012 WNBA Rookie of the Year, as expected. It's the 5th consecutive year the #1 pick was named ROY (former UConn All-American's Maya Moore and Tina Charles accomplished the same feat in 2011 and 2010, respectively).

2012 WNBA All-Rookie Team:
G Samantha Prahalis, Phoenix
G Riquna Williams, Tulsa
G/F Tiffany Hayes, Atlanta
F Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Los Angeles
C/F Glory Johnson, Tulsa

SNY, the official television home of the UConn Huskies Women's basketball program, today announced its on-air talent roster and its exclusive game schedule for the 2012-13 season. The network named former UConn Women basketball greats Meghan Culmo and Kara Wolters as analysts. Meghan will serve as the network's game analyst and Kara as the studio analyst for pre-game, half-time and post-game shows. Joining the veteran UConn voices will be play-by-play announcer Andrew Catalon - who recently served as a play-by-play announcer at the London Olympics for NBC - and SNY reporter/anchor Kerith Burke as the sideline reporter. Gary Apple, who hosts SNY's Big East basketball studio shows, will anchor the network's studio coverage alongside Kara Wolters. SNY also announced its UConn Women's 2012-13 game schedule - which will feature 20 live games. All Big East Conference basketball games will be wrapped with comprehensive pre-game, half-time and post-game shows. The network's game schedule will tip-off on November 11th at 1:30pm when the Huskies - eyeing their 17th straight season-opening win - host the College of Charleston Cougars. Prior to the game, SNY will air a special pre-game show featuring in-depth analysis of the upcoming season, including interviews with players and coaches, and highlight key players to watch. As previously stated, SNY will also offer an online streaming package for games airing on SNY. Details regarding the streaming service will be announced shortly.

The University of Connecticut men’s and women’s basketball programs will tip-off the 2012-13 season with 2012 UConn First Night sponsored by Webster Bank on Friday, October 12. Admission is FREE and open to the public. Gampel Pavilion doors will open at 4 p.m. as the UConn volleyball team takes on Cincinnati in a BIG EAST showdown. Meet the 2012-13 men’s and women’s basketball teams as they sign autographs for Husky fans from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. First Night will feature performances from the band, cheer and dance squads, introductions of the players and coaches, a dunk contest featuring the 2011 winner Ryan Boatright and ultimate prize giveaways (more details to come). The show will end at approximately 8 p.m.

3:00 p.m. – FanFest on Fairfield Way
4:00 p.m. – Doors Open and UConn Volleyball vs. Cincinnati
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. - Autographs
7:00 p.m. – Show Begins

For up-to-date information on First Night follow @UConnHuskies and like on Facebook.com/UConnHuskies.

Happy 30th Birthday to ME!!!

What a great present it was to me to find out today that former UConn All-American and NPOTY and current Connecticut Sun All-Star Tina Charles was named the 2012 WNBA MVP. Charles, who has led the Sun to the best record in the Eastern Conference at 25-9, led the league at 10.5 rebounds per game and was fifth at 18.0 points per contest. Her and her #1 seeded Sun will take on the New York Liberty tonight in the first round of the 2012 WNBA Playoffs at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Earlier this summer, Charles helped lead the USA Basketball National Team to the gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. That team was led by five other former Huskies and head coach Geno Auriemma. Charles becomes the second UConn alum to be named WNBA MVP. Diana Taurasi earned the honor in 2009. Charles finished fourth in the MVP voting in 2011 and earned mention as an All-WNBA First Team selection in 2011 as well. Congrats Tina, on an honor that is hard-earned and well deserved!!!

Today the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced the 2012-13 preseason Wade Watch list of candidates for the prestigious award. Connecticut leads all schools with three players on the 25-member preseason list. The Huskies trio includes 2012 State Farm All-American Jr. G Bria Hartley, Jr. C Stefanie Dolson, and So. W Kaleena M. Lewis. Five schools - defending national champion Baylor, Duke, Kansas, Nebraska and Penn State - are represented by two players each including Baylor Sr. C Brittney Griner, the 2012 State Farm® Wade Trophy winner. The preseason list is composed of top NCAA Division I women's basketball players who best embody Wade's spirit from 18 institutions and eight conferences. A committee of coaches, administrators, and media from across the United States compiled the list using the following criteria: game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on their team and overall playing ability.

