Women's BIGEAST Basketball

There's an alternate reality where Angel Reese wrote her name alongside other UConn legends rather than helping lift LSU to a national championship in 2023.

Reese reacted Monday on X to a photo of her wearing a Huskies hoodie and standing next to legendary head coach Geno Auriemma:

The 6'3" forward was the No. 2 recruit in the 2020 class, so it's only natural that she would've met with UConn officials and contemplated life in Storrs. However, she said to the Baltimore Sun's Katherine Dunn in 2018 she had removed the Huskies from consideration due to her potential playing time as a true freshman.

At the time, Megan Walker was entering her sophomore year and Olivia Nelson-Ododa was the fifth-best recruit nationally and a true freshman.

Reese, a Baltimore native, ultimately decided to stay close to home and signed with Maryland.

The 2024 WNBA All-Star isn't the biggest what if for the Huskies when it comes to that recruiting cycle.

Caitlin Clark told ESPN's Wright Thompson she dreamed of playing for UConn but received little interest from the school. With Paige Bueckers, another 2020 recruit, on their radar, the Huskies didn't aggressively pursue another dynamic guard.

More than anything, Reese's photo with Auriemma is another reminder of how stacked the 2020 class was.

The UConn women's basketball team will be heading overseas for next year's season opener.

The Huskies announced on Thursday that they will open the 2025-26 campaign against Louisville at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany as part of the Armed Forces Classic.

The game between UConn and Louisville will be the first-ever women's college basketball matchup of the Armed Forces Classic, per ESPN's Alexa Philippou.

"We want to do as much as we possibly can, both personally and team-wise, to support our armed forces," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said in a statement. "I'm glad we're getting the opportunity to go overseas and have many of our military members see us play in person. I know it'll be an experience of a lifetime for everyone in our program."

"We are extremely thankful to be selected for the 2025 Armed Forces Classic," Louisville coach Jeff Walz said in a statement. "It will be an incredible experience for our players and staff to play in front of some of our nation's heroes overseas. We look forward to the opportunity to showcase women's basketball on an international stage."

The matchup will continue the run of top women's college basketball teams playing their respective season openers at international sites. Earlier this week, games featuring USC vs. Ole Miss and UCLA vs. Louisville were played in Oui-Play in Paris.

The Armed Forces Classic debuted in 2012 and has been played in South Korea, Puerto Rico, Japan, Hawaii, Texas, Alaska and San Diego. Ramstein Air Base previously hosted the event in 2012 and 2017.

The Huskies, who are currently ranked No. 2 in the nation, are set to open the 2024-25 season on Thursday against Boston University. The No. 17 Cardinals suffered a 66-59 loss to the Bruins and will look to bounce back on Friday against Southern Indiana.

UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma believes it's time to reclassify college sports with athletes earning outside endorsement money.

Auriemma said Wednesday during the Big East's media day the old student-athlete model is now a "charade." He argued it more resembles "semi-professional, pay-for-play sports" that should be treated like a "business."

The legendary coach has never been shy about voicing his opinion regarding the new normal in college athletics. The increasing ease with which players are allowed to transfer in particular has been one of his longstanding gripes.

In 2019, before the NCAA approved its first one-time transfer rule, Auriemma suggested that "the majority of coaches in America are afraid of their players," lest those players decide to leave.

"The NCAA, the athletic directors and society has made them afraid of their players," he said, per ESPN's Michael Voepel. "Every article you read: 'This guy's a bully. This woman's a bully. This guy went over the line. This woman was inappropriate.'

"Yet the players get off scot-free in everything. They can do whatever they want. They don't like something you say to them, they transfer. Coaches, they have to coach with one hand behind their back. Why? Because some people have abused the role of a coach."

Not surprisingly, Auriemma opinions haven't evolved much since he made those comments. Following a victory over St. John's this past January, he lamented the "transactional" relationship between player and coach.

Of course, Auriemma's attitudes about the transfer portal haven't stopped the Huskies from capitalizing on the changes in the past. Evina Westbrook and Dorka Juhász signed with UConn before graduating from their previous schools.

When it comes to the increased professionalization of college sports, the 70-year-old is echoing what a lot of coaches and fans think already.

Athletes are getting NIL money, enjoy more freedom of movement than ever, in some cases have to travel thousands of miles for conference games, and are seeing television networks spend hundreds of millions of dollars to broadcast their games. The days of amateurism in major-revenue sports are over.

But some might see Auriemma's opinions, especially on how athletes get to exercise some leverage themselves, as a bit rich coming from a coach who months ago signed an $18.7 million extension.

UConn star Paige Bueckers reiterated that winning a title is the bar for the 2024-25 women's basketball season.

Bueckers told SNY's Chelsea Sherrod that her mindset is "definitely national championship or bust."

