UConn women’s basketball picked to finish first in Big East Preseason Poll

As expected, UConn women’s basketball is the runaway favorite in the Big East this season.

At the conference’s media day at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, the Huskies were unanimously picked to finish first in the Big East Preseason Coaches’ Poll. DePaul came in second and received Geno Auriemma’s vote since coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team.

Meanwhile, Paige Bueckers was named the unanimous preseason player of the year after becoming just the second freshman ever to win be named Big East Freshman and Player of the Year last season. Azzi Fudd, the top prospect in the class of 2021, was selected as the unanimous preseason freshman of the year.

Seniors Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Christyn Williams (a unanimous selection) along with sophomore Aaliyah Edwards all made the Big East All-Preseason Team as well.

Williams was a unanimous All-Big East First Team last season while Nelson-Ododa won the conference’s co-defensive player of the year award and made the All-Big East Second Team. Edwards took home Big East Sixth Woman of the Year and earned a spot on the conference’s all-freshman team as well.

UConn dominated the Big East in its return to the conference last season. The Huskies went 18-0 in league play and won every game by double-digits en route to the regular season and tournament championships.