The University of Connecticut women's basketball team has finalized its 2012-13 schedule as announced by the team today. The 30-game slate includes 15 games against teams that qualified for the 2012 NCAA Tournament, and eight games against opponents that finished in the top-10 of the RPI (ratings percentage index). In addition to the 30-game schedule, the Huskies will also play a pair of exhibition contests. Highlights include matchups against all 3 fellow 2012 Final Four participants including a much anticipated showdown at the XL Center on Monday, February 18 against the defending national champions, Baylor, who went undefeated and won all 40 of its games last year en route to its second national championship. UConn will play conference rival Notre Dame twice (home and away) as part of its Big East schedule. Non-conference opponents include home games against Duke, Maryland, and Penn State and away games against Stanford, Texas A&M, Orgeon, and Hartford. The Huskies will also compete in the 2012 Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands against Wake Forest, Marist, and Purdue from November 22-24, 2012. Nine UConn games will appear on National TV (CBS & ESPN Networks) and all the remaining games are scheduled to appear on SNY (the Huskies' new broadcast partner).

Season tickets are on sale now. For more information, call 1-877-AT-UCONN or visit UConnHuskies.com.

Today current UConn All-American Bria Hartley, former UConn standout Ann Strother and the 2012 USA Women's 3x3 World Championship Team (9-0) went undefeated in capturing the inaugural FIBA 3x3 World Championship for Women Gold Medal in Athens, Greece. Defeating Australia (8-1) 19-18 in the semifinals, the U.S. came from behind to capture gold with a 17-16 victory over France (8-1) in the gold medal game. Australia edged Ukraine (6-3) 18-17 in the bronze medal game. Teaming up with Strother and Hartley were Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins and Stanford's Chiney Ogwumike.

Today incoming UConn women’s basketball freshmen Breanna Stewart and Morgan Tuck each posted double-doubles to lead the USA Basketball U18 National Team to a 71-47 victory over Brazil on Sunday evening in the gold medal game of the 2012 U18 FIBA Americas Championship. Tuck netted a team-high 15 points and snared a game-high 11 rebounds while Stewart scored 13 points and corralled 10 boards to go along with four assists en route to being named Tournament MVP. Fellow incoming UConn freshman Moriah Jefferson capped a solid tournament with a four-point, four assist effort for the U.S.

Golden Girls!!!

1-seed United States of America (8-0)

Results: United States 86, France 50
Player of the Game: F Candace Parker (21p, 11r, 2a, 1b, 21m)
Def. Player of the Game: G Diana Taurasi (3dr, 29m)
Stat of the Game: A/TO Ratio: USA 22/11, France 12/21

Summary: Owning a comfortable 12-point lead at halftime over previously unbeaten France (7-1), the U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team (8-0) blew the game wide open with a 19-0 run in the third quarter that propelled the USA to a 86-50 win and 5th-straight Olympic Gold Medal on Saturday evening at North Greenwich Arena in London, England. In capturing its unprecedented fifth-straight Olympic Gold (dating back to 1996), a feat never before accomplished in any women’s traditional team sport, the USA women have compiled a 41-game Olympic winning streak that began with the 1992 Bronze Medal game. Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks) led the way for the US, shooting 10-of-14 from the field on her way to 21 points while also grabbing 11 rebounds, and Sue Bird (Seattle Storm) added 11 points. In the bronze medal game earlier today, Australia (6-2) beat Russia (4-4) 83-74.

All 12 U.S. players scored in a balanced attack that featured 22 assists on 34 made field goals. The gold medal is a third for Bird, Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), who added nine points and six assists, and Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), who finished with four points and five rebounds. While Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky) and Parker also earned gold in 2008, Swin Cash (Chicago Sky) picked up her first gold medal in 2004. Earning Olympic gold for their first time were: Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx). With her Olympic gold, Moore becomes the seventh U.S. woman to have earned NCAA and WNBA titles, a FIBA World Championship gold medal and an Olympic gold medal. The previous six include Bird, Cash, Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, Taurasi and Kara Wolters.

“You know, you go into every game thinking that there’s going to be some things that you have to do, and if you do those things you’re going to have a chance you can win it,” said Geno Auriemma, USA and University of Connecticut head coach who was assisted by DePaul University’s Doug Bruno, Jennifer Gillom of the Washington Mystics and Marynell Meadors of the Atlanta Dream. “France was probably playing as well as anytime I’ve ever seen them, since I’ve been the coach anyway. And when you’re going into it the way they’re playing, they got a lot of confidence. And we tried to really disrupt them and get them into the kind of game they weren’t comfortable playing, and I think we did that right from the beginning. When Candace Parker came in the game, the game changed completely. I thought she was the biggest difference in the game tonight. We all just kind of took that and ran with it. We beat a really good team, but we’re a great team.”

