Official 25-26 Starters Thread

[Molisanos]

In this highlight
Lorena Cubaj - 1999 - (Atlanta Dream) Kuier Awak - 2001 -2nd overall draft pick by Dallas (second action Blanca scores over her) Matilde Villa - 2004 - (3rd round pick by Atlanta) Amanda Zahui - 1993 - (2nd overall draft pick by Tulsa) Ivana Djokic (New York Liberty) Dorka Juhazs -1999 - (New York Liberty) Caitlin Bickle - 2000 - (Connecticut) and against a lot of player with international experience. She finished the regular season with 10.7 ppg and her team finished in 3rd position the regular season. The fact that Blanca is not ranked in most of the rankings is because she's like Tom Hanks in The Terminal, she is not European and so she is not included in the euro rankings, she's not Italian and so she's not inserted in their rankings and Ecuador doesn't have international exposure... Not Jana or Nika had not even close the level of competition that Blanca had in the last 5 seasons...

 

[DRBackup]

I don’t mind this thread. I will take a shot at it. I won’t speculate on players that aren’t here though.

PG KK Arnold
SG Azzi Fudd
SF Blanca Quinonez
PF Sarah Strong
C Ice Brady

Bench rotation:
Shade
Jana
Fisher
Cheli

Seems odd that Jana is starting as a redshirt freshman, but won't start with another year of experience.

 

[ERWUC65]

Seems odd that Jana is starting as a redshirt freshman, but won't start with another year of experience.

I agree, with the expectation she will be tutored this summer, maybe a BIG camp, and much more confident with the injury long behind her. And, she, along with Gandy are the only true 5's, not sure here about Ayanna?

 

[Rowdy831]

Sarah can play the post but is not a post player and it wouldn't be fair to her to stick her in a position that isn't her wheelhouse. Azzi and KK are pretty sure bets and Jana will have huge growth in her second year and become a force. It would be nice if Uconn hired someone that can teach post players how to play post but I don't expect that to happen.

In the end they will 12 players all capable of taking the team to the FF like they always do barring injury.

 

[EricSD]

In this highlight
Lorena Cubaj - 1999 - (Atlanta Dream) Kuier Awak - 2001 -2nd overall draft pick by Dallas (second action Blanca scores over her) Matilde Villa - 2004 - (3rd round pick by Atlanta) Amanda Zahui - 1993 - (2nd overall draft pick by Tulsa) Ivana Djokic (New York Liberty) Dorka Juhazs -1999 - (New York Liberty) Caitlin Bickle - 2000 - (Connecticut) and against a lot of player with international experience. She finished the regular season with 10.7 ppg and her team finished in 3rd position the regular season. The fact that Blanca is not ranked in most of the rankings is because she's like Tom Hanks in The Terminal, she is not European and so she is not included in the euro rankings, she's not Italian and so she's not inserted in their rankings and Ecuador doesn't have international exposure... Not Jana or Nika had not even close the level of competition that Blanca had in the last 5 seasons...

My goodness - She literally can do everything. Great handle, great moves blowing by players, can use both her right and left hands, has a 3 point shot, a nice mid range stop and pop, plays great defense, dishes nice assists, and is shot blocker. You'd think she's 25, but no, she's only a teenager.

I get that those were her highlight plays, but it's hard not to think she's going to be special. Some have said she reminds them of Pheesa... for me, I think she reminds me of a more in control Joyce Edwards (gasp). Yep - the #2/3 player behind Sarah for SC.

Reports say she's 6'1". She looks taller, but all i can see are snips of her play, so maybe it's the fact that her wingspan looks to be immense that makes her seem taller...

 

[BobbyJ]

My goodness - She literally can do everything. Great handle, great moves blowing by players, can use both her right and left hands, has a 3 point shot, a nice mid range stop and pop, plays great defense, dishes nice assists, and is shot blocker. You'd think she's 25, but no, she's only a teenager.

I get that those were her highlight plays, but it's hard not to think she's going to be special. Some have said she reminds them of Pheesa... for me, I think she reminds me of a more in control Joyce Edwards (gasp). Yep - the #2/3 player behind Sarah for SC.

Reports say she's 6'1". She looks taller, but all i can see are snips of her play, so maybe it's the fact that her wingspan looks to be immense that makes her seem taller...

I agree completely with your first paragraph. But I see no comparison to Edwards. Apples and oranges, Quinonez is a pure wing/3 while Edwards is a 4 with no real perimeter game or open court passing/ballhandling skills yet. Edwards will be a very good inside player for SC and Quinonez should be a versatile in/out pairing with Strong. I’ll bet Auriemma can’t wait to get BQ in the gym.

 

[ConnMotors]

Am sorry but Jana is starting because of nessity. I honestly thought that she would be better after being a second year player. She has no shot and needs hand skills. But she is tall and that you can’t teach. If a good senior post arrives via the portal then that lady is going to start at the 5. KK will be the point. Azzi will be the 2. If Blanca is as good as advertised then she will start at the 3. While the silent assassin Sarah starts at the 4. Ash will get plenty of minutes but will be the 6th player of the year once again.

 

[Vowelguy]

Seems odd that Jana is starting as a redshirt freshman, but won't start with another year of experience.

KK and Ash are on line 1