One year ago, the UConn women’s basketball team was gearing up for its summer training with a full 14-player roster, aiming for their 12th national championship.
Despite facing injuries that left them with only eight players at the end of the season, the team remarkably made it to the NCAA Final Four, with six players seeing significant action in the last four NCAA Tournament games.
Now, as the team reconvenes for another summer session with a new 14-player roster, four players have departed (two to the WNBA, two transferred) and four new players have joined (three freshmen and one transfer).
Coach Geno Auriemma expressed uncertainty about how the team will shape up by the end of the season, emphasizing the challenges and advantages of managing a larger roster.
Auriemma discussed the impact of injuries on player minutes and highlighted the competition for playing time. The departures of some players open up opportunities for others, with returning starters, bench players, and new recruits vying for playing time.
He stressed the importance of team chemistry and finding players who easily integrate into the team culture.
The team’s history of injuries led to adjustments in player positions, with a guard-heavy lineup at times. Auriemma discussed the prospects of a healthier roster and the addition of new recruits, acknowledging the need to find the best combination of players on the court.
As the team progresses through the summer, Auriemma emphasized that it’s still early to set concrete expectations, with the players set to take a break before the start of the fall semester.
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