Gray zip-up sweat suits and long, flowing hair tucked behind ears have replaced jerseys and slicked back ponytails for much of the UConn roster. Paige Bueckers, Ice Brady, Azzi Fudd, Dorka Juhász and Nika Mühl sat side by side on Sunday as the Huskies fell to Maryland for the first time ever, 85-78.

Injuries have piled up through the first month of the season and depleted the team’s depth. And now, as they wait for Juhász, Mühl and Fudd to return (Bueckers and Brady are out for the season), the Huskies are down to just seven available players.

Even with key pieces of the roster confined to the bench, the Huskies still stuck with Maryland for much of the contest. As improbable as that seems, it comes down to one simple fact: UConn is still UConn. Bench players are still five-star recruits, and those who barely sniff the court would be starters on other teams. That’s how the Huskies have remained a dynasty for the last four decades.

Mühl and Juhász should be healthy in the near future, while Fudd’s comeback is slated for January. As we wait for the Huskies to return to full strength, let’s get to know the available players they’ll be running out on the court until then.

Aaliyah Edwards, F, junior

Fans are likely already familiar with Edwards, who started most of UConn’s games last season and was key to getting the Huskies to the national championship game. Even before injuries stretched UConn’s roster, the 6-foot-3 junior had taken on a bigger role this season. Now, as other players adjust to more responsibility, Edwards is a steadying force amid the chaos.

She’s playing 30.3 minutes per game and averaging a double-double with 15.5 points, 11 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Edwards is also making the most of her shot attempts, shooting 63.2 percent from the field, a mark that puts her in the top 25 of all NCAA players.

Aubrey Griffin, F, junior

The redshirt junior was absent last season after a back injury required season-ending surgery. Prior to that, the former McDonald’s All-American averaged about six points and five rebounds through her first two seasons. Griffin was poised for a big 2021-22 campaign before the injury, and she is picking up where she left off this year.

Paige likes what she sees from Aubrey Griffin pic.twitter.com/iwTUQC4xxb

— UConn Videos (@SNYUConn) December 9, 2022

An athletic 6-1 guard, Griffin thrives in transition and exploiting defensive mismatches for the Huskies, making her an asset to their offensive rotation. The forward has started seven games for UConn this season and is averaging 13.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Her best performance came in a tight contest with Princeton last week. After Mühl exited the game with a head injury, Griffin gave her team the lift it needed to secure a win, finishing with 29 points on a perfect 11-for-11 from the field.

Lou Lopez-Sénéchal, G/F, grad

One of UConn’s biggest strengths is the program’s ability to recruit the best players, no matter where they come from. While the Huskies tend to attract the top high-school prospects, the staff also hunts for players from overseas and the transfer market — or both, in Lopez-Sénéchal’s case.

During her final season at Fairfield, the 6-1 multi-position player averaged 19.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and was named the MAAC Player of the Year. After a successful four-year career with the Stags, Lopez-Sénéchal, who hails from France, transferred to Storrs and adjusted quickly to UConn’s system. In Fudd’s absence, she’s leading the Huskies with 17.3 points per game while shooting an efficient 50 percent from the field and 95 percent from the free-throw line.

Caroline Ducharme, G, sophomore

Another five-star recruit, Ducharme is one of the highest-ranked prospects on UConn’s roster, coming in as the No. 5 player in the country last season. But Ducharme’s journey hasn’t been easy: Despite UConn’s bench full of injured players, her career may be the one most affected by injuries. In high school, the 6-2 guard missed nearly two seasons with an ACL tear and a torn labrum. This year, she’s also battled neck stiffness that’s plagued her since the offseason.

CAROLINE DUCHARME pic.twitter.com/cPKsPpYwrt

— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) December 11, 2022

Ducharme is only scratching the surface of her abilities right now, averaging 9.8 points per game last season and 6.2 in five appearances this year. The Gatorade Massachusetts Player of the Year in 2020-21, Ducharme averaged 21 points, 15.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 4.5 steals per game as a high school senior.

