UConn’s 2024 roster is packed with talent, from Paige Bueckers and Caroline Ducharme to Azzi Fudd and newcomer KK Arnold. Finally adding to the talent this year with her international experience and some air of mystery is Jana El Alfy. Hailing from Cairo, Egypt, she stands out as one of the rare international players in UConn’s history. So, who is Jana El Alfy?

Born in Cairo, Egypt, Jana’s basketball journey began with a family devoted to the sport. Her father, Ehab El Alfy, was the head coach of the Egyptian women’s national team and introduced her to the game early on in her childhood. This led to Jana’s days being mostly spent at practices and tournaments, watching and learning from her father’s leadership on the court.

By age three, Jana was already holding a basketball, and soon, her passion for basketball began to show. She recalls the moment basketball truly gripped her, while stating in an interview, “Seeing how much the game meant to my dad made me want to be part of it too.”

From age 14, Jana began to draw some serious attention. Her early talent first caught the eye of scouts at the NBA Academy Women’s Program, where she joined as one of the first African women ever invited. By 2022, she was participating in the prestigious NBA Global Academy in Australia. At the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders event in Cairo, El Alfy was taken with the first pick of the BWB draft by Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and earned MVP honors.

Rising Star on the Global Stage

The central theme of Jana’s career has been representing Egypt and Jana has become an inspiration for aspiring athletes in her home country. She made her debut in the U16 African Championships, when she was just 15, allowing her to showcase her skills on an international stage.

In the 2022 FIBA U18 African Championship, she even led Egypt to a silver medal with an outstanding performance of 24.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, leaving spectators and scouts alike in awe. The following year, she dominated the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup, where she averaged 21.4 points and 11 rebounds per game. With 150 points across all games, she became the top scorer in the tournament.

In fact “She was the best player out there — by far,” said UConn’s Geno Auriemma. “Every coach that came back said she was the best player there.” 

Jana’s international stats and achievements laid the groundwork for her eventual move to the United States, where she ended up joining a powerhouse like UConn. In fact, she’s become UConn’s first Egyptian player, pioneering the way for more international athletes in American college basketball.

In fact, Jana’s success on the court has naturally boosted her social media presence, especially as she represents UConn and Egypt on a global scale. With a fast-growing following on Instagram, Jana has begun to build her personal brand. Although her NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals are still in the early stages, she currently has 31.5k on Instagram, 960 on X, and 36.3K followers on TikTok.

From Egypt to Storrs: Joining UConn Huskies

While, Jana officially joined UConn as a freshman, in 2023  an unfortunate injury would sideline her for the rest of her season. Nevertheless, her teammates and coaches are thrilled by what they’ve seen in practice. Paige Bueckers, one of UConn’s stars, and her roommate is among her biggest supporters. “She’s a dawg,” Bueckers said while talking about Jana. “You guys will see that.”

Coach Auriemma, too, has high hopes for Jana, sharing that “the more we see some of the things she does, the more we miss her because we realize what she could bring to our team.”

At 6’5″, Jana has the height and athleticism to dominate as a center but also possesses a rare ability to play on the perimeter, making her a versatile player which makes her a vital resource for the Storrs in the paint. “She’s a big kid who’s athletic and can play on the perimeter. She can score, she can rebound. She’s played a lot of basketball growing up,” Auriemma also noted while speaking about her athleticism. In fact, he has expressed confidence that Jana will not only succeed at UConn but believes that she’s on track to be the first Arabic-speaking woman in the WNBA.

As she gears up for her first official season with the Huskies, Jana has her work cut out for her. The UConn program has produced numerous WNBA stars, and Jana is eager to add her name to that list. “my dream is to grace the WNBA,” she admitted earlier this year. The 19-year-old is also heavily inspired by the legend, Diana Taurasi, and wishes to follow in her footsteps.

However, to do that, she will have to go against the best of the best in the land of basketball itself.

In many ways, Jana’s journey embodies the dreams of many young athletes across the world. Hence, as her career unfolds, fans can expect her to not only showcase her skills but also make a cultural impact that extends far beyond the court.