UConn women vs. Texas in preseason exhibition

UConn women’s basketball appeared in midseason form during the program’s second preseason exhibition game Monday evening, routing reigning national semifinalists Texas at PeoplesBank Arena 83-61. 

Sarah Strong looked every bit of the National Player of the Year against a talented Texas frontcourt, scoring 27 points on 12-for-21 shooting while dishing out three assists and recording three blocks. Jovana Popovic continues to dazzle as a freshman, finishing with 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists while leading UConn’s dazzling 3-point shooting display — the Huskies finished 10-for-18 from beyond the arc. 

Here’s CT Insider beat reporter Maggie Vanoni’s takeaway from the game.

And here’s a look back at live updates from Monday’s exhibition:

Auriemma and Sarah Strong might be wishing that Monday’s game counted for the record books, as the Huskies scored a dominant victory over a reigning national semifinalist while UConn’s star forward came within two points of her best regular-season scoring performances with 27. 

With the Huskies leading by 18 inside the final three minutes, the end of Geno Auriemma’s is starting to take the floor. Kelis Fisher entered the game for the first time this half, while Sarah Strong came off moments later after a masterful 27-point performance.

With 53 seconds remaining, Irish center Gandy Malou-Mamel entered for the first time on Monday.

The Huskies are on a 7-2 run to start the fourth quarter, extending the Huskies’ lead to 63-47. Allie Ziebell is making her presence felt on both ends, knocking down her first 3-pointer of the game before managing an impressive block on the low post against 6-foot-2 Texas forward Isi Etute. 

The Huskies preserved a double-digit lead entering the fourth quarter thanks to another outstanding play from freshman Jovana Popovic, who stripped Texas’ Brihanna Crittendon on a drive to the basket before the period ended. Popovic finished with six points, three rebounds and a steal in the third quarter and is tied with Sarah Strong for a team-high 18 points on the afternoon. 

UConn leads 56-45 entering the fourth quarter.

The Huskies’ famously stifling defense is starting to slow down Texas late in the third quarter, as the Longhorns trail by nine and have gone more than four minutes without a field goal. Auriemma’s defense was somewhat fortuitous as Texas star Madison Booker likely deserved a foul call after intercepting Kayleigh Heckel’s pass under the basket — Booker committed her fourth foul on the ensuing loose ball, heading to the bench. 

Huskies lead 53-44 with 2:30 remaining in the third quarter. 

Arnold generally avoided foul trouble as UConn’s starting point guard last season, but she’s already been whistled four times against Texas Monday and heads to the bench. The senior has struggled to make an impact as a scorer with just three points on 1-3 from the field, but she’s posted three assists and grabbed three rebounds. 

Popovic is off to a fairy-tale start at UConn, with the freshman scoring 12 points in the first half of Monday’s exhibition. Former UConn star Rebecca Lobo, in attendance at PeoplesBank Arena, has seen enough to predict Popovic could become one of the best first-year players in the country.

“I’m at the TX v UConn preseason game,” Lobo wrote on X. “UConn freshman Jovana Popovic will be in the conversation for National Freshman of the Year at the end of this season.”

Sarah Strong continues where she left off in the first half, muscling her way to the rim on UConn’s offensive possession to restore the Huskies’ lead. Follow along for live updates!

It’s largely been a two-player show for UConn in the first half Monday, as Sarah Strong and Jovana Popovic combined for 24 points on 9-14 shooting. Popovic has been the main culprit in a poor ball-handling half for the Huskies, however, committing four of UConn’s 11 turnovers.  

Texas has largely dictated the terms of Monday’s matchup, limiting 3-point opportunities on both ends. The Huskies have attempted just two 3-point field goals in the second quarter as halftime draws near and just seven in the game, with Jovana Popovic accounting for two of UConn’s four made 3s.

Madison Booker, two returning first-team All-Americans and the unquestioned stars of Monday’s game, have taken control of Monday’s game in Hartford. The two forwards have combined for 15 of the 21 total points scored in the second quarter from all over, shooting from long-range, at the rim and through contact. 