In a profile by The Ringer's Mirin Fader, the senior guard said the pursuit of her first title helped fuel her decision to return to the Huskies for another season.

It's unfair to some degree to compare Bueckers to past Huskies legends. There's far more parity in the sport compared to when Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and Tina Charles walked the halls of Gampel Pavilion.

But UConn head coach Geno Auriemma knows what's at stake for Bueckers this year.

"If, for whatever reason, we don't win a national championship this year, she'll feel like, 'I'm the best player to ever play at Connecticut that didn't win a national championship,'" he said to Fader.

The Huskies have a squad good enough to go all the way, which is illustrated by their No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press' preseason Top 25.

After missing a full season due to a torn ACL, Bueckers showed in 2023-24 that she remains an elite talent. She averaged 22.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.2 steals, earning unanimous first-team All-American honors for the second time.

To complement Bueckers, Auriemma signed three of the top 11 recruits (Sarah Strong, Allie Ziebell and Morgan Cheli) in espnW's Top 100 ranking. Azzi Fudd, Aubrey Griffin and Caroline Ducharme are all back, though they'll miss the start of the season.

Unless UConn totally bottoms out, falling short of a title shouldn't be classified as a failure for the Huskies, despite the expectations they've set for themselves every year thanks to their past success.

Still, it will feel like something is missing from Bueckers' college career if she leaves Storrs without a national championship.

The desire to win a national championship is fueling Paige Bueckers' final season at UConn.

"I want to prove that I'm a winner at every level," she told The Ringer's Mirin Fader.

Fader explained how the remark came as Bueckers was at the Huskies' team facility, which is adorned with photos of legendary players from the program's history and reminders of past success.

The 6'0" guard has already put together an impressive career. She was the national player of the year as a true freshman. She returned from a torn ACL to become a unanimous All-American for the second time last year. And UConn has reached the Final Four in all three seasons in which she was healthy.

Head coach Geno Auriemma knows what's at stake from a legacy standpoint, though.

"If, for whatever reason, we don't win a national championship this year, she'll feel like, 'I'm the best player to ever play at Connecticut that didn't win a national championship,'" he said to Fader.

Breanna Stewart was not just a four-time champion but a four-time NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player winner. Diana Taurasi won three titles. Sue Bird, Tina Charles and Maya Moore claimed two titles apiece. Rebecca Lobo, Nykesha Sales, Jennifer Rizzotti and Kara Wolters were on the 1994-95 team that lifted a title and signaled the start of UConn's dynasty.

The women's basketball landscape has shifted dramatically in recent years, even just in the time since Stewart graduated in 2016. The talent is becoming more dispersed and Auriemma can no longer count on having the kind of star-studded rosters that were a regular sight in Storrs.

Just as UCLA couldn't be the kings of the men's game forever, the rest of the field was going to chase down the Huskies sooner or later. Because of that, it would be a little unfair to hold Bueckers up against the standards of previous generations of UConn royalty.

Should she fail to win a national title, however, it will be a notable omission from an otherwise spotless résumé.

UConn Police arrested a man Friday who is now facing charges of stalking and harassing star basketball player Paige Bueckers after appearing in Connecticut Superior Court on Monday.

ESPN's Katie Barnes reported Robert Cole Parmalee was charged with breach of peace, electronic stalking and harassment and was held on $100,000 bond. Judge Richard Rubino said Parmalee would face "intense pretrial supervision" and GPS monitoring if he did make bail.

What's more, Barnes reported protective and no-contact orders were issued for "PB" in court.

Connecticut State Police previously arrested Parmalee on Aug. 27 when he was found walking on a limited-access highway near Bradley International Airport outside Hartford, Connecticut.

He told police at that time he was going to see Bueckers, per UConn police.

"The arresting officer was notified by dispatch of an outstanding warrant for Parmalee's arrest in Oregon," Barnes wrote. "Parmalee was arrested and facing extradition to Oregon, but, according to a statement from UConn, Oregon planned to move to dismiss those charges. UConn PD served its arrest warrant on Friday at Hartford Correctional Center."

UConn Police said that officials within the school's communication department were made aware of Parmalee in June when he sent "rambling" emails to them saying he wanted to marry one of the women's basketball players and was a member of the royal family.

His social media posts included messages that said he was going to propose to Bueckers, a fake wedding invitation and some that UConn Police said were threatening to Bueckers and those close to her.

While Bueckers told police she never responded to the social media posts, police said she was worried about the safety of herself and others.

Parmalee is scheduled to reappear at Connecticut Superior Court on Oct. 22.

Connecticut star Paige Bueckers has signed a first-of-its-kind name, image and likeness deal with the new Unrivaled Basketball league.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Bueckers' deal makes her the first college athlete with ownership equity in a professional league.

