Now that the season is over earlier than anticipated after a bad loss to South Carolina our thoughts can turn to the 2026-27 team. So far as we know, the following players will be back next season - KK Arnold, Ice Brady, Morgan Chelli, Jana El-Afry, Kelis Fisher, Kayleigh Heckel, Gandy Malou-Mamel, Ayanna Patterson, Blanca Quinonez, Ashlynn Shade, Sarah Strong, and Allie Ziebel. Assuming that Brady can and will return, the roster has twelve players. Two new players are coming in - guard Jovana Popovic and center Olivia Vukosa - making a total of 14. If Geno intends to use the portal, only one spot is available, assuming that no one enters the portal.
The team will have three bigs, a plethora of guards, two outstanding forwards, and several who can fill the small forward/big guard mantle, but the stinker loss to South Carolina reveals a couple of problems that may or may not be taken care of internally. Rebounding and scoring from the center position has been lacking all season. Vukosa seems like the obvious fix, but Geno may need more. A good passer at the high post would help a great deal. Does Vukosa fill that bill? KK Arnold is an excellent defensive player but her lack of offense proved to be a problem all season and particularly against the Gamecocks. She has one offensive move, the drive to the basket, but she often misses the shot. Lack of finishing around the basket was a difficulty for the team all season and Heckel’s missed layup with just over a minute to play epitomized the problem.
The way too early starting lineup will likely consist of El-Alfy, Strong, Quinonez, Arnold, and Shade with Vukosa and Heckel being the first two off the bench, followed by Popovich, Chelli, Ziebel, and perhaps Fisher. It looks on paper like a decent team, but who will be the third scorer after Strong and Quinonez, someone who can consistently give the Huskies 10-15 points per game.
We don't know what Kellis Fisher can do yet? She should be given more playing time to find out. It is unfortunate that she received so little playing time this year.She seems to have natural skills for the game. I think she could have started on some college teams already. She was, before Blanca, selected to be BE freshman of year.From day 1, my two worries about the 25-26 version of this UCONN team were rebounding(last night was why) and the lack of KK being able to:
1. Score
2. Run a half court offense.
Last night we needed a game manager who could both run the offense and knock down shots, which KK can't. We've had that for 4 years with Paige.
For the 2026-2027 team to win, we have to start Heckel and let KK reprise her role off the bench as a burst of energy.
Heckel
Shade
Blanca
Sarah
Olivia
Those should be the starters.
I agree with your starting five and KK off the bench. Let's not forget Morgan C. If she fully recovers from her injury, who knows?