Strong’s latest 3-pointer gave the Huskies a 29-28 lead at the second-quarter media timeout. 

UConn kicked off the second quarter with two turnovers on its opening two possessions, as KK Arnold lost her handle before Allie Ziebell couldn’t handle a hot pass in the left corner. The Huskies are up to eight turnovers after just 11 minutes of play, struggling to navigate Texas’ extended pressure. 

Meanwhile, Madison Booker canned a 3-pointer from the top of the key on Texas’ opening possession, giving the Longhorns a 20-19 lead. 

Jana El-Alfy beat the first-quarter buzzer with a well-worked two-man action with KK Arnold, giving UConn the lead back. Both teams found their offensive groove toward the end of the first period — UConn hit six of its last seven field goals, while Texas converted four of its last five. 

The Croatian star has lost nearly 30 pounds since starting summer workouts at UConn, showing improved mobility against an elite Texas frontcourt in Monday’s scrimmage. Vukosa faced off against Breya Cunningham 1-on-1 in the post, forcing the senior forward into a traveling violation, and she moved her feet well on UConn’s next defensive possession to force another Longhorns turnover.  

Popovic impressed Huskies fans in her UConn debut last week against Syracuse, scoring 10 points on 5-7 shooting, and she’s off to an even faster start Monday evening. Popovic has drilled both of her 3-point attempts so far today, and her most recent long-ball gave the Huskies an 11-8 lead at the first media timeout. 

Despite UConn’s formidable front-court of Sarah Strong and Jana El-Alfy, Texas has found success attacking the painted area early against the Huskies. Breya Cunningham opened the scoring with a tough finish in the post, and Bryanna Preston converted a layup in transition to give Texas a 6-5 lead after four minutes of play. 

Jana El Alfy wins the opening tip, and UConn’s second preseason game is underway from Hartford. Follow along all evening long for live updates. 

Monday’s game will be broadcast locally on WFSB Channel 3, a local CBS affiliate available in seven of Connecticut’s eight counties, except Fairfield. Otherwise, fans can stream the game on UConn+  — a two-game pass to watch Monday’s game and UConn’s final exhibition against Army is available for $8.99 — or listen to the game over the radio on the UConn Sports Network. 

Geno Auriemma is rolling with the same starting lineup for UConn’s second exhibition game Monday. G KK Arnold, G Jovana Popovic, G Ashlynn Shade, F Sarah Strong, C Jana El Alfy

Cheli did not participate in pre-game stretching with the Huskies roster Monday, and a UConn spokesperson stated that the third-year player will miss Monday’s game and is “day-to-day” in her availability going forward. The California native played her first game in around 600 days last week against Syracuse after missing all of the 2025-26 campaign with an ankle injury she sustained during her freshman year. 

Texas was one of the most dominant statistical teams in the nation last season despite playing in the ultra-talented SEC with a relentless focus on the interior, leading the country in 2-point field goals and opponent assist-to-turnover ratio as the No. 4 overall team in HerHoopStats’ adjusted efficiency ratings. Leading scorer Madison Booker returns to Austin this season alongside several key contributors, and Auriemma looks forward to challenging his squad against a quality opponent without risking an early-season loss. 

“You want to try to, most times anyway, get a team to play against that can challenge you in a lot of different areas, and I’m sure they’re (Texas) thinking the same thing,” Geno Auriemma said after practice Saturday. “You know, let’s go play a team that will challenge us in different areas in a non-threatening situation. And you go to practice the following week, and you have a much clearer picture of what you want to work on. So, I think you’re going to see more of these so-called high-profile exhibition games.”

Three UConn players missed the first exhibition against Syracuse last week, and two members of this group, Blanca Quiñonez (shoulder) and Marine Dursus (foot), will remain sidelined against Texas. However, Auriemma said guard Allie Ziebell has recovered from her ankle injury and will play Monday.