Women's BIGEAST Basketball

ESPN is already looking ahead to the next season of its Full Court Press docuseries, according to Front Office Sports' Michael McCarthy.

McCarthy reported UConn guard Paige Bueckers is being targeted as a potential subject for the project. He also speculated that USC's JuJu Watkins and LSU's Flau'jae Johnson "could get the documentary treatment" on the basis of their sizable profiles.

Bueckers would be a natural candidate to help anchor a new season of Full Court Press.

The Huskies star is one of the biggest names in college basketball, and she hardly missed a beat in 2023-24 after recovering from a torn ACL. In 38 games, she averaged 22.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.2 steals.

Bueckers' final season will be ripe with narrative as UConn attempts to return to the top of women's basketball. Once the preeminent dynasty, the Huskies haven't won a national title since 2016 and watched as South Carolina overtook them as the premier program.

The future of legendary head coach Geno Auriemma would be lingering in the background as well. Were UConn to be crowned the NCAA champion next spring, the 70-year-old Auriemma could decide the time is right to walk away.

Landing Watkins would be another coup for the Full Court Press producers because she's poised to have the kind of college career that's going to be spoken about in reverential tones.

The Trojans guard finished second in scoring (27.1 points) behind Iowa's Caitlin Clark as a true freshman and helped USC reached its first Elite Eight since 1994.

The program has long been chasing the heights it reached with Cheryl Miller, Cynthia Cooper and Pamela McGee in the 1980s. USC went back to back as the national champs in 1983 and 1984.

With Watkins leading the way, the Trojans are becoming a major brand in women's basketball once again. On an individual level, Full Court Press would also be able to dive in and see how the dynamic playmaker is grappling with becoming a veritable rock star in Los Angeles.

Two of the biggest stars in women's college basketball will face off again in the 2024-25 season.

USC women's basketball announced Monday it will play a home-and-home series with UConn, meaning fans will get to see Huskies star Paige Bueckers and and Trojans star JuJu Watkins clash.

The first game of the series will take place on December 21, 2024, at UConn with the second game coming during the 2025-26 season in Los Angeles.

Fans got to see Bueckers and Watkins go head-to-head in April in the Elite 8 when the Huskies came out on top 80-73 to advance to the Final 4. The first game between the two didn't disappoint as Bueckers notched 28 points and 10 rebounds and Wakins picked up 29 points and 10 rebounds.

Last season, Bueckers averaged 21.9 points per game, leading UConn to a 33-6 record with a Final Four appearance. The Huskies couldn't get past Catilin Clark and Iowa and fell just short of reaching the national championship game.

Watkins, arguably the most electric freshman in college basketball a year ago, put up 27.1 points per game in her first season with the Trojans and is looking to continue her prolific scoring as a sophomore.

While the first game of the home-and-home series won't have as high of stakes as their April meeting, it will be a good litmus test before conference play starts.

It's safe to say UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma would not be a fan of switching WNBA rules and allowing college players to leave after just one season like they can on the men's side.

"It depends whether you want the game to grow, or you want to kill it," Auriemma said Thursday during an interview on ESPN Radio's UnSportsmanLike (h/t Alexa Philippou of ESPN).

"If you want to kill it, then let the kids leave after freshman year. On the men's side, it's become transactional. Everybody's a free agent. Everybody's a mercenary. It's not the kids' fault. ... To me, what helped the women's game grow is the people in Iowa got to grow up with Caitlin Clark. The people of Connecticut got to grow up with all of my great players. There's something to be said for that."

Auriemma added that such a change could potentially "ruin the game."

While players can leave for the NBA just one year removed from high school on the men's side, women's players cannot enter the WNBA draft until they are within three months of graduating college or in the calendar year they turn 22.

Those rules were put in place as part of the WNBA and WNBPA's collective bargaining agreement that expires in 2027, although Philippou noted there is a mutual opt-out clause that could terminate the existing agreement following the 2025 campaign.

That opt-out clause must be exercised by Nov. 1 of this year, though, if it is going to be used.

"I don't know that our game can continue to move forward if all of a sudden our guys are gone," Auriemma said. "So I like the rule, and the players decided the rule. So if they change the rule, God bless 'em, but I think it'll ruin the game."

Auriemma is someone who benefits from the rule as the head coach of one of the sport's premier programs.

Players who come to UConn as freshmen will, in all likelihood, become better by their senior years with additional experience in the college game and familiarity with the system Auriemma runs. That will put the Huskies in a better position to compete for national championships with older and more experienced players.

Still, as Auriemma pointed out, there is something to be said about the women's game becoming more popular as fans watch and get to know the players across multiple seasons at their favorite school.

