Well, three of their forwards have been anything but healthy, and two of them have little to no success at the college level yet. I'm glad you're encouraged by Ice recently. I need to see much more, however.
We're trying to build a national champion in what is likely to be both Azzi and Paige's last season, and perhaps Geno's. Lots of work to be done in the front court.
I am in this camp. Only one big (and not really a big at that) is a proven high level player and that is Aubrey, who will not be available for much of the season. Ice, Ayanna, and Amari have not played to their recruiting ranking or a Uconn standard for a good big on a contender. There is hope, potential, and all have been adversely affected by injuries, but the body of work by Ice this year and Ayanna last year does not give confidence we can pencil them into the lineup and say problem solved.
They would both need to be significantly better than they have shown thus far to be content with what we have now. Sure it could happen, but they are as much question marks as known solutions at this point. I have Jana ahead of both at the moment even though she hasn't played a minute and is a question mark herself. My expectations for the other two have been lowered somewhat.
If Aaliyah is gone as expected that is a huge loss. We have many answers on the perimeter to make up for Nika's departure, but not upfront. Nobody can be expected to perform at Aaliyah's level as a senior next year, including probably Sarah at least as freshmen. We need to make up for that by being much better with the other big starter and a couple of really good players off the bench. That "could" happen with what we have, if every question mark is answered very affirmatively, but the odds are much better if we add a top flight big addition, and if not Sarah, a portal big is a very very high priority IMO.