No. 2 UConn Women Defeat Cornell in Season Opener

The No. 2 ranked UConn women's basketball team opened its 2026-27 regular season in commanding fashion on Monday, November 2, 2026, defeating the Cornell Big Red 100-35 at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Connecticut. The matchup marked the start of a BIG EAST doubleheader broadcasted on Peacock and NBC Sports Network.

Demonstrating defensive intensity right from the tipoff, the Huskies held Cornell scoreless for a ten-minute stretch spanning from the end of the first quarter into the second. UConn's aggressive defense forced 29 turnovers, which translated into 43 points, while limiting the Big Red to shooting just 25% from the field.

Junior forward Sarah Strong picked up where she left off as the defending National Player of the Year, recording 19 points, four rebounds, five assists, and eight steals. Freshman guard Jovana Popovic also impressed in her debut, matching Strong with 19 points while adding three steals. Additional offensive contributions came from Marine Dursus and KK Arnold, who chipped in 11 points each.

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma utilized his bench heavily early on, playing 10 different players in the opening quarter as he evaluated various combinations for the long season ahead. Reflecting on the performance after the game, Auriemma noted, "I thought we competed really hard, played with a lot of energy."

The victory marks the 31st consecutive season-opening win for the UConn women's program, whose last defeat in a season opener occurred in 1995. The dominant win also helped answer early questions about how the team would adapt following the departure of Azzi Fudd, the standout guard selected No. 1 in the WNBA draft.

Following this opening-night victory, the Huskies face a grueling stretch of upcoming matchups designed to test the roster's depth. UConn's schedule features games against No. 5 Michigan, No. 10 Iowa, No. 18 Ohio State, and No. 7 Louisville. Auriemma acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating, "That's why you schedule teams like this, you know you're gonna be tested. All good things will come out of that game and the next three after that. We could be a really good team, or 0-4."