Players such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardoso and more helped drive record-setting television ratings this season after multiple years with the same programs, and that translated to millions of viewers for the WNBA draft when many of those familiar names were selected.

Name, image and likeness opportunities also allow those players to make money off their popularity in the college game, which eases the burden of not turning to the professional ranks from a financial side.

Yet there is also something to be said about the idea that players who are talented enough should get the chance to compete at the sport's highest level. Someone like USC's JuJu Watkins would surely be drafted after her freshman season but instead has to stay in the collegiate game for multiple years.

There is a debate to be had, but it is clear where Auriemma lands.

An exciting Final Four matchup between No. 1 Iowa and No. 3 UConn now holds the record for the most-watched basketball game ever on ESPN.

Per ESPN PR, Friday's game between the Hawkeyes and Huskies was the most watched NCAA women's basketball game ever with 14.2 million viewers on ESPN and peaking at 17 million viewers. It was also the highest audience for any basketball game on record at ESPN and the most-watched college event ever on ESPN+.

ESPN also noted that it was the network's second-best non-football telecast ever.

Friday's viewership numbers were better than every 2023 World Series game, every 2023 NBA Finals game and several other major sporting events.

The record-setting broadcast comes after Iowa's Elite Eight matchup with No. 3 LSU shattered the record for the most-watched women's college basketball game with 12.3 million viewers.

It's no surprise to see Friday's matchup draw historic viewership. It had everything a college basketball fan would want in a game, from star power with Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers to a dramatic finish.

The two teams traded runs late in the game, with the Huskies leading by a big margin in the third quarter before trailing by double digits in the fourth quarter. UConn crawled back into the game to make things interesting down the stretch and came within one point with just seconds remaining.

A costly, controversial offensive foul on UConn's Aaliyah Edwards eliminated the Huskies' attempt at a game-winning shot, and Iowa secured a rebound after Clark missed a free throw at the other end to seal the game.

Now, Iowa will face No. 1 South Carolina in the championship game on Sunday. The undefeated Gamecocks are looking to win their second championship in three years while Clark is aiming to end her career with a victory.

With another exciting matchup on deck, seeing more historic viewership numbers won't be a surprise.

UConn secured a small victory just hours after a heartbreaking defeat in the Final Four of the 2024 NCAA women's basketball tournament.

Five-star forward Sarah Strong announced Saturday her commitment to the Huskies. She's the No. 1 player in HoopGurlz's 2024 rankings and one of three top-20 talents heading to Storrs next season, joining Allie Ziebell (No. 4) and Morgan Cheli (No. 18).

Daniel Connolly of UConn WBB Weekly provided a look at the team's roster for the next four years when accounting for the newest commit:

Shane Laflin of ESPN detailed what Strong brings to the court.

"The 6'2" point forward might be the most unique player in the country with her versatility and skills," he wrote. "Powerful in the paint but with a feathery touch around the 3-point line, Strong is comfortable all over the floor and features a combination of strength and skill. The most outstanding part of her game may be her precision passing. Her outlet passing is particularly impressive."

Strong has represented the United States at the youth level, winning back-to-back golds in the 2022 and 2023 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup.

The Huskies are no longer the preeminent force they once were. They were last crowned national champions in 2016 and watched as South Carolina emerged as the foremost dynasty in women's basketball.

The retirements of legendary coaches in other sports also point to how the Geno Auriemma era will come to an end at some point.

Still, neither of those factors has prevented UConn from remaining a magnet for top talent. Ashlynn Shade and KK Arnold were both top-20 recruits in 2023, and the pair of Ayanna Patterson and Ice Brady ranked in the top five for 2022.

Injuries rather than a lack of quality across the roster is the single biggest reason the Huskies' championship drought goes on.

UConn already received a huge boost with Paige Bueckers spurning the WNBA and deciding to use her final year of eligibility. With the recruiting class that's coming in, the program is likely to be near the top of the early power rankings for 2024-25.

UConn is heading back to the Final Four after taking down USC in the Elite Eight Monday night.

The No. 3 Huskies took down the No. 1 Trojans 80-73 behind a huge game from star Paige Bueckers, who notched a double-double with 28 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. UConn also got some support from forward Aaliyah Edwards, who had 22 on the night.

Bueckers showcased her defense, taking on the challenge of guarding USC star JuJu Watkins down the stretch.

Watkins finished the game with 29 points, but the freshman ultimately didn't have enough to propel the Trojans into the Final Four.

After the win, fans praised Bueckers for another outstanding tournament game and the Huskies for reaching their 23rd Final Four in program history.

Now UConn has another test as it prepares to take on Catilin Clark and No. 1 Iowa. The Huskies took down the defending champion LSU to reach the Final Four.

