UConn Women's Basketball Versus Ohio State Will Benefit Both Programs
Two games separated the UConn Women’s Basketball team from its most impressive and improbable Final Four run. Reaching a 29th straight Sweet 16 had not been a smooth ascent in itself; they reached Seattle, Washington, without Paige Bueckers. Instead of their superstar guard, UConn turned to Aaliyah Edwards’ bounceback season, Nika Mühl’s breakout campaign and Lou Lopez Senechal’s veteran presence.
But the Huskies’ hopes of pulling off a miracle never materialized. The third-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes’ relentless press defense overwhelmed Connecticut before halftime, ultimately resulting in 25 turnovers and a 73-61 defeat.
Fast forward two years, and it was everybody else struggling to keep up with the Huskies. Having three former No. 1 recruits who combined for over half of UConn’s offense is one thing. Sporting the country’s toughest scoring defense programs is another. Full-court presses were just a part of that.
It helped the Huskies capture their 12th national title and win each of their last 16 contests by at least 14 points. Not even the No. 1-overall seed UCLA Bruins or the South Carolina Gamecocks (twice) could escape the multiple beatdowns Connecticut delivered.
Press defenses can best be compared to a blitz in football. With blitzes, the defense sends more players than usual toward the quarterback to prevent them from throwing the pigskin. As for basketball, at least two people swarm the player with the ball before the opposing offense can even inbound it. In essence, it is all about applying pressure.
The Huskies and Buckeyes meet again this fall—supposedly in Hartford, according to an email sent to season ticket holders last week. Even though the rosters have mostly changed, the eighth meeting since 2010 could end up being a remix of the most recent chapter. That might deviate from what both top-tier programs usually experienced last season.
UConn scored 70+ points in all but three games during their championship campaign. Just once, a loss to the undefeated Gamecocks in 2024, have the Huskies scored less than 66 points over the past two years. Ohio State, meanwhile, crossed the 70-point threshold 23 times. They failed to score at least 65 points on six separate occasions, with their two lowest-scoring performances coming against the Bruins.
Like any science experiment, one must consider a significant variable with this data. Just two teams, the other being the Creighton Bluejays, went dancing in Connecticut’s league. The Buckeyes, once ranked eighth in the polls, were one of 12 Big Ten programs that participated in the NCAA Tournament.
Conference competition level aside, this contest will heavily involve each team’s defenses. The Huskies entered most of their games with a well-calculated plan on that front. Last season, UConn truly activated its half-court defense when KK Arnold first entered a game. The Huskies might start exerting pressure almost immediately because of who they currently have at the point guard position.
Arnold’s tireless intensity is well-known, but USC transfer Kayleigh Heckel can noticeably boost Connecticut’s assertiveness. Heckel remains in defense mode during every second she spends on the court. Even if she is the only one applying the pressure, the New York native can end possessions prematurely. In a new defensive scheme, Heckel could be more dangerous than she was in Los Angeles.
The Huskies have earned a reputation for having one of the nation’s top backcourts. Ashlynn Shade and Azzi Fudd should bring the press at the shooting guard position. Shade’s three-point prowess overshadows what she can do in transition; she had 57 steals to complement her 2.7 rebounds per game. Fudd averaged fewer boards and recorded fewer steals than the rising junior, but she can also confound anyone who tries to get past her.
Bueckers may be gone, but UConn has two 6-foot-2 sophomores who can help them further clamp down on their opponents. For National Freshman of the Year Sarah Strong, that means having more than the team-leading 92 steals she recorded last season. Morgan Cheli, meanwhile, can provide further reinforcements in the transition game once she returns to full strength.
Head coach Kevin McGuff’s stingy defenses have remained strong since their latest Elite Eight run in 2023. The Buckeyes finished tied atop the Big Ten in team steals with the Michigan State Spartans at 12.2 per game. Despite this, Ohio State lost both its leader in steals and star forward during the offseason. Taylor Theirry (77 steals) graduated while Cotie McMahon (16.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG) transferred to Ole Miss for her senior season.
Going into the 2025-26 season, the press duties will primarily fall on Nashville natives Jaloni and Kennedy Cambridge (no relation). J. Cambridge finished second on the Buckeyes with 59 steals as a first-year student in Columbus. The Monteverde Academy High School alum forced 4+ turnovers in seven different contests, including a six-steal outing in her March Madness debut.
From Utah State to Indiana to Montana State, J. Cambridge proved in her first collegiate campaign that she can intercept anyone. K. Cambridge will provide support to the press defense in an increased role. The former Kentucky Wildcat had 48 steals last year, a number that should increase if she plays at least 20 minutes next season.
Do not sleep on Boston College transfer T’yana Todd and Cincinnati native Chance Gray either. Todd complemented her team-leading 13.7 points per game in Chestnut Hill with 33 steals. The more settled she becomes in Ohio State’s system, the quicker the 6-foot-0 Canadian native might become a pest in transition. Gray, meanwhile, had five outings with 3+ steals as a junior. Add in her 49 assists, and the former Oregon Duck could quickly capitalize on a plethora of opposing turnovers.
Points will be hard to come by in the Nutmeg State whenever these programs duel. It seems typical to say that whichever team breaks the press first will emerge as the winner. But there is another way to view this contest, given the offensive firepower both universities possess. The school that scores 65 points first will be the one that comes out on top.