Inês Bettencourt, G, freshman

Easily the most unknown player on the roster, Bettencourt was heading to junior college in Florida when Bueckers’ season-ending ACL tear left UConn in need of another guard. Coach Geno Auriemma joked that the flight to Bettencourt’s home country of Portugal took longer than the recruiting process because it all happened so quickly. The guard decided to come to UConn without having seen the campus and, after averaging 1.8 minutes per game to start the season, was thrust into the starting lineup Sunday for the first time. Bettencourt finished with two points, three rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes, looking relatively comfortable in her role against a top-20 team.

Ayanna Patterson, F, freshman

The freshman recorded a career-high 10 points against Maryland, topping her previous high of six against Duke on Nov. 25. Patterson has played in all nine of UConn’s games this season. While her minutes have increased with the injuries, including a career-high 21 on Dec. 2, she was likely to get playing time this season regardless.

Patterson came to UConn already knowing how to win at a high level, with a 2021 U18 World Cup 3×3 gold medal to her name. A 6-2 forward with versatile skills and strength, Patterson won Indiana’s Miss Basketball award as a high school senior and was ranked as the No. 4 player and No. 1 wing in the Class of 2022. She has some developing left to do, but Patterson should be a crucial player for UConn for the next four seasons.

Amari DeBerry, F, sophomore

Another five-star recruit, DeBerry has yet to find her footing at UConn, but the talent is clearly there. A monster block against Shyanne Sellers that DeBerry palmed out of the air was the highlight of the sophomore’s game against Maryland. It’s also the kind of brilliance that DeBerry has showcased in flashes during her 23 appearances over the last two seasons.

Let's GO, Amari! pic.twitter.com/aBui0MHBXG

— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) December 11, 2022

Most of the 6-5 forward’s minutes have come in garbage time this season, but DeBerry’s skills are hard to ignore. In addition to the eye-catching block, the sophomore stepped in against Notre Dame and hit a 3-pointer on her first touch of the game, showcasing her versatility and ability to stretch the floor.

Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

The PWHL is racking up milestones, with the second-year pro women's hockey league officially passing the one-million-fan mark on Sunday.

The record-clinching game came during the league's penultimate 2025 Takeover Tour matchup, after 14,288 fans turned up to Detroit's Little Caesars Arena to see the New York Sirens take down the Minnesota Frost 4-1 on Sunday.

To honor the milestone, players tossed signed special "PWHL One Million Fans" pucks to fans during a commemorative timeout during the game's first period.

After averaging around 5,500 fans per game last season, the league has seen a 7,000 attendance average so far this season, resulting in the current all-time official tally of 1,001,648 fans.

Across its 70 completed second-season games, the PWHL has already racked up 518,118 attendees, surpassing the league's total attendance of 483,530 fans from all 85 games last season — inclusive of the PWHL's first-ever playoffs. 

"This is truly a 'pinch me' moment," said PWHL EVP of business operations Amy Scheer. "The overwhelming support from fans, the energy in the arenas, and the league’s rapid growth all highlight how much people are connecting with the PWHL."

"Today is a moment we’ll always remember, and we’re grateful to the fans of Detroit for celebrating it with us in such a big way."

Detroit makes a case for PWHL expansion team

Sunday's special out-of-market matchup also set a new US attendance record for pro women's ice hockey, further boosting the city's case to claim a PWHL expansion team.

“It's another extremely big win for the sport globally,” Frost forward Kendall Coyne Schofield told reporters after Sunday’s game. "It’s important to tip our hockey helmet to Detroit."

Detroit's new US record comes one year to the day after the Michigan metropolis set the then-national attendance record at the league's first-ever Takeover Weekend, when 13,736 fans watched Boston defeat Ottawa 2-1 on March 16th, 2024.