The Huskies point guard will also play in the Unrivaled league, as well as the WNBA, after her college career ends.

Unrivaled is a three-on-three women's basketball league that will begin play in January 2025. It will feature 30 players on six teams in a three-on-three, compressed full-court style of play.

WNBA stars and former UConn teammates Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne in July 2023 they were founding a new league that would give players a domestic alternative to play during the WNBA offseason.

"It's the ability for players to stay home, to be in a market like Miami where we can just be the buzz and create that with the best WNBA players," Stewart told Shelburne. "We can't keep fighting [the WNBA's prioritization rule]. It is a rule that takes away our choices, which should never be a thing, especially as women, but it is still a rule."

In May, the league announced it received financial investments from various athletes and celebrities that includes former NBA MVP Steve Nash, former NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, U.S. soccer legends Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe and actor Ashton Kutcher.

The announcement also noted Unrivaled would offer the "highest average salary in women's professional sports league history."

Charania noted the league cap for all 30 players will be at least $7.5 million—an average of $250,000. WNBA supermax contracts for the 2024 season are $241,984, per Her Hoop Stats.

Stewart, Collier, Chelsea Gray, Arike Ogunbowale, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Rhyne Howard, Kahleah Copper, Jackie Young and Angel Reese have already been confirmed to play in the league's debut season.

Bueckers announced in February she was using her fifth year of eligibility to return to Connecticut for the 2024-25 season. The two-time Big East Player of the Year has led the Huskies to the Final Four three times and an appearance in the 2022 national title game.

UConn star Paige Bueckers is receiving her own player-exclusive edition of the Nike G.T. Hustle 3, according to Sole Retriever.

The senior guard is the first college basketball player to receive the honor. The shoe will drop Sept. 12 and retail for $120, per Sole Retriever.

Bueckers signed an NIL deal with Nike ahead of the 2023-24 season. ESPN.com's Michael Voepel reported at the time the partnership could extend into her pro career as well.

The 2021 National Player of the Year is widely considered to be the clear No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft. After injuries interrupted her sophomore campaign and a torn ACL kept her out for all of 2022-23, she reaffirmed her status as an elite talent this past season.

In 38 games, Bueckers averaged 22.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists. She also shot 53.0 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from beyond the arc. UConn advanced to the Final Four, losing to Caitlin Clark and Iowa.

In the past, Nike received criticism for its perceived lack of investment in its women's basketball athletes. Many found it telling that Breanna Stewart, one of the WNBA's biggest stars, left the apparel giant for Puma in 2021 and immediately received a commitment for her own signature shoe.

Now, the sneaker landscape looks much different across the women's game. The New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu has a Nike signature shoe, while dedicated kicks are on the way for Clark and Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson.

With Bueckers getting a player-exclusive, it seems reasonable to conclude she could join that group at some point down the line.

UConn announced Tuesday that women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma signed a five-year extension.

"I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to continue to work alongside Geno Auriemma and his staff to add to what is already the gold standard for success," athletic director David Benedict said. "Coach Auriemma has dedicated over half of his life to UConn and our women's basketball program and will undoubtably be known as one of the greatest collegiate coaches of all time.

"His presence, dedication and loyalty to this university and state is priceless and will be critical as we enter the most transformational period in college athletics in the past 40 years."

The school confirmed the contract, which ties Auriemma to the program through the 2028-29 season, is worth $18.7 million total and includes a base salary of $400,000 annually.

The Huskies are coming off yet another Final Four appearance, their 23rd since Auriemma arrived in 1985. Star guard Paige Bueckers is back for one more year, and UConn signed three of the top 11 players (Sarah Strong, Allie Ziebell and Morgan Cheli) in HoopGurlz's recruiting rankings for 2024.

The future in Storrs continues to look bright.

Between his age (70) and the rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics, though, some wondered how much longer Auriemma would stick around. Alabama's Nick Saban, Syracuse's Jim Boeheim and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski are among the coaching titans who have walked away within the last few years.

Auriemma has made it clear he hasn't exactly loved the sweeping changes that have altered the athletic landscape, either.

He told the Associated Press' Dan Gelston his job now provides "a different kind of fun."

"It's so different, man. It's so, so different looking at it from a 40-year perspective," he said. "Right now, the beauty of coaching is trying to make them have a similar experience that those other players had. When you see it actually happening, it's really, really rewarding. It just doesn't happen enough."

The Hall of Famer added he liked how Villanova's Jay Wright chose to step down with little fanfare in 2022 on the heels of the Wildcats' Final Four run.

The AP interview left one with the impression Auriemma was staring down his coaching mortality. Instead, he clearly plans on working for the foreseeable future.