Kaitlyn Chen is finally showing why Geno Auriemma had such high hopes for her. In UConn’s dominant 88-52 win over Holy Cross, Chen’s offensive game took a major leap, especially in an area that once wasn’t her strength, even ‘surprising’ Auriemma. He couldn’t hide his pride, as she’s now excelling in exactly the qualities he values in his players.

“I’m convinced that in order to be, you know, a high-level guard in today’s world, actually in any position in today’s world, you have to be at least a serviceable threat from the three-point line,” Auriemma said. “I think she’s done that, and today was a huge step forward.” And it truly was.

Against Holy Cross, Chen hit three of her five three-point attempts (60% accuracy), scoring a season-high 14 points along with seven assists. But the Princeton transfer’s improved shooting isn’t by accident. The NCAA’s winningest coach shared how Chen dedicated herself to working on her three-point game over the summer.

“When she came here, she didn’t come here with the reputation of being an above-average three-point shooter. She spent a lot of time this summer working on it,” he revealed in the post-game press conference. Though it took UConn’s #20 a few games to find her rhythm despite consistently getting enough minutes, she’s finally had the performance everyone was waiting for.

But it’s not just Chen’s scoring or playmaking that has Auriemma excited—it’s her leadership. “She’s a natural-born leader,” Auriemma said. “She’s got great leadership qualities too. You can tell when she’s on the floor things there’s a lot more communication going on.” 

Although the Huskies must be missing their former defensive stalwart, Nika Muhl, their new starting guard seems to be stepping into the shoes of her predecessor with ease. Mühl, who was drafted by the Seattle Storm earlier this year, left a legacy of leadership that the HC is confident Chen can carry forward. While the two guards bring different strengths to the table, the coach has said before that she is the perfect one to complement UConn’s current roster.

Kaitlyn Chen proves Geno Auriemma right, Fills big shoes for UConn

Mühl’s departure left big shoes to fill, but the new Husky’s background suggested she was up for the challenge. A three-time league MVP in high school with over 2,000 career points, she continued her excellence at Princeton, earning Ivy League Player of the Year honors and finishing among the program’s leaders in points and assists.

Then, as she took her talent to Connecticut, she polished them and is now a threat from beyond the arc, too. But the 11x NCAA championship-winning coach always believed in her as he told NBS Sports, “She is fearless, she is smart.” 

He knew her ability to get in the lane and drive the ball downhill was going to help them a lot, even before she debuted for the Huskies. For Chen, the opportunity to play at UConn was equally exciting. “It’s pretty cool being here, if I’m being honest,” she shared. 

Now, as her coach’s confidence in her grows, so does her determination to deliver. With the Huskies facing ranked opponents like Louisville in the coming weeks, she’ll have more chances to solidify her role. Let’s hope we see more of these standout performances.