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UConn Women’s Basketball Picked To Win AAC For Sixth Straight Year; Samuelson Named Preseason Player of the Year

The Huskies have yet to lose conference game in the five-year history of the league.

Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog

For five-straight years, the UConn women’s basketball team has won the American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament without losing a game. In those last two seasons, Huskies’ star Katie Lou Samuelson has earned the AAC’s Player of the Year.

History is expected to repeat itself this season as UConn was picked to finish first in the AAC Coaches’ Preseason Poll while Samuelson was named the Preseason Player of the Year.

Along with Samuelson, senior forward Napheesa Collier was a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-Conference First Team while junior guard Crystal Dangerfield also made the cut.

The Huskies are likely to run roughshod through the conference once again, with only USF — picked to finish second — as a possible challenger.

2018 AAC Women’s Coaches’ Preseason Poll

Team (First Place Votes) Points
Team (First Place Votes) Points
UConn (11)* 121
USF (1) 111
Houston 95
UCF 92
Cincinnati 74
Temple 72
SMU 55
ECU 46
Tulane 42
Wichita State 35
Memphis 25
Tulsa 24

Preseason Player of the Year

Katie Lou Samuelson, UConn

Preseason All-Conference First Team

Napheesa Collier, UConn*
Crystal Dangerfield, UConn
Katie Lou Samuelson, UConn*
Jasmyne Harris, Houston
Kitija Laksa, USF*

Preseason All-Conference Second Team

Angela Harris, Houston
Laura Ferreira, USF
Alicia Froling, SMU
Allıya Butts, Temple
Mia Davis, Temple