“I think our depth is by far the biggest key for us,” Bird said. “We are able to wear teams down. Not very many teams go 12 deep and with that over a two-week tournament, these teams have to play a lot of minutes ... seven, eight players play a lot of minutes, and I think none of us have to. So we are just able to wear teams down and by the end for the most part you can see teams get tired, and that’s where we really capitalize.”

Game notes (pdf) for today's Gold Medal Game vs. France (7-0).

Event: 2012 Summer Olympics
Location: North Greenwich Arena (London, England)
Time: 4:00pm (ET)
TV: NBC
Internet: NBC Live Extra
Live Stats: London 2012

Today UConn Asst. Coach Shea Ralph confirmed (via ASGR's Brett McCormick) that Jr. G Lauren Engeln will be transferring prior to the start of the Fall 2012 semester. Engeln cited a desire for more playing time, but has yet to pick the school she will be transferring to. She becomes the third player from UConn's Class of 2014 to transfer (Samarie Walker, Kentucky & Michala Johnson, Wisconsin). Best of Luck, Lauren!! We will miss you!!

Today former UConn NPOTY & All-American and current Univ. of Hartford Head Coach Jennifer Rizzotti was named as one of six members of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2013, which was announced on Monday evening on ESPN2 during the USA vs. Brazil game at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. The six members of the Class of 2013 are: Gary Blair (coach), Jim Foster (coach), Peggie Gillom-Granderson (player), Jen Rizzotti (player), Annette Smith-Knight (player), and Sue Wicks (player). The Class of 2013 will be formally introduced at the 2012 State Farm Tip-Off Classic between Baylor and Kentucky on November 13th in Waco, TX, and inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame on June 8, 2013 in Knoxville, TN.

Rizzotti is the second former UConn Women's Basketball Student-Athlete to be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame as she joins Rebecca Lobo who is a member of the Class of 2010. UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma was previously inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and in 2006. Rizzotti (UConn `96) led the Huskies to their first national championship in 1995 with a perfect 35-0 record. She finished her collegiate career with 1,540 points, 637 assists, and 349 steals. The New Fairfield, Conn. native was a two-time Kodak All-American and NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player (1995, 1996). Rizzotti was named the 1996 Wade Trophy winner, Associated Press Player of the Year, and BIG EAST Player of the Year. Rizzotti currently ranks second in career assists (637), second in career steals (349) and is first in steals by a senior (112) in UConn's record book.

Follow along here for all the latest news, schedules, results, and updates from the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games. The Opening Ceremony is July 27th even though the games officially get under way on July 25th. Below is a quick rundown of the USA Women's Olympic Basketball Team's schedule (TV schedule released, but all games will be on one of the NBC networks). A special good luck to the entire team especially all of the former UConn athletes competing and Geno!! And good luck to ALL the USA Olympic athletes. Play hard, be safe, stay healthy, and BRING HOME GOLD!!!!

2012 Summer Olympic Games - USA Women's Basketball (London, England)
7/26 9-11 am Practice Olympic Park, Basketball Arena
7/27 TBD Practice UEL Docklands
7/28 4:45 pm USA - Croatia Olympic Park, Basketball Arena
7/29 10:30 am Practice UEL Docklands
7/30 10:15 pm USA - Angola Olympic Park, Basketball Arena
7/31 11 am Practice UEL Docklands
8/1 10:15 pm USA - Turkey Olympic Park, Basketball Arena
8/2 11 am Practice UEL Docklands
8/3 10:15 pm USA - Czech Republic Olympic Park, Basketball Arena
8/4 11 am Practice UEL Docklands
8/5 4:45 pm USA - China Olympic Park, Basketball Arena
8/6 10:30 am Practice UEL Docklands
8/7 TBD Quarterfinals* Olympic Park, Basketball Arena
8/8 TBD Practice UEL Docklands
8/9 Semifinals^ North Greenwich Arena
8/10 TBD Practice UEL Docklands
8/11 TBD Finals^ North Greenwich Arena

*team must qualify to advance to qtrs.
^team must win to advance to semis/finals

Note: All times listed are EST. Local time in England is +5 hours.

