UConn's women's basketball team, led by star player Sarah Strong, will face Syracuse in a warm-up game for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. The Huskies, who narrowly missed winning consecutive National Championships last season by losing in the Final Four, enter this season as championship favorites. Alongside Strong, who was named National Player of the Year, the team features standout players KK Arnold, Ashlynn Shade, and Kayleigh Heckel. They also welcome the nation's No. 2 recruit, Olivia Vukosa, adding more depth to their roster, which includes five international players, such as freshmen Marine Dursus and Jovana Popovic.
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The game will take place on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. ET at Mohegan Sun Arena and will be broadcast on NBC Sports Boston. Fans can also stream the game live on Fubo.
Strong comes off an impressive sophomore season, averaging 18.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.4 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game, with shooting splits of 58% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 83% from the free-throw line.
Syracuse, meanwhile, has several new players, including Uche Izoje, the ACC Rookie of the Year, who contributed 15.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game last season and is expected to challenge for a spot on the All-ACC First Team. The Orange have added eight newcomers, incorporating both freshmen and transfers into their lineup.
In their previous meeting last season, UConn delivered a dominant performance, defeating Syracuse 98-45 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where Azzi Fudd made eight three-pointers and Strong scored 18 points.
This matchup promises to showcase strong talent from both teams ahead of the new season.