STORRS, Conn. — The UConn women's basketball team is the top favorite to win the Big East conference this year!
Five Huskies also earned preseason honors as the coaches' poll and individual honors were released Tuesday before the conference's media day.
Junior Paige Beuckers was chosen as the Big East Preseason Player of the Year, and KK Arnold was tabbed as the Big East Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Seniors Aaliyah Edwards, and Nika Mühl, and junior Azzi Fudd were named to the Preseason All-Big East Team.
The women's team won both the regular season and tournament titles in 2022-23. The Huskies have won a total of 22 Big East regular season titles and 21 Big East tournament titles. UConn also has won both season championships in each year since rejoining the conference in 2020.
Bueckers had to miss the 2022-23 season after being injured. She was the 2021 Big East Freshman and Player of the Year and was the first freshman to win the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, AP Player of the Year, and USBWA Player of the Year. Bueckers averaged 14.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game in the 2021-22 season.
Arnold is ranked as the No. 6 player in her class by ESPN. She was a 2023 McDonald’s and Jordan Brand Classic All-American and was a three-time AP Wisconsin State Player of the Year. Arnold totaled 2,458 points, 765 rebounds, 695 assists, and 415 steals in high school.
Edwards was the 2022-23 Big East Most Improved Player and a selection to the 2022-23 All-Big East First Team. She led UConn with 16.6 points per game and a career-high 9.0 rebounds per game last season. Edwards was also named an AP and USBWA Third Team All-American last year.
Mühl is the back-to-back Big East Defensive Player of the Year. She was a 2022-23 All-Big East Second Team selection. Mühl set the single-season UConn assists record last year with 284 assists, good for a Big East-high 7.9 assists per game. She tied for first on the team with 50 steals and added a personal-best 7.1 points per game.
Fudd was named to the 2021-22 Big East All-Freshman Team and the 2022 NCAA Tournament Bridgeport All-Region Team. Fudd averaged 15.1 points in 15 games last season. She broke out for 32 points each vs. top-10 opponents Texas and NC State. As a freshman, Fudd shot 43.0 percent from three-point range to lead the team.
The Huskies begin the 2023-24 regular season against Dayton on Wednesday, Nov. 8. UConn begins Big East play vs. Butler on Monday, Dec. 18.
Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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