Opinion: Can anyone beat UConn?

After UConn’s phenomenal 2025 season that ended with a national championship win, they were expected to continue their success into the following season. It is unlikely, though, that anyone could have predicted the extent of their continued reign over women’s college basketball.

After losing key players such as No. 1 WNBA Draft pick Paige Buekers and third-round pick Kaitlyn Chen, it seemed improbable that UConn could quickly fill the gap they left.

With the additions of Southern California transfer Kayleigh Heckel and freshman Blanca Quinonez, they seem poised to take March by storm for a second consecutive year.

Now led by senior Azzi Fudd and sophomore Sarah Strong, UConn is looking to continue its undefeated record.

This season, the Huskies hit the ground running with their average margin of victory being just under 40 points. Their closest game came against No. 6-ranked Michigan with a three-point victory.

With only nine games left in the regular season, not many teams look capable of deterring the Huskies.

They will host No. 15-ranked Tennessee this upcoming Sunday. The Lady Volunteers, who just faced a 15-point loss to unranked Mississippi State, could use this game against UConn to bounce back.

It is far more likely, though, that Tennessee will go home empty-handed. This will be the last-ranked team that UConn will face until March, when the playoffs begin.

Once March Madness begins, the Huskies will have to face far more talented teams than the Big East has to offer. Teams like UCLA and South Carolina will have UConn on their minds.

Right now, it doesn’t seem like anyone can beat UConn; their defense has improved exponentially since last season, and their scoring has been too spread out for any team to have a solid defensive strategy.

But going into March with a target on their backs might be dangerous. If UConn loses players to injuries or if any one player hits a slump, they could end up relying on their depth.

Players like KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade, who have been phenomenal this year, could end up having more asked of them than initially expected.

One team everyone should keep their eye on for these playoffs is Vanderbilt, the No. 5-ranked team led by sophomore Micayla Blakes, who has only one loss to South Carolina.

The other team that the Huskies need to watch out for is the South Carolina powerhouse coached by Dawn Staley. One can never count out the Gamecocks, and UConn knows this.

The Huskies look poised to repeat as national champions, a concept not foreign to longtime head coach Geno Auriemma, who once won four consecutive national championships.

UConn basketball breeds champions, and it doesn’t seem like this year will be any different. But anything can happen in March, and all eyes will be on the Huskies.

Gwen Evans is a second-year majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact her, email gme5218@psu.edu