With the PWHL eyeing expansion, announcing last November that it intends to increase from its current six-team roster to eight teams by the time the puck drops on the 2025/26 season, the enthusiasm of Detroit hockey fans could put the city at the top of the league's potential market list.

"To see the league grow so rapidly is a reflection of the dedication of our players, who demonstrate their world-class talent every day, as well as the countless individuals behind the scenes who work relentlessly to ensure the league's success," said PWHL EVP of hockey operations Jayna Hefford.

"The passion and support from our fans has been incredible, and this is only the beginning." 

Welcome to another episode of Sports Are Fun! presented by TurboTax.

Every week on Sports Are Fun!, co-hosts soccer legend Kelley O'Hara, sports journalist and basketball expert Greydy Diaz, retired NWSL great Merritt Mathias, and JWS intern BJ serve up their hottest takes all things women's sports. And in today's episode, the crew is taking the NCAA selection committee to task as they hash out this year's March Madness bracket and everything that went down on Selection Sunday.

"We had selection Sunday yesterday, that was very exciting," O'Hara said, introducing the topic to the group. "So the overall number one seed was UCLA, correct? Is anyone surprised about that?"

"Yes," Mathias answered immediately. "I just think it's interesting that USC drops to like the fourth number one seed when they gave UCLA both their losses. The math's not adding up."

"Did you see coach Dawn Staley's reaction?" asked Diaz. "She didn't agree. There were many coaches who didn't agree with their own standing."

"Honestly — and I've said this before," said BJ. "I don't understand how they do this. I looked into it too last night and I was like, This is still not making sense to me. Let's just play basketball.'"

The one thing they can agree on? UConn potentially meeting USC in the Elite Eight would be an electric matchup.

"I think USC-UConn in the Elite Eight is going to be absolutely electric," said O'Hara. "

"Oh yeah," agreed Mathias. "That's like a semifinal. That's like a Final Four moment."

"And UConn being a No. 2 seed, they're like, 'Yeah give it to us. Let's freaking go,'" O'Hara continued. "You know they're probably ready to absolutely demolish people along the way. And USC only beat UConn by two points earlier this season."

The co-hosts additionally tackle the NWSL's opening weekend, Natasha Cloud's trade to the Liberty, Just Women's Sports' NWSL x WNBA jersey mashups, Unrivaled's championship match, and so much more!

Texas star Madison Booker talks March Madness on 'Sports Are Fun!'

Who better to shed light on the upcoming NCAA tournament than Texas women's college basketball star Madison Booker? The Longhorns' leading scorer and SEC Player of the Year later joins the crew to talk all things March Madness, including how she's gearing up to enter the tournament as a No. 1 seed.

"We figured the best way to go over selection Sunday — because we have some people here who literally know nothing about it, um BJ, not to throw you under the bus — is having you, a No. 1 seed come on and talk to us about it," O'Hara said, introducing this week's Sports Are Fun! guest. "So how were you feeling yesterday going to selection Sunday? Were you confident you guys were getting that No. 1 seed?"

"Not that I didn't care, but you know, if we got the No. 1 seed, we got it. But you know, if we were a two seed, then hey, it's it's ball time," Booker responded nonchalantly. "I felt like we deserved a one seed — We protected home court, I think that's really what secured that one seed."

"And also our away season was was kind of hectic this year," she continued. "We went to some Big Time places and came out with a dub, so I feel like we deserved it."

"Is there anything that you do specific specifically to set yourself up going into a game, especially in a playoff situation?" asked Mathias.

"Not really, honestly," Booker said with a smile. "I really go cool, calm, and collected. Honestly, just going in thinking that we're gonna win the game, that's my mindset always. Having that mindset of we're going to win this game, we have the edge, and just go play basketball."

About 'Sports Are Fun!' with Kelley O'Hara

'Sports Are Fun!' is a show that’ll remind you why you fell in love with women's sports in the first place.