Today Fr. F Breanna Stewart was named the 2012 Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the Year in Los Angeles, Calif. at a dinner emceed by ESPN’s Stuart Scott. Joining Tina Charles (2005-06) and Maya Moore (2006-07), Stewart becomes the third Husky to be honored as the Gatorade High School Female Athlete of the Year. Established in 1985, the Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. In addition to athletic excellence, the award recognizes academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field. In 2003, the Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year awards were established to identify and honor the nation's top overall male and female high school athletes from among the 12 Gatorade National Players of the Year honored during the high school athletic season. All Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year nominees will walk the ESPY red carpet and be featured as special guests during The ESPY Awards Show. The show will take place Wednesday evening and air live on ESPN at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Today UConn All-American Jr. G Bria Hartley was named to the 4-player team that will be representing the U.S. at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup. She will be teaming up with Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins, Maryland's Alyssa Thomas, and Stanford's Chiney Ogwumike to form the quartet of All-Americans set to take on the world in the 2012 FIBA 3x3 World Cup which is scheduled for Aug. 23-26 in Athens, Greece.

Today the Big East Conference just announced its schedule grid for the upcoming 2012-13 Big East regular season. UConn will play a home and home series with Notre Dame for the fourth straight season. With West Virginia leaving for the Big 12, each team will now play two teams twice. In a little bit of a surprise, Marquette was the team chosen to play the Huskies twice in the 2012-13 season. UConn will host DePaul, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Seton Hall, Syracuse and Villanova and will play on the road against Cincinnati, Georgetown, Providence, Rutgers, St. John's and South Florida. Unlike past seasons when the Big East announced grids for multiple years, with the expected departures and arrivals of teams this schedule formula is good for only the upcoming season.

Here is a look at who the teams will play twice during the 2012-13 season:
(The dates and times of the game are expected to be announced around Labor Day.)

Cincinnati: Marquette, Rutgers
Connecticut: Marquette, Notre Dame
DePaul: Louisville, Pittsburgh
Georgetown: Pittsburgh, Syracuse
Louisville: DePaul, South Florida
Marquette: Cincinnati, Connecticut
Notre Dame: Connecticut, Providence
Pittsburgh: DePaul, Georgetown
Providence: Notre Dame, Villanova
Rutgers: Cincinnati, St. John's
St. John's: Rutgers, St. John's
Seton Hall: St. John's, South Florida
South Florida: Louisville, Seton Hall
Syracuse: Georgetown, Villanova
Villanova: Providence, Syracuse

Today UConn received its first oral commitment from  HS player in over a year, but it was from a top player in the Class of 2014, not Class of 2013 which the Huskies still have no commits from. Courtney Ekmark, a 6'0 G/F from the nation's #1 Girls HS Basketbal Team, undefeated (30-0) St. Mary's HS (Phoenix, AZ), verbally committed to UConn over Arizona State, Duke, North Carolina, and Stanford. Ekmark, who played a big role in St. Mary's finishing as the No. 1-ranked high school girls team in the country last season, is ranked 13th overall and 3rd at her position by ESPN HoopGurlz and 9th overall by All-Star Girls Report. Welcome to the UConn family, Courtney (see you in a few years...lol!!!)

Today UConn's entire #1-ranked recruiting class was named to the 2012 U18 FIBA Americas National Team. Incoming Freshmen Breanna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson, and Morgan Tuck all made the 12-player squad which is set to regroup at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., for its first training camp from May 28-June 1, 2012. The USA squad will then return to the USOTC for its final training camp Aug. 4-12, 2012, prior to traveling to Puerto Rico for the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. The U18 Championship, held in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, Aug. 15-19, 2012, will see the three medal-winning teams secure a berth in the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women. The 2013 U19 Worlds will be hosted by Lithuania, July 18-28, 2012. The FIBA Americas U18 Championship will feature eight national teams from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean. Players eligible for this competition must have been born on or after Jan. 1, 1994.

Who says 13 is the luckiest number? 12 is looking pretty good to former UConn Star Asjha Jones. Today the USA Women's Basketball Selection Committee named her the 12th and final member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team roster. The 6-3 forward from the WNBA's Connecticut Sun was a member of the 2010 USA World Championship Team. A 10-year WNBA veteran, Jones is a two-time WNBA All-Star and was named to the 2008 All-WNBA second team. She competes professionally in Europe and after helping propel her Rivas Ecopolis (Spain) squad to the 2012 EuroLeague championship game, Jones was named the 2012 EuroLeague Final Eight MVP. She closed out the season averaging a EuroLeague career-high 17.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game for Rivas in EuroLeague games. Jones becomes the 6th member from the University of Connecticut named to this year's squad (record for one school on one U.S. Olympic Team roster, men's or women's basketball). In her four-year (1999-2002) collegiate career Jones, who played for USA Head Coach Geno Auriemma at the University of Connecticut, aided the Huskies to a 136-9 record (.938), won a pair of NCAA crowns (2000, 2002) while advancing to four NCAA Tournaments, including the 2001 Final Four, and earned four Big East regular season and tournament titles.

