As UConn women’s basketball steps onto the court for its exhibition opener, Storrs looks different. Paige Bueckers, the heartbeat of the Huskies for four long years, is off to the WNBA. This leaves Geno Auriemma to reshape yet another dynasty.
He’s done this before. From Diana Taurasi to Maya Moore to Breanna Stewart, and each time, UConn found a new star to carry the torch. This season, that torch belongs to Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, and on paper, UConn is a powerhouse.
But what happens when the stat lines can’t fill the silence Bueckers left behind? One analyst points out that regardless of who fills out the stat sheet, UConn might be missing something much more challenging to replace: leadership.
Post-Paige Bueckers Era Begins, But Can Azzi Fudd or Sarah Strong Step Into the Leadership Void?
When Bueckers walked out the door, she took 2,000 career points and the team’s compass. On the latest episode of the Listen Up podcast, analyst Emily Adams called it as it is, “a huge loss.”
“They’ll tell you that inside the program, they’re feeling it during this preseason even now,” Adams said. “Obviously, the on-court stuff is a big deal, but the biggest thing you lose in losing Paige is that voice of the team and the leadership. She’s been that person for them since the time she got on campus.”
And it shows. Auriemma’s roster is loaded, but leadership doesn’t appear on stat sheets. The Huskies are returning three starters from last year’s national championship team, Fudd, Strong, and Jana El Alfy (once healthy), plus new transfers like Wisconsin’s Serah Williams, who averaged 19.2 points per game and ranked third in the Big Ten. Still, none have quite stepped into that vocal captain role that Bueckers embodied.
And as Adams puts it, “That’s going to be the hardest thing to replace and figure out. They’ve brought back so many players, they have so much talent, it’s just about whether they can put those pieces together in a cohesive way. That’s where you’ll miss Paige the most.” So who is that voice?
Early signs point to Caroline Ducharme, who Adams says has earned the respect of both coaches and teammates. “Caroline is someone whose name comes up a lot,” she explained. “They’ve talked about her becoming like a second coach over the last couple of years, having had to watch so much from the sideline but still staying deeply involved.”
Ducharme’s experience might be her greatest strength. In four seasons, she has played 1186 minutes while averaging 7.5 points. Meanwhile, the offensive weight will fall on Fudd and Strong.
Fudd, who averaged 13.6 points last season and hit 44.6% from beyond the arc, is the team’s offensive weapon. She scored 34 points against St. John’s last season and 24 in the national title win over South Carolina, hitting her 1,000th career point. Yet, she’s not the rah-rah leader type.
“Azzi’s leadership looks very different from Paige’s; neither of them(Strong as well) are super vocal,” Adams noted. “It’s a work in progress for both as they get comfortable in that space.” However, from the high praises Auriemma has been singing, Strong might surprise everyone.
Strong made 657 points, 356 rebounds, 142 assists, and an NCAA-record 114 tournament points as a freshman. However, this season, Auriemma says she’s taken it “to a whole other level.”
Strong has worked on “guard things,” expanding her vision and communication. Geno praised her conditioning, nutrition, and, most importantly, her willingness to lead. “We’ve heard from Geno that Sarah has come in this year much more vocal and more willing to dictate, especially to the underclassmen,” Adams added.
With Sarah Strong and Serah Williams teaming up in Storrs this season, UConn is rolling into the year with what might be the most formidable frontcourt duo in the country.
Strong — a 6’2 forward with a guard’s fluidity — brings power, touch, and the ability to put pressure on… pic.twitter.com/PGdKMoxA1P
— I talk hoops 🏀 (@trendyhoopstars) October 13, 2025
Then there is the backcourt. KK Arnold, the guard who averaged 5.5 points and 2.8 assists off the bench, looks ready to run the show. Alongside her, freshman Kayleigh Heckel and newcomer Kelis Fisher bring the defensive strength UConn needs.
Adams believes both Arnold and Shade, who are returning from a hamstring injury, could shape UConn’s tone early. “It’s going to be a by-committee type of leadership situation,” she said. “Both KK and Ashlynn are very much experienced beyond their years.”
So maybe UConn’s next leader isn’t one player at all. Perhaps it’s five. For now, that is UConn reality. Auriemma has a team bursting with scoring, rebounds, and potential, but when the huddle tightens and the crowd noise rises, someone will have to speak up. And for now, nobody knows who will.
This season, the real test is not replacing Bueckers’ points. It’ll be replacing her presence.