Bueckers has been dominant all tournament, scoring 28, 32, 24 and 28 respectively to get the Huskies back to the Final Four after getting bounced in the Sweet 16 last year, and now she's looking for another big game.

Needless to say, Friday's Final Four matchup between Bueckers and Clark will be one of the most exciting games of the season.

UConn is heading to the Sweet 16 after a monster game from Paige Bueckers led the No. 3 Huskies over No. 6 Syracuse 72-64.

Bueckers had 32 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and four steals in the win, following up a 28-point, 11-rebound and seven-assist performance against Jackson State in the first round. Bueckers' performance gives her the most points ever through two rounds of the NCAA tournament by a UConn player since 1991.

Bueckers missed all of the 2022-23 season with a knee injury, and now she's making the most of her time in March Madness. After her big game, fans praised Bueckers for another dominant performance.

After the win over Syracuse, Bueckers and UConn now have a matchup with No. 7 Duke in the Sweet 16. The Huskies' season came to an end in the Sweet 16 last season, but with Bueckers on the court, UConn is looking to make it much further than the second weekend of the tournament.

It's safe to say that UConn guard Paige Buckers was on for the Huskies' opening-round matchup in the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament.

Bueckers scored 28 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out seven assists in an effort that helped lead UConn to an 86-64 victory over Jackson State on Saturday. She also tied the school record for most points in a game without committing a turnover since 2000, matching the mark set by Tiffany Hayes in 2009, per Alexa Philippou of ESPN.

The effort comes in Bueckers' return to the tournament after missing the 2022-23 season with a torn ACL. Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma said that the performance could have served as a reintroduction to those who tune back in at tournament time.

Bueckers' play all season certainly has left little doubts about her immense talent. She averaged 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 34 games. This helped UConn earn a three-seed in the tournament and a Big East conference championship.

The Huskies advanced to the second round with the victory and will face either Syracuse or Arizona State. UConn is in the same region as USC and Ohio State, so some tough matchups could lie ahead.

Still, with Bueckers and a roster full of high-end talent, UConn should remain a force to be reckoned with going forward.

UConn Huskies senior forward Aaliyah Edwards had another year of eligibility remaining, but she's ready to test herself at the next level.

Edwards announced on Thursday that she will forgo her final year of eligibility and enter the 2024 WNBA draft:

Per ESPN's Alexa Philippou, Edwards is projected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming draft, which is scheduled for April 15. She could have used her COVID-19 waiver to return for a fifth year, but she chose to turn pro.

"Although got to savor every moment because this is my last jam at UConn, I'm all in, ready to bring that championship glory back to Storrs with my squad by my side," Edwards said in her announcement video. "Let's have one last dance."

Edwards emerged as a key player for the Huskies during her sophomore season and became a full-time starter as a junior. She helped lead UConn to Final Four appearances in 2021 and 2022, including a national championship game appearance in the latter.

This season, Edwards has averaged career highs of 17.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists. She shot 59.4 percent from the field and was an honorable mention All-American by AP and a second-team selection by the USBWA.

Edwards was a member of a stellar Huskies senior class that included Paige Bueckers and Nika Muhl. Bueckers announced that she will be returning for the 2024-25 campaign after she missed all of last year with a torn ACL. Muhl has announced that this season will be her last at UConn.

Edwards and the third-seeded Huskies will begin their chase for a national championship when they meet No. 14 Jackson State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma passed Mike Krzyzewski for the second-most wins in Division I history after the Huskies earned a 73-53 victory over No. 21 Creighton on Monday.

Auriemma now has 1,203 wins across his legendary career, and he continues to chase Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer for the all-time mark.

It was less than a month ago when VanDerveer leapfrogged Coach K. Stanford has reeled off six more wins since then, bringing its coach's overall total to 1,209.

As long as he can outlast VanDerveer on the sideline, Auriemma is all but guaranteed to move into first place by the time he retires.

The departures of some legendary coaching figures, Coach K included, within the last few years has raised general questions over whether there's less time in Auriemma's career than fans realize.

He'll turn 70 in March, and he hasn't hidden how he believes the transfer portal and name, image and likeness rules have made his job more difficult.

"I think that's why coaches get into coaching, is to have those kind of relationships with their players," he said, per the Associated Press' Dan Gelston. "As that's disappearing somewhat, maybe, so is the fun of coaching, to be honest."

Auriemma then clarified it's a "different kind of fun" compared to previous eras.

The Hall of Famer has nothing left to prove at this point. It will be a long time before another coach matches his 11 national titles and 22 trips to the Final Four, and both may stand the test of time with the increasing parity in women's basketball.

With star guard Paige Bueckers exhausting her full eligibility and returning to UConn for 2024-25, one would have to assume Auriemma intends to keep going for at least another year.