Autumn Chassion joins UConn women’s basketball as a walk-on

UConn women’s basketball is adding a walk-on to its roster for the first time in four years. On Saturday, the team announced Autumn Chassion, a 5-foot-8 guard from Lafayette, Louisiana as the newest addition to the program.

“I knew that when I was presented the opportunity to play at one of the most prestigious universities and play under the best coach in women’s basketball that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I knew I had to take it,” Chassion said in a release.

In high school, Chassion guided Lafayette Christian Academy to three Division III state titles (the release incorrectly said four-straight, but Chassion lost in the championship as a senior). As a senior, she averaged 15 points and 10 assists per game. She also recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA and was the school’s valedictorian.

According to her father, Chassion had offers from all numerous Division I schools, including a program ranked top 10 last season, as well as Divisions II and III, NAIA schools and some of the top junior colleges in the country.

Chassion is a point guard with a high basketball IQ who can also play off-the-ball. Per LGABasketball.com, “she doesn’t score at a high rate, she’s more of a run the show type point guard who loves to get her teammates involved.”

Chassion is the 11th member of the Huskies’ roster and the sixth freshman, joining Paige Bueckers, Aaliyah Edwards, Piath Gabriel, Mir McLean and Nika Muhl. Chassion will wear No. 2.

UConn also announced that all 11 players have all arrived on-campus. Previously, Auriemma expressed concern over whether or not the team’s three international players — Edwards, Muhl and sophomore Anna Makurat — could enter the US due to travel restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.