UConn faces Texas in preseason test of front-court depth

The University of Connecticut women’s basketball team hosts the University of Texas at PeoplesBank Arena on Monday at 7 p.m. in the second game of a three-game preseason exhibition series. The matchup serves as a high-profile evaluation for the Huskies, who are looking to address front-court rotation kinks before their regular-season opener against Cornell on Nov. 2.

Both programs enter the contest with recent Final Four experience, though they have not faced each other since 2023. The Huskies' last meeting with the Longhorns resulted in an 80-68 loss. Monday’s game provides a benchmark for the team’s current roster composition against a program known for its size and interior presence.

"I think it’s really important to prepare us kind of early, before everything starts," said Jana El Alfy, a forward for the Huskies. "That’s also gonna help the new guys to try to have an idea of what it’s gonna look like later on."

Head Coach Geno Auriemma plans to utilize the game to test the depth of his centers, including El Alfy and freshman Olivia Vukosa. Auriemma noted that Vukosa’s development is a priority following her performance in last week’s exhibition against Syracuse.

"I don’t think Olivia’s had one day of

"I don’t think Olivia’s had one day of practice that was as good as today," Auriemma said after the Syracuse game. "She’s only going to get better from here, and I thought she looked pretty darn good tonight."

"You just want to get out on the court, like we did the other day," Auriemma said. "You go to practice the following week and you have a much clearer picture of what you want to work on."