Checking in with the Huskies in the W: Three Months in
From Rookies to Legends, UConn Stars Are Defining the 2025 Season
The season has hit its stride, storylines are sharper, and our Huskies are right in the middle of it all. Three months in, playoff races are heating up, MVP chatter is real, and rookies are carving out their place. Through it all, the UConn presence in the WNBA continues to shape the league.
Paige Bueckers: Still the Rookie to Watch
Three months in, Paige Bueckers is still firmly leading the Rookie of the Year race; no surprise there. She’s scored double digits in every single game of her season, including a 29-point effort against the Wings recent thriller against the Sparks.
It’s not just scoring. Paige has already rewritten the Wings’ record books: she’s now the single-season rookie assist record holder with over 143 assists, surpassing Odyssey Sims’ long-standing mark. She also became the fastest Wings rookie ever to hit 500 points, doing so in just 27 games, AND faster than any rookie in WNBA history.
She currently ranks in the top 10 league-wide in scoring, assists, and steals, but what’s most impressive is how she’s carried Dallas through a turbulent season. Between injuries, roster changes, and plenty of outside noise about coaching, Paige has become a steadying force on and off the floor.
And the response from the W has been unanimous: players, coaches, and fans around the league are giving her the kind of respect usually reserved for seasoned stars. Paige isn’t just shining, she’s redefining what a rookie season can look like…all while proving she’s a Husky through and through.
Napheesa Collier: MVP Pheeling
Three months into the season and Phee is still dominating the MVP conversation. With averages of 23.5 points (1st in the league), 7.5 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.8 steals per game, she ranks top 10 in nearly every major category.
Her July was nothing short of sensational: she earned Western Conference Player of the Month honors, her third straight, after leading the Lynx to a 9–3 record while averaging 23.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.8 steals on 55.1% shooting.
Even though she's currently sidelined with a sprained ankle (sustained on August 2 against Las Vegas), the outlook remains optimistic. Coach Cheryl Reeve says there’s a plan to bring her back before the playoffs begin in September.
Regardless of the injury, the MVP court keeps turning her way. Analysts and fans alike increasingly quip that the award this year should be called “MVPhee”, such is her influence on and off the court. One way or another, her goal hasn’t changed: leading her team to a championship this fall.
Breanna Stewart: The Liberty’s Steady Superstar
The Liberty are feeling Stewie's absence, bad. Since she’s been sidelined with a right-knee bone bruise, they’re 4–5, a stark contrast to their dominant start earlier in the season. It’s clear how much the team leans on her two-way brilliance and championship instincts. When healthy, Breanna is a force: averaging 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists across 24 starts this season.
She’s targeting a comeback by her birthday on August 27, calling it “non-negotiable.” She’s already back on the court, working out, rehabbing, and counting the days until she’s back with her teammates.
Can the Liberty find their footing without her? Veteran leaders like Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu are stepping up, but the bigger question remains: with Stewie’s return looming, can she drive them back into championship form before they drop in the standings?
Connecticut Sun: Steadying the Ship Amid the Storm
There’s been plenty of chatter around the Connecticut Sun lately, from the potential sale of the team to a midseason roster shakeup that sent Jacy Sheldon to the Mystics and brought UConn’s own Aaliyah Edwards to Connecticut. For longtime Sun fans, it’s a reminder of what this franchise has always been about: change on the surface, but a heartbeat that never wavers. The Sun have started to find their rhythm in recent weeks, and while they aren’t winning every game, this team looks and feels very different than it did back in May and June.
On the court, Tina Charles has turned back the clock since the All-Star break, powering the Sun with double-doubles and proving she’s still one of the most dominant post players in the league. Earlier in the season, she topped her numbers with a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, pushing her over 8,000 career points, becoming only the second WNBA player ever to reach that milestone. Even with roster shifts and chatter off the court, Tina’s leadership keeps the team grounded.
The other former Huskies have been just as important in pushing this Sun team forward. Bria Hartley brings a fiery edge every time she steps on the court—sometimes toeing the line—but her toughness feels like the perfect reflection of this team’s identity. Olivia Nelson-Ododa continues to carve out her place as a versatile defender and rebounder, looking more confident with each game. And Aaliyah Edwards has wasted no time making her presence felt, flashing the same relentless energy Husky fans remember so well from her days in Storrs.
Golden State Valkyries: The Underdog Story That’s Winning Hearts
When the Valkyries lost Kayla Thornton to a season-ending knee injury right after the All-Star break, it could have spelled trouble for the league’s newest team. Instead, it became the spark for something special. Our Huskies, Tiffany Hayes and Kaitlyn Chen have stepped up in a big way. Hayes, the veteran guard , has been the steadying presence the Valks needed, showing she can still take over late in games. Tip is logging 12.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. She’s consistently putting the team on her back, whether it's knocking down clutch shots or playing with that unmistakable Husky fire. Chen, meanwhile, continues to prove why she belongs in this league, stringing together confident performances as both a scorer and a playmaker.
