In the arena of College Basketball where potential meets pressure, Isuneh “Ice” Brady’s story is one of hard work, heartbreak, and perseverance. Now, as the 2024-25 NCAA season revs up, she stands ready to be one of its key protagonists. And as she will bleed blue this season, the No, 25 is all set to make her name known in the NCAA realm. This is her story.

As a Redshirt Sophomore for UConn, wearing the coveted No. 25 jersey, her journey to the court began long before she stepped onto the Huskies campus. Once a young girl cheering from the stands with a broken leg, Brady has transformed into a 6-foot-3 powerhouse, ready to break the balance for UConn in the frontcourt.

Hailing from San Diego, California, Brady was born to John Brady and Sophia Knight with six siblings in the house. In Cathedral Catholic High School, she was already known throughout the country as one of its top recruits, even before she finished her high school career.  As a varsity center, she averaged 18.5 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game throughout the four years of high school.

In fact, her remarkable talent that shone in these four years of high school earned her numerous accolades, across the field including the coveted title of 2022 McDonald’s All-American and recognition as the No. 5 recruit by ESPN. She was also selected for the MaxPreps California All-State Third Team and named the 2021 San Diego Sports Association Player of the Year.

While many thought that she had hit her peak, Brady elevated her game to new heights in her senior year, as she averaged an astonishing 20.7 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. These solid stats, when combined with her undeniable talent, led to Ice Brady affirming her status as one of the most sought-after prospects in women’s basketball, thereby setting the stage for her bright future in Storrs.

NIL success and bright future

Her dominance on the court, however, is only part of the story. As Brady paved her way to UConn, her following has grown significantly. According to On3, Isuneh Brady ranks number 34 in college women’s basketball, NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) ranking, with an undisclosed estimated value. She also has a staggering 150,000 followers across social networking platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. In fact, her TikTok followers alone make up 69 percent of her audience

Her popularity ranking, as reflected by her NIL ranking, is such that it has also helped her to partner up with popular brands such as Dunkin’ and Madison Reed.

With her versatility as a forward, standing at 6-foot-3, and her experience at the  2022 FIBA U18 Americas Championship—where she helped Team USA win a gold medal—Brady, has already endeared herself to UConn fans and coaches alike.

While praising her game, Head Coach Auriemma also stated in an interview, “She’s got the talent our team is always looking for,” and that “she’s a big kid, she can shoot, she’s smart, she knows how to play,” noting her talent that was essential for the Huskies’ continued success.

UConn commitment, injury setback, and a resilient return

Ice Brady’s journey to the University of Connecticut wasn’t without its challenges. For Brady, enrolling in UConn was a dream come true. In fact, her excitement was understandable too as UConn is a legendary program, led by an equally legendary figure, head coach Geno Auriemma, who had a history of nurturing top talent. This is only supported by the fact that Uconn has won 11 national championships under him.

Excitedly, she stated, “I’ve wanted to play for UConn since I was 10 years old,” during an interview with The Springfield Student upon enrolling with the Huskies.

Despite all her excitement, she would not be able to play much in her freshman year as an unexpected event would cause her to injure her knee and she would miss the entire 2022-23 due to it. Although this would dishearten the young Brady, it would not deter her and her hard work would pay off during the 2023-24 season when she would return as a redshirt freshman.

During her redshirt freshman season, Brady would appear in all 39 games of the season, while starting three of them. In these games, she would prove her mettle and even average 4.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, while being a defensive bastion for the Huskies in the paint. In fact, she would even go on to score seven points in the NCAA Final Four against Iowa and notch eight points in the Elite Eight against USC to prove this very point.

Brady would also play a significant role during the BIG EAST Tournament, where she would start and play in both of the Final 2 games for 40 minutes. This in turn would allow her to also show up big for UConn in the Big East Tournament title game against Georgetown, where she recorded 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals.

She would end up performing so well last season, that she would also gain praise from Uconn’s legendary Head coach Geno Auriemma himself who stated, “She should be incredibly proud of herself… it’s a message of what she’s capable of doing and how important she is to our team.”

In fact, she also recorded her first career double-double against Xavier, last season, where she scored 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. As she enters her junior year in the 2024-25 season, these numbers are expected to skyrocket, making her an even more formidable presence in the post for UConn. Her best performance came out against St. John’s University where she lodged 17 points on 7 of 11 shooting in 24 minutes.

Despite the challenges she’s faced, including her season-ending injury in 2022, Isuneh Brady’s journey is one of hard work and perseverance. These qualities have led her to this moment in time where she finds herself under the leadership of Paige Bueckers to add an NCAA title to her impressive resume.

Hence, we can see Geno give her more floor time this year with more experience under her belt. With three more seasons of eligibility and a growing influence both on and off the court, Ice Brady is set to make an indelible mark on UConn basketball and beyond.