“Whenever you have a player that can do those things, it’s a double-edged sword.” Geno Auriemma said earlier this week how the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, Paige Bueckers, can sometimes be a blessing and a curse. While Bueckers’ incredible talent has been a key asset, it also brings challenges of relying too heavily on one player.

Nevertheless, as Bueckers prepares to make the jump to the professional stage next year, Auriemma will need to build a well-rounded team to fill the gap. Well, he could soon bolster his mission to form the future of his squad into motion, especially with one top high school prospect ready to make a crucial decision shortly.

A major decision is on the horizon for five-star prospect Lara Somfai, as the Class of 2025 standout is set to announce which college program she’ll commit to.

An X account shared an update on her status, featuring snaps of her fangirling in a UConn jersey. It read, “🚨THIS IS NOT A DRILL🚨 Lara Somfai will be making her commitment on November 13th! She will be choosing between UConn, Stanford, and Duke. She would be a perfect fit for UConn… and it looks like a younger Lara Somfai maybe had that same thought👀.”

Somfai, currently a high school athlete at IMG Academy, narrowed down her college options a few months ago to three top programs, including the UConn Huskies. Now, the highly anticipated moment has arrived: the 17-year-old will announce her decision on November 13th, revealing which of the three powerhouse schools—Stanford, Duke, or UConn—will be her next home.

The 6’4″ Australian forward has made a name for herself on the international stage, representing her country in several junior-level FIBA tournaments, including the 2024 U-17 Women’s Basketball World Cup. During that event, she averaged an impressive 14.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Across her career with Australian junior teams, her overall averages stand at 15.7 points and 8.2 rebounds, showcasing her consistent performance and potential on the court.

There has been strong excitement and speculation that the Aussie athlete may choose to make the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion her backyard for her college career. While she won’t reveal her official decision until November 13th, UConn’s team, led by Geno Auriemma, has already secured two commitments this season, strengthening their future roster.

Geno Auriemma strengthens UConn’s future with 2025 commitments as Bueckers’ departure looms

So far, 88 players from the ESPN 100 rankings have already committed to 50 different programs, with representation from six major conferences: the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, SEC, Big East, and Ivy League. While several top-20 prospects are still yet to announce their decisions, UConn has already secured two key commitments, helping to shape their team for the post-Bueckers era.

The Huskies have strengthened their roster with two promising recruits, Kelis Fisher and Gandy Malou-Mamel. Fisher, a five-star recruit, makes a splash by breaking into the Top 30 of the rankings, while Malou-Mamel, a four-star recruit, sits at 73rd. Both players are expected to bring exciting talent to UConn’s future lineup, especially since the team needs to add depth to the squad.

UConn has already seen two key players, Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl, depart last season, and once this season wraps up, they’ll also lose standout guard Paige Bueckers, who wore the No. 5 jersey. Bueckers led the Huskies to the Final Four last season but ultimately lost to Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Since coach Auriemma has emphasized that the team shouldn’t rely too heavily on one player, with impressive commitments rolling in from the Class of 2025, UConn is on track to build a well-rounded squad for the future. If only Lara Somfai teams up with UConn too, the fans would get to know her in three days from now!