Jones is joined on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team roster by LSU's Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), UConn's Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), UConn's Swin Cash(Chicago Sky), Tennessee's Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), UConn's Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), LSU's Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Louisville's Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), UConn's Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Tennessee's Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), UConn's Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), and Minnesota's Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx). The well-balanced and talented U.S. squad will compete for the USA’s fifth-consecutive Olympic gold medal in London this summer. Auriemma will be assisted by DePaul University head coach Doug Bruno, 1988 Olympic gold medalist and Washington Mystics assistant coach Jennifer Gillom and Atlanta Dream head coach Marynell Meadors.

And with the 14th pick in 2012 WNBA Draft the Atlanta Dream select...

Tiffany Hayes from the University of Connecticut

Today UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma announced So. F Michala Johnson will be transferring to the University of Wisconsin after the completion of the Spring 2012 semester. Johnson cited a desire to play closer to her home (Bellwood, IL) and a chance to play with her young sister Malayna, who has verbally committed to playing for the Badgers in the Fall of 2013. Best of Luck and continued good health, Michala!! We will miss you!!

Good Luck and good-bye Tiff, we will miss you!!!

Sr. G Tiffany Hayes graduates this season having proved a lot of critics wrong along the way. Was she perfect? No. Was she the best every night? No. Did she play her butt off for her team every second she was on the court? Yes. But she leaves us as one of the best all-around, do a little-bit-of-everything players.

During her 4-year career, she helped UConn win two NCAA Championships while playing in 154 games in a Husky uniform (with a final record of 147-7) and finishes in the Top 10 in scoring (1,801). She also finishes her career in the Top 10 of the UConn record books in a host of other catergories: Free Throws Made (431, 2nd), Games Played (154, t-2nd), 3-pt. FGs Made (186, 8th), and Assists (483, 9th). She is also 12th all-time with 223 steals. In her senior season, Hayes established career-highs in scoring (14.7), rebounding (5.8), steals (2.3), FG shooting (50.3%) and 3-pt. FG shooting (40.7%) on her way to being named an AP All-American (3rd team), the Most Outstanding Player of the 2012 NCAA Kingston Regional, and selected as an unianimous All-Big East First Team member. She is also averaged 3.3 assists and 30.2 minutes. Hayes ranked second on the team is scoring, rebounding, and minutes and first in steals. The highlight of her senior season was when she set the UConn 2-game scoring record with a combined 68 points at Syracuse Jan. 25 (career-high 35) and against South Florida Jan. 28 (33). Other honors for Hayes include being named to the All-Big East First Team (10-11), Second Team (09-10), All-Rookie Team (08-09), and was 2010-11 All-American Honorable Mention.

We will truly miss you Tiff! Most notably, we will miss your heart, your passion, your committment, your determination, your loyalty, and your teamwork!! You make us very proud to call you one of "Our Girls"!!! We all wish you the best of luck on your future, whereever it may take you (and I believe it will be on a WNBA roster)!!!! Stay healthy and take care of you mind, body, and spirit!!!!!

1-seed (3/3) Connecticut Huskies (33-5, 16-3 BE)

Results: Notre Dame 83, Connecticut 75 OT
Player of the Game: Sr. G Natalie Novosel, ND (20p, 7r, 4a, 1s, 38m)
Def. Player of the Game: Jr. G Skylar Diggins (2dr, 3s, 2b, 44m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (13p, 7r, 1a, 1s, 1b, 36m)
Stat of the Game: Off. Rebs.: UConn 15, Notre Dame 20

Summary: One of the best games ever played, so if you didn't watch it, that sucks for you because I'm too exhausted to summarize it. Suffice it to say, our UConn girls played their butts off and deserved to win. It just was not meant to be this year. Next year, women's college basketball --- WATCH OUT --- UConn will be back and back with avengence!!!!!!!

Lost in the disappointment of losing in the Final 4 was newly crowned UConn So. All-American G Bria Hartley scoring her 1,000th career point (making her only the 3rd UConn to ever accomplish the feat - Maya Moore and Svetlana Abrosimova). Congratulations, Bria...you make us proud to call you one of "Our Girls"!!!

Game notes (pdf) for today's NCAA Final 4 game vs. 1-seed (4/4) Notre Dame Fighting Irish (34-3).

