No. 1 UConn Opens Title Defense vs. Louisville

No. 1 UConn opens its title-defense Tuesday against No. 20 Louisville in the Armed Forces Classic at the U.S. Naval Academy and enters the season as the clear favorite to repeat. Transfer Serah Williams, a 6-foot-4 former Wisconsin star who averaged 19.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks last season, has joined the frontcourt and is on the Lisa Leslie and Naismith watch lists. Sophomore Sarah Strong was named ESPN’s No. 1 player nationally and Big East Preseason Player of the Year, while Azzi Fudd ranks among the top-10 players, giving UConn a balanced veteran-underclass core. The Huskies’ nonconference slate includes marquee home games against Notre Dame and Tennessee, a new home-and-home with Ohio State, a road trip to USC and six opponents from the preseason AP Top 25. Coach Geno Auriemma says Williams is becoming comfortable in UConn’s system and preseason play suggests she can provide meaningful interior impact as the program pursues a 13th national title.