THE REIGNING CHAMPS STILL HAVE A LOT TO PROVE

When you’re the champion, all eyes are on you. And for the University of Connecticut, it’s something they’re pretty used to.

The Huskies are off to a 13-0 start and remain atop the polling. Eight of their wins have been by at least 30 points. Led by the dynamic duo of Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, UCONN is a favorite to make it back to the Final Four and possibly go back-to-back. To win big, you need depth, and Connecticut might be a deeper team than the championship-winning club in 2024-2025. From Daniel Connolly of UCONN Weekly:

“Not only do the Huskies have depth they can lean on if someone has an off-night, they can throw a variety of different looks at the opposition. They might start with their standard five but can morph in any number of ways after that. Need offense? Run a small-lineup with five shooters. Looking for size? Play Strong, Williams, and Quiñonez together. Want to press? Let Arnold and Heckel run wild.”

Outside of the dynamic duo, the team has relied a lot on junior point guard, KK Arnold. Arnold has learned a lot since she came to UConn in 2023 and is fully in tune with the rhythm of the game.

“I feel like the biggest thing that's changed in my game is just my pace,” Arnold said following UConn’s win over Iowa at the Women’s Champions Classic. I just remember freshman year [and] even some of last year, just going 100 miles per hour and not really understanding when to slow down and what's needed for our team.

So this year, I'm understanding more where to find Azzi in her spots in response and which offense to call. Just understanding those bits that will help my team out, especially in games when we’re moving at a fast pace and just trying to understand what our team needs at the moment…”

2026 will make it exactly 10 years since a team won back-to-back championships. Who was the last to do it? The Breanna Stewart-led UConn Huskies!

The road to Phoenix and the Final Four won’t be easy, but Connecticut’s depth and experience should power them through the grind of a long, challenging season.

HEADING INTO 2026!

Here’s the latest in the AP’s Top 25 rankings:

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Week 5
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Week 8

THE HALL OF FAMER BEGINS A NEW ADVENTURE

Sylvia Fowles had an amazing 2025. In June, she entered the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Later in the summer, she was inducted into the Nasimith Basketball Hall of Fame. As we begin 2026, she will take on a whole new challenge.

On December 17, it was announced that Fowles will be joining the returning Portland Fire as an assistant coach under head coach Alex Sarama. Fowles will be on the front of the Fire bench and will be utilized in a variety of roles as the Fire begin their journey. Fowles is one of the most beloved athletes in Minnesota history and got some well wishes from her friend and former head coach, Cheryl Reeve:

There was a question about why Syl decided to start her coaching career in Portland rather than the more familiar grounds of Minnesota, and the Hall of Famer said the opportunity to start from scratch with an expansion team was appealing to her. Coaching alongside a first-time WNBA head coach, Sarama, presents its own exciting opportunities as well.

“Most of our conversations just was about what my role would be, and how can I be a help [to] him and a connection between him and player and what that looks like,” Fowles told Yahoo Sports. “But I think my role is going to be a little diverse and a little bit of everything. I don't think that he will be wanting me to work just with position as a post club coach. I know we talked about doing a little bit everything, learning how to do scout, learning how to do film, so I think I'll be well diverse in a little bit of everything with Alex.”

Fowles is universally respected, and her experiences should help a new team look to find its identity. As the Fire look to establish their foundation in 2026 and beyond, having a legend on board will go a long way in getting off to a good start.

FROM ANYWHERE

Caitlin Clark has been the center of attention since her days at Iowa. As a collegiate player, she turned Iowa into one of the most exciting teams in basketball. As a member of the Indiana Fever, she’s been a box office bonanza and a part of the Indiana Fever’s turnaround from lottery team into championship contenders. This fall, she put on a show in an LPGA Tournament.

And to top it off, she had a good showing at the US Women’s National Team training camp and is a good bet to play in the 2026 World Cup in Germany and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Everything is trending upward, and the superstar guard is in store for another big win.

On Christmas Day, Nike released a commercial featuring Clark unveiling her signature clothing line.

“Nike’s signature roster features all-time greats, and I am incredibly proud to join some of the best athletes in the world,” Clark said in a statement. “I’m excited to share a first look at what we’ve created together.”

We don’t have a set date as to when Clark’s signature shoe will hit the stores, but Boardroom’s Nick DePaula noted that we should expect it in the Spring of 2026.

As we’ve previously discussed, companies like Nike have increased their investment in women’s basketball. With stars like Caitlin Clark, they are able to reach a wider audience and build on the gains women’s sports have made in the 2020s. It’s long overdue and a sign that new athletes are ready to receive the superstar treatment.

The business of Caitlin Clark continues to be a runaway success. She’s been a hit on and off the court and will take another big step in ‘26. With the debut of her shoe, her popularity will continue to climb and push women’s sports forward. It'll be incredibly exciting to watch.

At Black Rosie Media, we love to give flowers to other writers and creators in the women’s basketball community.

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