Who replaces Nika?

[PacoSwede]

I'm NOT referring to a point guard. We have at least 3 players who will be that with NC-level competence (paige, kaitlyn, kk) plus others who could fill the role in a pinch (morgan in particular, eventually azzi, and even sarah).

I AM referring to a very rare combination of virtues nika provided: fire, great leadership, intensity and savvy on the court, energy and never-say-die toughness. she could be seen as uconn's 'engine' (as alyssa thomas was for the mohegan sun).

paige obviously provides leadership, and perhaps some of nika's other attributes. but can she add the glue that nika did? maybe. that's asking a lot from paige, who's providing so much and is dealing with immense pressure already.

does uconn need a nika clone? hopefully it can succeed without one, because her contributions -- not including her defense, assists and feeble-though-timely scoring -- are hard to find.

who on the '24-'25 squad will show she has what it takes? that would be a huge plus that the BY overlooks.

 

[Zarathustra]

I'm NOT referring to a point guard. We have at least 3 players who will be that with NC-level competence (paige, kaitlyn, kk) plus others who could fill the role in a pinch (morgan in particular, eventually azzi, and even sarah).

I AM referring to a very rare combination of virtues nika provided: fire, great leadership, intensity and savvy on the court, energy and never-say-die toughness. she could be seen as uconn's 'engine' (as alyssa thomas was for the mohegan sun).

paige obviously provides leadership, and perhaps some of nika's other attributes. but can she add the glue that nika did? maybe. that's asking a lot from paige, who's providing so much and is dealing with immense pressure already.

does uconn need a nika clone? hopefully it can succeed without one, because her contributions -- not including her defense, assists and feeble-though-timely scoring -- are hard to find.

who on the '24-'25 squad will show she has what it takes? that would be a huge plus that the BY overlooks.

We will have to clone tissue samples from Nika's inner cheeks, put them into a petri dish and have
Nika visit to breathe "fire" into the new SUPERWOMAN. Failing that: The role will fall to whoever finds the strength to
pull that sword out of the rock!

 

[Huskee11]

No one can replace Nika. She is unique. Incredibly special as a player and a person. She just provides so much energy and positive vibes. Mazda saw it! Now go buy one.

And teams always look different. As Geno said, you can't dip your toe in the same river twice. Players come, they go. It happens way too fast.

The 2024-2025 team will be outstanding, and may very well cut the nets down in April. It will forge its own identity and I think Paige will provide all the leadership they need. The experienced Chen as well, and Azzi in her own quiet way. I also think that the younger players like KK, Shade, Ice, Jana and Sarah are mature beyond their years and will be able to handle the intense pressure on the horizon quite well.

I am really pumped for the upcoming season but will also feel a bit sad at the jump that Nika is not part of it, that she is elsewhere, and most of all, that she is injured. I am hoping that her rehab brings her to Storrs. That would make perfect sense, would it not?

 

[JoePgh]

The only way that the invitation for Kaitlyn to come to Storrs makes sense (at least to me) is if she assumes part of the leadership role that Nika had last year (recognizing that Paige will be the overall team leader). She may not have the fiery temperament that Nika had, but I don't think that is necessary. Whatever she lacks in that department, she will make up in on-court basketball skill, particularly her threat to score from anywhere and in many different ways.

 

[Bone Dog]

The primary Nika-quality that may be hard to replace is fire. Paige has some of it, as do KK and Kaitlyn. But Nika didn’t just have fire. She was fire incarnate. The player who may be closest to Nika in this regard may be Jana. I like to think of her as Big Nika.

@Huskee11 is right. Every team looks different. This one may not be quite as fire-like without Nika. They are mainly a team of silent assassins — Azzi Allie Ash Aubrey Ice Ayanna Caroline Q. They don’t roar when they score, except for Paige and Jana. Maybe Morgan too.

 

[Husky fanatic]

I believe that Jana will fill the fire and enthusiasm role.

 

[NYCHUSKIES]

What makes Nikka so special is that, respectfully, she came to Uconn as an ok player, and left campus a star. That's incredibly hard to do at Uconn.

 

[Hoops66]

I can't disagree with much that was said above, but I can't stop thinking of last year's overachievement by Ash. I don't think that there was one minute when she wasn't going full out. Diving for possession, making a key rebound, or important basket, moving without the ball, setting screens, all in her first year. She's the kind of player that any coach and every fan would be overjoyed to have. Go get 'em Ash!