Join World Cup champ, Olympic gold medalist, and aspiring barista Kelley O'Hara as she sits down with sports journalist Greydy Diaz and a revolving cast of co-hosts and friends. Together, they're talking the biggest, funnest, and most need-to-know stories in the world of women’s sports.

From on-court drama to off-field shenanigans, to candid (and silly) chats with the most important personalities in the space, this show screams "Sports Are Fun!"

Subscribe to Just Women's Sports on YouTube to never miss an episode.

Full Court Press is back by popular demand, with ESPN announcing Monday that the women’s college basketball docuseries is officially returning for season two, which will focus on a new crop of young stars as they weather the 2024/25 NCAA season.

"The growing momentum behind women’s basketball is driven by its stars, and Full Court Press features three unforgettable, larger-than-life personalities," said Lindsay Rovegno, VP of production for ESPN Originals.

Debuting this May, the all-new four-episode season follows USC standout Kiki Iriafen, LSU champion Flau’jae Johnson, and Notre Dame sharpshooter Hannah Hidalgo along the path to this year’s NCAA tournament.

The first season of Full Court Press dropped in May 2024, documenting a watershed season for women's basketball by spotlighting then-seniors Caitlin Clark and Kamilla Cardoso of Iowa and South Carolina, respectively, as well as UCLA’s now-junior Kiki Rice.

Series offers direct access to NCAA stars

The production takes viewers into each player's life via one-on-one interviews, looks into their family relationships, and exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the athletes' teams.

"There is no better time to be a fan of women’s college basketball than right now," said NFL legend Peyton Manning, whose entertainment company Omaha Productions backs the series. "We’re thrilled to share the stories of these three talented women as they continue to push the game to new heights."

Iriafen, Johnson, and Hidalgo will also be stealing the spotlight in the NCAA tournament this weekend, as all three compete for top-seeded teams with legitimate shots at taking the 2024/25 title.

"Hannah, Flau’jae, and Kiki are more than great players — they’re great characters," said Rovegno. "Season two captures the drive and resilience that make them special."

How to watch Full Court Press on ESPN

The first two episodes of Full Court Press: Season 2 will premiere on ESPN on May 2nd, with the final two episodes airing on ESPN2 on May 11th.

Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball minted its first-ever champions on Monday, crowning Rose BC after the No. 2 seed defeated No. 4-seed Vinyl BC 62-54 behind star Chelsea Gray’s 18 points, eight assists, and three rebounds.

Gray’s dominance managed to tip the scales, helping Rose overcome the losses of both Kahleah Copper and Unrivaled Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese to injury.

Also stepping up for the Rose were Azurá Stevens, who posted a 19-point, 18-rebound double-double on Monday, and Brittney Sykes, whose 21 points included the championship-winning free throw.

Despite slightly trailing her two teammates' in scoring during Monday's final, Gray's astounding postseason stats, which include averages of 28.5 points, six assists, and three rebounds, secured the guard the league's inaugural Playoff MVP title.

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Ultimately, Rose rode their underdog status — earned with a talented, but primarily young roster — all the way to the championship.

"From day one they counted us out," said Rose head coach Nola Henry after Monday's game. "Kah went down, they counted us out. Azurá was out and they counted us out. Angel down, they counted us out. What they gonna say now?"

Unrivaled closes successful inaugural season

After the confetti fell on Monday's 3×3 championship court, players and coaches alike agreed that the new offseason league has been a great success — regardless of which team hoisted the trophy.

"A lot of fans came out and there’s a lot of energy behind it, but people are already excited about it for next season," Gray said of the upstart. "When you win, you have a different appreciation or joy about it, but it was a great first season."

While Rose BC’s athletes will likely carry that winning spirit — plus the $50,000-per-player bonus — into the WNBA’s May 16th season tip-off, Unrivaled’s impact will undoubtedly be felt far beyond its debut postseason.