But it’s not just the players rewriting the script; it’s the fans. Night after night, Valkyries supporters pack the arena, waving banners, chanting, and making it feel like one of the toughest road environments in the league. They’ve fully embraced Hayes, Chen, and this roster of so-called “sixth women,” turning the team into a symbol of grit and resilience. For a first-year expansion team, the bar they’ve set for community, energy, and connection is sky-high, and it feels like the whole league is rooting for them.
The Rest of the Huskie Herd: Veterans Carrying the Torch
As the season heats up, several UConn alum are settling into pivotal roles across the league, bringing leadership, momentum, and that fierce Huskie spirit wherever they go.
Gabby Williams continues to be a driving force for the Seattle Storm. Her defensive instincts are unmatched. She leads the league in steals at 2.4 per game and night after night she proves why she deserves a spot on the All-Defensive team. While her stat line doesn’t always leap off the page, Gabby’s versatility and relentless energy make her indispensable to a Storm team with championship aspirations.
Out in Los Angeles, Azurá Stevens is putting together one of the best seasons of her career. She’s averaging 13.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and over a block per game, solidifying herself as one of the Sparks’ go-to players on both ends of the floor. For a team building toward the future, Azurá’s leadership and consistency have made her one of the core pieces LA can confidently build around.
Stef Dolson has taken on the role of veteran leader for a young Washington Mystics team. She’s averaging 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, but her value goes far beyond the box score. Stef is often seen huddling her teammates together after games, offering encouragement, perspective, and that trademark upbeat energy that makes her such a respected presence in every locker room she’s been part of.
Kia Nurse has filled a similar role in Chicago, providing a steadying veteran presence for a Sky team that has dealt with its fair share of injuries and roster shakeups this season. She’s averaging 5.6 points per game while shooting a reliable 34% from three, giving Chicago another trusted voice and a stabilizing influence during a turbulent year.
And then there’s Kiah Stokes in Las Vegas, the ultimate glue player on one of the league’s most talented rosters. The Aces have found their stride after the All-Star break, thanks in part to the addition of NaLyssa Smith, who has joined forces with A’ja Wilson and Stokes to form a strong frontcourt trio. Kiah may not put up gaudy numbers (averaging 3.2 points and 5.4 rebounds) but she does all the little things Vegas needs: defending, rebounding, and making the extra pass. Her presence and unselfish play are exactly what has helped the Aces look like a championship team again.
Huskies On The Mend
A few other Huskies are still working their way back to the court. Nika Mühl continues to rehab from the torn ACL she suffered last October, but she’s been a constant presence behind the Seattle Storm bench, cheering on her teammates with that trademark energy. She plans to play overseas during the WNBA offseason once she’s cleared, bringing her grit and fire back to the floor. Alongside her, Katie Lou Samuelson has also been sidelined with an ACL injury. While she’s still in the rehab process, her goal is to be ready to go for the Storm by the start of next season. Storm fans—and Husky Nation—will be more than ready to welcome her back.
Moriah Jefferson, meanwhile, was waived by the Chicago Sky on July 28th and has not yet been picked up by another team. Injuries have unfortunately slowed her career over the past few years, but Husky fans know the kind of heart and speed she brings when healthy. Hopefully, this time allows her to get fully right and return strong next season, because those of us who have followed her from Storrs still miss watching her command the court.
Aubrey Griffin has also made a few cameos sitting behind the Lynx bench this season. She continues to rehab after having surgery on her knee and we hope to see her in a Lynx jersey next season!
Huskies Beyond the Court
Not every UConn alum is making an impact by lacing up their sneakers. Plenty are shaping the game from the sidelines, front offices, and even the big screen. Morgan Tuck, Jen Rizzotti, and Renee Montgomery continue to blaze trails at the executive level, helping to build the next generation of women’s basketball. On the broadcast side, Rebecca Lobo and Ashley Battle bring their voices and expertise to WNBA coverage, giving fans a unique perspective that only former Huskies could provide.
Diana Taurasi added another milestone this summer with the release of her documentary on Amazon Prime titled “Taurasi”, a must-watch that has received glowing reviews and reminded us why she’s one of the game’s greatest. And in Seattle, Sue Bird’s legacy now has a permanent home, with a statue unveiled outside Climate Pledge Arena. From courtside to the front office, the airwaves to the silver screen, the Huskies continue to leave their mark everywhere the game is played and beyond.
Wrapping It Up
Three months into the season, our Huskies in the W have already delivered storylines filled with grit, growth, and greatness. From Paige Bueckers’ smooth transition into stardom, to the steady veteran leadership of Tina Charles and Stef Dolson, to the off-court milestones of alums making waves in media and front offices, the UConn legacy remains as strong as ever. The rest of the season holds plenty of intrigue — whether it’s Paige taking her crown as Rookie of the Year, or Phee and Stewie battling for the WNBA title again, us Husky fans will be watching! These athletes embody an unshakable standard of excellence on and off the court that define UConn basketball, reminding us time and time again why Storrs continues to produce the best of the best.