Event: 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
Location: Pepsi Center (Denver, CO)
Time: 6:30pm (ET)
TV: ESPN
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

Today UConn So. G was named to the 2011-12 WBCA/State Farm D1 Coaches' All-America Team at a ceremony during the 2012 Final 4 in Denver, CO. Hartley becomes the 14th Husky to be honored on the WBCA/State Farm (formerly Kodak) All-America squad and Connecticut now has 26 selections all-time. Hartley is only the fourth UConn sophomore to be named to the team along with Svetlana Abrosimova (1998-99), Diana Taurasi (2001-02) and Maya Moore (2008-09). She averaged 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists during her sophomore campaign. She was tabbed an All-Big East First Team selection a year after being named the Big East Rookie of the Year. She has also earned a spot on the Big East All-Tournament squad in each of the last two seasons.

2011-12 WBCA/State Farm D1 Coaches' All-America Team:
Jr. F Elena Delle Donne, Delaware
Jr. G Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame
Jr. C Brittney Griner, Baylor 
So. G Bria Hartley, Connecticut
Sr. F Glory Johnson, Tennessee
Sr. G Shenise Johnson, Miami
So. F Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford
Sr. F Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford
So. G Odyssey Sims, Baylor
So. F Alyssa Thomas, Maryland

UCONN = EXCELLENCE

There's really no other way to describe it especially since today USA Basketball named the first 11 members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team and five of them (not to mention the team's head coach Geno Auriemma) are UConn Huskies alumni at a press conference live from the 2012 Women's Final 4 in Denver, CO. The five former Huskies named to the final roster are Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Tina Charles, Maya Moore, and Diana Taurasi.

The well-balanced and talented core of the U.S. squad features a trio of two-time Olympic gold medalists, four athletes who have each earned one Olympic gold medal and four newcomers to the Olympic stage. They along with the final athlete to be named at a later date will compete for the USA’s fifth-consecutive Olympic gold medal in London this summer. The athletes were selected by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee, approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors and are pending final approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Named to their third Olympic team were Bird (Seattle Storm), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), and Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), all of whom won gold medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games. Competing in her second Olympics after winning gold in Athens in 2004 is Cash (Chicago Sky); while Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky) and Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks) captured their Olympic gold medal in Beijing in 2008. Playing on the Olympic stage for the first time will be Charles (Connecticut Sun), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Moore (Minnesota Lynx) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx). Those still in the running for the 12th and final Olympic roster spot include former Huskies Renee Montgomery (Connecticut Sun) and Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun).

Denver, here we come...

Time to party "Mile High" style at the 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four!!!

National Semifinals: Sunday, April 1, 2012
Game 1: 1 Notre Dame vs. 1 Connecticut, 6:30pm ET, ESPN
Game 2: 1 Bayor vs. 1 Stanford, 9:00pm ET, ESPN

1-seed (3/3) Connecticut Huskies (33-4, 16-3 BE)

Results: Connecticut 80, Kentucky 65
Player of the Game: Sr. G Tiffany Hayes (22p, 8r, 2a, 3s, 37m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. C Stefanie Dolson (3dr, 3b, 38m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (18p, 7r, 2a, 1s, 30m)
Stat of the Game: Free Throws: UConn 30-35, Kentucky 21-22

Summary: Today UConn Sr. G Tiffany Hayes was named to the 2011-12 AP All-American (3rd) Team and she played every bit the All-American leading the Huskies to their 5th-straight Final 4 finishing with 22p/8r/2a/3s as UConn pulled away halfway through the 2nd half against and defeated Kentucky 80-65. With UConn only leading 48-47 early in the second half, the Huskies turned up its defense bigtime. The Huskies used a 21-4 spurt to take command. Hayes, the lone senior on the team, was the catalyst, scoring seven points during the run. Then the Huskies started a parade to the free throw line, with whistle after whistle. The Huskies converted 12 free throws during the game-changing run. She was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the Kingston Regional. UConn So. C Stefanie Dolson was also named to the Kingston All-Regional Team. UConn All-American HM Fr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis caught fire in the 2nd half scoring 12 of her 18pts. after being cold in the 1st half (only 6pts. on 2-10 shooting) and added 7rebs. while UConn All-American HM So. G Bria Hartley shoke off 1st half foul trouble to score 11 of her 13pts. in the 2nd half as well. UConn will now face Big East rival Notre Dame for the 4th time this season in the first semifinal game of the 2012 Final 4 in Denver, CO at 6:30pm ET on ESPN.

