The No. 7 UConn Huskies have kicked off another strong season under the guidance of head coach Geno Auriemma. After a dominant victory over Marquette (77-45), the Huskies marked their first win of the 2025 calendar year, showing once again why they’re one of the top teams in the nation. The win pushed them to a solid 12-2 record, placing them at No. 3 in the Big East, but they know their journey is far from over. As they look ahead to their upcoming matchup against Villanova, the Huskies face new challenges.

In his recent interview with The UConn Daily, Geno mentioned; “Players have to be productive and that’s the challenge and the challenge for them you know, how can I be productive in whatever role I have whatever that one is, I told Ice after the Iowa State game you know we probably that was probably one of the finer defensive games I’ve seen from a big kid.”

Auriemma’s emphasis on consistent productivity is reflected in players like Ice Brady and freshman Jana-El Alfy. Even with limited playing time in the Iowa State game, both made their presence felt—Ice contributed 3 points and 3 rebounds in 21 minutes but was a menace that the stat sheet does not show, while Jana, in just 19 minutes, pulled down 9 rebounds and added 2 points.

“So there’s opportunities where Ice can help us and do certain things, but that has to be something that’s consistent and it has to fit in.”

Auriemma acknowledges the challenge of balancing playing time for a deep roster. While Ice has the potential to contribute, it’s crucial that her impact is consistent and fits within the team’s dynamics emphasizing the competitive nature of earning minutes on the court. Despite limited playing time, the sophomore has been making steady contributions, averaging 4.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game starting 12 of her 14 games.

“You can only play five players at a time and you know we tried to have a long or I should say not long yeah a long bench and sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t. It’s not really ideal to try to play 10 players, ’cause it hurts some people when you’re trying to play 10 players. It helps others but hurts others so we have to find a balance there.”

However, Jana-El Alfy has stepped up in a big way for UConn, starting in place of sophomore Ice Brady during the game against Marquette. Making just her second start for the team, she made it count, contributing 10 points and grabbing 4 rebounds the freshman has given remarkable performances as she is averaging, 5.7 points, and 5.1 rebounds with a 50% field goal percentage in 14 games. However, her collision in the previous game which led to a lower back spasm has raised questions on her availability.

UConn’s rising star El Alfy ready for Big East showdown with Villanova

The Huskies are keeping their momentum alive on the Big East road trip as they gear up to face the Villanova Wildcats in Philadelphia. Jana El Alfy has recently become Auriemma’s go-to center, making a strong comeback after missing most of last season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

“She’s fine, she was at all our practice and she went through every practice that we had, so she appears to be all set to go,” Geno stated about her back injury. The last meeting between these two Big East rivals was on February 28, 2024, when the Huskies claimed a convincing 67-46 victory. Paige Bueckers stole the show in that game, delivering a dominant performance with 31 points in just 34 minutes on the court.

On the other hand, the Wildcats are coming off a tough 56-55 loss to Seton Hall, where graduate student Faith Masonius of the Pirates hit a game-winning shot from behind the arc as the buzzer sounded.

As UConn gears up for a crucial Big East showdown against Villanova, Geno Auriemma knows the Huskies can’t afford to let their guard down. With Jana stepping into a key role and the team riding high after a strong start, the stakes are high going into this intense matchup.