UConn Daily Digest: Fall sports have arrived

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Headlines

Men’s hoops’ loaded non-con

It’s here. And it is an absolute gauntlet. 

UConn men’s basketball released its official non-conference schedule Monday, locking in some key details surrounding the upcoming early slate. While most of the opponents and dates were already known, the release gives fans the full list of opponents and dates, starting with an exhibition on Oct. 13 — a doubleheader against Boston College in tandem with the women’s squad. 

The 13-game slate includes two exhibition matches. The Boston College game will be played at Mohegan Sun at 7 p.m. Fifteen days later, they’ll have another tune-up against Michigan State. The Spartans, fresh off an Elite Eight appearance last March, are expected to be equally as formidable in 2025-26 under Tom Izzo’s watch. 

The Huskies will ease into the season with a four-team MTE in early November, hosting New Haven, UMass Lowell, and Columbia from Nov. 3-10 before shipping up to Boston. At TD Garden, the Hall of Fame Series pits the Huskies against the BYU Cougars on Nov. 15 in one of the most exciting non-conference matchups all year. 

UConn will play eight of its 13 non-conference games at home and two at Madison Square Garden — Nov. 28 against Illinois and Dec. 9 against Florida, whom the Huskies would surely like to have some revenge against after last year’s round-of-32 thriller. Before they get that chance, UConn will board its only plane in the non-conference, heading to Phog Allen to play Kansas on Dec. 2.

Residing on the ROTHSTEIN 45, CBS’ Jon Rothstein’s comprehensive ranking system of the top 45 programs in the nation, are seven of UConn’s 13 upcoming opponents. The Huskies hold the No. 6 spot. More than half of these games will feature an NCAA Tournament-caliber opponent.

Rrezon Elezaj and Uroš Paunović join the squad

After the House vs. NCAA settlement expanded college basketball rosters to 15 spots per team, UConn looked overseas to fill out its roster for this year with two interesting additions: 18-year-old center Rrezon Elezaj and 22-year-old guard Uroš Paunović.

Standing 7-foot-2, Elezaj is a product of Turkey. He’s praised for his mobility, defense, and maturity.

“We're looking forward to bringing him into our program and getting to work on his development,” said head coach Dan Hurley. “He has really solid instincts and timing as a shot-blocker and is a legitimate lob threat in the ball-screen game. Rrezon has experience coming through the ranks as a Turkish youth national team player, and we're excited to add him to our group up front.”

Paunović comes to Storrs from Serbia, enhancing the Huskies’ backcourt depth. At 6-foot-3, he grades out as an effective combo guard.

“Uroš is a guy we liked on film. He’s got a ton of experience as a 22-year-old,” Hurley said via press release. “He’s been a starter professionally in the top division in Serbia, a 6-3 guard who’s pretty good with the ball, can shoot and pass, and plays with real emotion on the floor. We’re looking forward to having him join the Huskies.”

Hassan Diarra signs with Maccabi Ra’anana

Hassan Diarra’s playing days are not over, with the national champion guard headed overseas to join the Maccabi Basketball Club of Ra’anana. Based in Israel, the team competes in the Israeli National League, in which it finished with a 25-6 record last season. 

Diarra will reunite with a former teammate from his pre-UConn days, linking up with Tyrece Radford, who played five seasons at Texas A&M. The two shared the floor during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons before Diarra transferred out. 

ICYMI: Former Husky Adama Sanogo signed with a team in Italy recently.

Sue Bird gets her statue

Sue Bird made history last Sunday, becoming the first player in WNBA history to be honored by her former franchise with a statue. The unveiling — held on what King County, the city of Seattle, and the state of Washington pronounced ‘Sue Bird Day,’ — marked a signature moment in women’s hoops. 

"People keep asking me what it feels like to be the first," Bird said during her speech. "The truth is that I never set out to be the first at anything, but if being the first means I won't be the last, if this statue means that 20 years from now there will be statues of other WNBA greats -- some who are in the audience and players whose names you don't even know yet -- than I'm proud to be the first."

Her career after UConn included 13 All-Star appearances, eight All-WNBA nods, four championship trophies hoisted, and a Hall of Fame induction. 

Paige Bueckers sets WNBA record with 44-point night

Paige Buckets went nuclear Wednesday night. The Dallas Wings guard scored a career-high 44 points, tying a WNBA record for points in a game by a rookie. She shot an absurd 17-21 from the floor —  an asonishing 81% — becoming the first player in WNBA history to score at least 40 points while shooting at least 80% from the field. She made all of her free throws (6/6) and hit all of her three-point attempts (4/4).

• In one night, she scored the most points of any player league-wide so far this season.

• Throughout Dallas franchise history, her 44 points tied the third most in a game by a Wing. 

• Bueckers recorded more than half (55%) of her team’s total points, the fifth-highest percentage in a game in league history. 

The record Bueckers tied was first set in 1997 by Cynthia Cooper, who played at the time for the Houston Comets. While it is technically a rookie record, 1997 was the WNBA’s inaugural season, which means that technically everyone was a rookie that year, including the 34-year-old Cooper. Bueckers is 23.

Unfortunately, her monster night was not enough to lift the Wings past the LA Sparks. Kelsey Plum beat the buzzer to give LA an 81-80 win, as the rest of the Wings roster shot 12-39 (31%) from the floor. Dallas fell to 9-27, last in the Western Conference. Someone should look into whether that coach is a bum or not (Rhetorical. We know he is). 

Weekly Rewind

Men’s Basketball

UConn men’s basketball fills our roster with two European additions – Rrezon Elezaj, a center from Turkey, and Uroš Paunović, a combo guard from Serbia, fill out UConn’s final two roster spots. 

UConn MBB Secures Two New International Commitments – Paunović is expected to have two years of eligibility, while Elezay will enroll as a freshman with a full four years. 

UConn men’s basketball announced 2025-26 non-conference schedule – UConn will play eight home games, one away game, and four at neutral sites over the 13 game stretch.  

WATCH: Interview with Jeremy Lamb - We sat down with one of the smoothest hoopers to ever lace them up as he enjoys life after his time in the NBA!

Women’s Basketball

Sue Bird statue unveiled in Seattle – The Seattle Storm awarded Bird with the ultimate honor, becoming the first franchise in WNBA history to immortalize a player in bronze. 

Weekly: How Ashlynn Shade and Allie Ziebell commemorated UConn’s national championship together – The two got matching tattoos!

Football

UConn Football Fall Camp Media Availability - 8.19.25 

2025 Season Preview #5: Rice – The Huskies look to improve to 3-0 all-time against the Owls.

2025 Season Preview #6: BC ($) – UConn will head to Chestnut Hill on Oct. 18. 

UConn and Delaware Revive an FCS-era Rivalry - UConn and Delaware will meet for the first time since 1998, after the Huskies moved up to the FBS ranks.

Hockey

The moments that made UConn’s season magical (part one) ($) – How did an October series against Union pave the way for a Hockey East Quarterfinal game against Boston College?

Moments that made UConn’s season magical (part two) ($) – The Huskies rang in the new year with a 7-3 comeback win against Harvard.

Soccer

UConn men’s soccer tops Syracuse - Always a great day when you beat the Orange.

UConn women’s soccer 2025 season preview – The Huskies made the NCAA Tournament last year. How can they repeat in 2025?

Photo gallery: Stony Brook Seawolves @ UConn Huskies women’s soccer - 8/17/25 – The Huskies start the season 1-0 with a 1-0 win behind Chioma Okafor’s 11th-minute goal.

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