UConn just suffered their second and arguably most painful loss of the season. The much-anticipated showdown between the No. 4 Huskies and No. 7 USC Trojans started with USC’s dominance and ended with a 72-70 win for the Trojans. While UConn pulled some heroics in the third quarter, it just wasn’t enough. And amid all the post-game buzz, fans zeroed in on one particularly questionable decision by HC Geno Auriemma.

With just over 4 minutes left in the game, UConn had clawed their way back from an 18-point deficit, even taking the lead at 65-64. Paige Bueckers was getting to her best form, Sarah Strong and KK Arnold were making key plays, and the momentum was shifting. Then, to everyone’s shock, Auriemma pulled Arnold. Fans couldn’t believe it. 

Arnold had been efficient all night, scoring 5 points and grabbing 2 rebounds on perfect shooting. She could have been the key to UConn’s comeback. Fans didn’t hold back on social media. “This loss is on Geno,” one user tweeted, echoing many. 

But seems like Geno isn’t losing sleep over it. When asked, he stood by his decision, saying, “One of [Arnold’s] biggest roles should be to come in and disrupt the game and change the way the game is played. And I thought she did that.” For him, Arnold had already fulfilled her job for the night.

 This loss puts UConn at 10-2, with both losses coming against top-tier teams. The first one came against Notre Dame 79-68. Hannah Hidalgo had a monster game, nearly posting a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, while the Irish built a huge lead and never looked back.

But this game against the Trojans wasn’t just about the teams, but the Paige Bueckers vs. JuJu Watkins showdown. And the 19-year-old prodigy did prove her mettle. That too, on UConn’s home court and in front of a fired-up Hartford crowd.

Just before facing Geno Auriemma & co., JuJu Watkins made history

Before the big showdown with UConn, JuJu Watkins etched her name in a way few could have imagined. Her jersey was added to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and that’s no small feat. I mean, how many college players can say that at just 19 years old? 

The Trojans star has completely shattered records, averaging an insane 24.7 points per game this season and even leading the country with a 51-point game. She’s also become the fastest Power Five player to hit 1,000 career points, doing it in just 38 games. Well, the numbers really speak for themselves here.

But it’s not just on the court that Watkins is making big. As if all that wasn’t enough, she’s also a young investor in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 women’s basketball league. With $576,000 NIL value as of December 2024, she’s already joining big names. The list includes Michael Phelps, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Dawn Staley. 

As for this loss for the Huskies, they must be feeling disappointed, however, they’ve got a whole season ahead of them. UConn is a powerhouse, and we know they’ll shake this one off. With the depth of their roster, we are looking forward to watching them make a deep run in the tournament.