Before moving forward, I want to be fully transparent by saying I have been a fan of the UConn Huskies Women’s team since 2002. With that tidbit out of the way, head coach Geno Auriemma and the Huskies are favorites to cut down the nets in Phoenix on April 3. The question is can they run it back since doing do back in 2015 and 2015?
Now, let’s take a look at their stats in comparison to last season’s National Championship squad. Below is a chart showing key stats between the respective squads:
UConn This Season Vs. Last Season
| Stat | 2025 – 2026 | 2024 – 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game (PPG) | 88.8 | 81.7 |
| Opponent PPG | 50.4 | 55.2 |
| Offensive Rating | 120.6 | 117.8 |
| Defensive Rating | 68.5 | 75.2 |
| Wins Vs. Top 25 Teams | 5 | 5 |
In this case, this year’s UConn team is better in the listed stats and even in the Top 25 wins from last season’s team. A major reason for the increase in PPG is the shooting from three-point range, as UConn leads the nation at 39.6 percent.
What’s more, Associated Press All-American guard Azzi Fudd led the Big East with a 44.4 three-point percentage. The guard is seventh in the NCAAW in the category. Another reason for the offense is fellow All-American, forward Sarah Strong. She shot 60.1 percent from the field, leading the Big East and No. 10 in the country. Lastly, the bench averaged the fifth-most points per game at 31.1.
more All-America honors for these two ?
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) March 18, 2026
Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong are AP First Teamers! pic.twitter.com/8s3aSF4ydD
Shifting to the defense, UConn led the nation in steals with 15.6 per game as Strong had 3.4 steals per game. Also, this team allowed opponents to shot just 33.3 percent from the field, the lowest mark in the nation. Given the numbers, which teams have the best shot to stop the Huskies in the NCAAW Tournament?
Who can stop UConn?
Despite their dominance, there are teams capable of knocking off the defending champions. First, head coach Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks know how to beat the Huskies.
The Gamecocks defeated the Huskies in 2022 to win their first-ever National Championship. Additionally, Staley is 5-3 against Auriemma since 2020. South Carolina this season has allowed the fifth-fewest opponent field goal percentage at 35 percent.
Offensively, their 85.3 points per game is the fourth-most in the country. All-SEC guard Tessa Johnson led the SEC with a 44.1 percentage from beyond the arc.
Next, UCLA and head coach Cori Close won the Big Ten Tournament by scoring 96 points versus the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Bruins are second to UConn with an assist/turnover ratio of 1.76 and first in offensive rating at 122.2. Furthermore, having future WNBA top picks inn center Lauren Betts and guards Gabriela Jaquez and Kiki Rice helps.
The Texas Longhorns and LSU Tigers are in the top 10 when it comes to bench points per game and field goal percentage (so are South Carolina and UCLA).
How to watch the NCAAW Tournament
Fans can watch all of the action via ABC along with all ESPN networks. It’s important to note that Roku is the with the NCAA March Madness Zone. Here, it brings together live matchups across the women’s tournament. letting fans set game reminders for their must-see match-ups and check final scores with the new score‑strip row.
Without question, Roku doesn’t want you to miss any of the madness. Fans can access the zone straight from the Roku Home Screen, making it simpler than ever to dive into the action the moment it begins over the next four weeks.
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