And awards season has officially begun...

Today UConn Sr. G Tiffany Hayes was named as a member of the 2011-12 AP All-American Third Team. She becomes the 13th UConn player to make one of the 3 AP All-Americans in the history of the honor. UConn So. G Bria Hartley and Fr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis were named AP All-American Honorable Mentions.

2011-12 AP All-American Teams:
First Team:
Jr. F Elena Delle Donne, Delaward
Jr. G Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame
Jr. C Brittney Griner, Baylor*
Sr. F Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford
So. F Alyssa Thomas, Maryland

Second Team:
Sr. G Shenise Johnson, Miami
So. F Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford
Sr. G Samantha Prahalis, Ohio State
So. G Odyssey Sims, Baylor
Sr. F Julie Wotja, Wisconsin-Green Bay

Third Team:
Sr. G Tifffany Hayes, Connecticut
Jr. G A'dia Mathies, Kentucky
Sr. W Shekinna Strickland, Tennessee
Fr. C Elizabeth Williams, Duke
Sr. G Riquana Williams, Miami

* - unanimous selection

Game notes (pdf) for today's NCAA Elite 8 game vs. 2-seed (12/11) Kentucky Wildcats (28-6).

Event: 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
Location: Ryan Center (Kingston, RI)
Time: 7:00pm (ET)
TV: ESPN
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

1-seed (3/3) Connecticut Huskies (32-4, 16-3 BE)

Results: Connecticut 77, Penn State 59
Player of the Game: Jr. G Kelly Faris (15p, 7r, 5s, 3s, 1b, 25m)
Def. Player of the Game: Jr. G Kelly Faris (5dr, 3s, 1b, 25m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (12p, 11r, 31m)
Stat of the Game: Rebounds: UConn 44, Penn State 30

Summary: UConn used a little bit of offense and a lot of defense to pull away for good late in the 1st half and early in the 2nd half to get past Penn State, 77-59. Led by UConn All-American candidate So. G Bria Hartley's 20pts. and 4asts. and So. G Kelly Faris' 15pts., 7rebs., 5sts., and 3stls. (as well as one monster block on PSU's Maggie Lucas' 3-pt shot attempt late), the Huskies played one of its most complete games (according to UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma). UConn All-American candidate Fr. W Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis registered her 1st career double-double, finishing with 12pts. and a career-high 11rebs. off the bench to help lead her team into an Elite 8 match-up vs. 2-seed Kentucky on Tuesday night (3/27) at 7pm ET on ESPN.

Game notes (pdf) for today's NCAA Sweet 16 game vs. 4-seed (11/12) Penn State Nittany Lions (26-6).

Event: 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
Location: Ryan Center (Kingston, RI)
Time: 4:30pm (ET)
TV: ESPN2
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

1-seed (3/3) Connecticut Huskies (31-4, 16-3 BE)

Results: Connecticut 72, Kansas State 26
Player of the Game: Fr. C Kiah Stokes (13p, 9r, 1s, 3b, 18m)
Def. Player of the Game: So. C Stefanie Dolson (3dr, 3s, 3b, 28m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. C Kiah Stokes (13p, 9r, 1s, 3b, 18m)
Stat of the Game: Bench Pts.: UConn 32, Kansas State 4

Summary: To say UConn played as close to a perfect defensive game as possible would maybe be an understatement. The Huskies played such amazing defense against an opponent worthy of an 8-seed and from the Big 12, that the same team said after the game that it was like there were 7 them out there against their 5. UConn not only held Kansas State to 10 first half points (and it was a buzzer-beating shot in the 1st half which allowed KSU to not tie for the record for fewest points (8) in the 1st half of a NCAA Tournament game), but they held also held them to 16 second half points for a total of 26 points for the game which is now the all-time record for fewest points in a NCAA Tournament game (previous was 27).

Game notes (pdf) for today's NCAA 2nd-Rd game vs. 8-seed Kansas State Wildcats (20-13).

Event: 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
Location: Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard (Bridgeport, CT)
Time: 7:05pm (ET)
TV: ESPN2 (Locked into CT only - Wrap-around rest of country)
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

1-seed (3/3) Connecticut Huskies (30-4, 16-3 BE)

Results: Connecticut 83, Prairie View A&M 47
Player of the Game: So. G Bria Hartley (18p, 5r, 3a, 36m)
Def. Player of the Game: Jr. G Kelly Faris (3dr, 3s, 31m)
Fr. Player of the Game: Fr. W Kaleena M. Lewis (19p, 8r, 1s, 30m)
Stat of the Game: Bench Pts.: UConn 37, PV A&M 12

Summary: Still to come...

Game notes (pdf) for today's NCAA 1st-Rd game vs. 16-seed Prairie View A&M Panthers (17-15).

Event: 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
Location: Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard (Bridgeport, CT)
Time: 1:45pm (ET)
TV: ESPN2 (Locked into CT only - Wrap-around rest of country)
Internet: ESPN3
Radio: UConn Radio Network/WTIC
Live Stats: GameTracker

Today UConn All-American candidates Sr. G Tiffany Hayes and So. G Bria Hartley were honored as 2011-12 WBCA All-Region I Team selections as announced by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. On, Monday, March 19, the selection committee will review these 52 candidates and trim the list to 40 finalists, all of whom will be in the running for selection to the 10-member 2011-12 WBCA Division I Coaches’ All-America Team. UConn women’s basketball has now had a total of 44 WBCA All-Region selections since 1986 and this season marks the 14th time UConn has had multiple All-Region picks.

We are getting another "special" one, folks!!!

On Tuesday, UConn signee 6'4 F Breanna Stewart (North Syracuse, NY) won the HS girls' 2012 Morgan Wootten Player of the Year award as announced by the McDonald's All-American Games committee. Stewart is the top-rated player in the 2012 class according to the ESPNU 100 list. In 2011, Stewart led her team to its first state championships in school history and is looking to repeat in 2012. Off the court, she routinely volunteers at a local YMCA and youth basketball program and is a member of the honor role. She won the honor over finalists and fellow UConn signees 5'7 G Moriah Jefferson (Glenn Heights, TX) and 6'2 F Morgan Tuck (Bolingbrook, IL) and becomes the 4th UConn player to win the award (Nicole Wolff, 2002; Tina Charles, 2006; and Maya Moore, 2007). The Morgan Wootten Award is given to the best male and female McDonald’s All American players who exemplify outstanding character, exhibit leadership and embody the values of being a student-athlete in the classroom and the community. McDonald’s established the award in Wootten’s honor to pay tribute to his unprecedented achievements as a teacher and coach. The official award presentation will take place at the McDonald’s All American Games awards banquet on March 27 in Chicago, IL.

Today Stewart became the consensus HS Girls' National POTY after being named the 2011-12 Gatorade National Girls' Basketball Player of the Year. She was given the award during a press conference at her Cicero-North Syracuse High School. Indiana Fever forward and two-time United States gold medalist Tamika Catchings provided Stewart with the news during a surprise visit to Cicero-North Syracuse High. Stewart, who has also been named the Naismith, WBCA and McDonald’s Player of the Year, is an `A’ student and volunteers locally on behalf of numerous charities and a youth basketball organization. She becomes the sixth UConn player to receive Gatorade’s top honor, joining Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (2010-11), Maya Moore (2006-07), Tina Charles (2005-06), Ann Strother (2001-02) and Tamika Williams (1997-98).

The 2012 Women's NCAA Tournament #1 Seeds:

1a. Baylor Lady Bears (Des Moines)

1b. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Raleigh)

1c. Connecticut Huskies (Kingston)

1d. Stanford Cardinal (Fresno)

The 1-seed Connecticut Huskies will face 16-seed Prairie View A&M on Sat., March 17th at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, CT at 1:50pm ET on ESPN2.

Today ESPNHS announced the winners of the 2011-12 Gatorade State Girls' Basketball Players of the Year for each of the 50 states as well as Washington, DC. UConn signees 6'4 F Breanna Stewart (North Syracuse, NY) and 6'2 F Morgan Tuck (Bolingbrook, IL) were named Gatorade POYs for each of their respective states.  They are both now eligible for the 2011-12 Gatorade National Girls' Basketball Player of the Year award along with the 49 other winners. All the winners have also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership.

Today UConn Sr. G Tiffany Hayes was named the 15 finalists for the 2011-12 John R. Wooden Award as announced by the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The National Ballot, consisting of these top 15 players, will be mailed to Wooden Award voters this week, and voting begins March 12th. Selected by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board, the ballot is made up of 15 student-athletes who are the final contenders for women’s college basketball’s most prestigious honor. Hayes was unanimously selected to the All-Big East First Team after leading the Huskies in scoring (15.1 ppg) and steals (2.6 spg) as she is second in rebounding with 5.7 grabs per game. Hayes and Green Bay’s Julie Wojta were the only players who were not on the midseason Wooden Award list, but who made the final ballot.