How March Madness foes can end UConn’s run through bracket

yukon huskies Are the current national champions and are continuing their 50-match winning streak. They have the weakest defense in Division I, allowing only 50.4 ppg, and the second highest scoring offense at 88.8. They have won 12 NCAA titles and been to the women’s Final Four 24 times. And now they are the No. 1 overall seed in the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament.

This marks the 10th time the Huskies have gone undefeated in the tournament, although their first since 2018 (they are 6-3 en route to the title while entering with a perfect record). As for the six teams that will stand in UConn’s path to the title, stopping the Huskies will be no easy feat.

How do you begin the battle with coach Geno Auriemma and UConn? We asked current and former Division I and WNBA coaches, as well as analysts, for answers on how they might scout and prepare for the Huskies.

These evaluators, who will remain anonymous, acknowledged the enormous difficulty of defeating an overconfident team 34–0 and seeking the program’s seventh perfect season. Led by National Player of the Year sarah strong and projected 2026 WNBA No. 1 draft pick azy fadThe Huskies have won every game by double digits except one this season.

UConn hosts No. 16 seed utsa Saturday in its NCAA Tournament opener at Fort Worth 1 Regional. iowa state–Syracuse The winner awaits a potential second-round matchup. Either No. 4 seed North Carolina or number 5 seed maryland Can wait with No. 2 seed in Sweet 16 Vanderbilt or number 3 seed Ohio State If chalk dominates the Elite Eight.

The winner of Fort Worth 1 plays the winner of Sacramento 4 in the Final Four, which could potentially be UConn.South CarolinaRematch of the 2025 NCAA title game.

It would probably take a team’s best performance of the season to break UConn’s undefeated streak. Here’s what evaluators say could help do that, and how the Huskies path teams in the bracket to challenge them.

don’t lose before you go to court

The Huskies’ reputation doesn’t just precede them – it fills every field they enter.

One evaluator said, “They win a lot of games before the tip.”

First-round opponent UTSA, the American Conference champion, is in the NCAA Tournament for just the third time, compared to UConn’s 37 appearances. But UTSA’s Karen Aston has faced the Huskies in the NCAA Tournament before, when she was Texas head coach in 2015 (Sweet 16 loss) and 2016 (Elite Eight loss). Aston also took Charlotte to the NCAA Tournament in 2009, so he has significant postseason experience.

The Roadrunners had a program-record 26 wins the previous season, but were upset in the league tournament and did not reach the NCAA field. But they did so as the No. 6 seed in the American tournament this year. He is 18-15 years old and is playing his best now.

Is it realistic to think they can challenge UConn? No – only one No. 16 seed has defeated a No. 1 seed in women’s NCAA Tournament history. But UTSA also has nothing to lose. For UConn, the first game is about staying healthy and playing fast.

Be patient with your game plan

UConn is the best defensive team in the country. They held opponents to an average of 38.4 PPG this season and held them to 33.3% shooting, including 27.4% from 3-point range. The Huskies make their enemies work at every point, and it is exhausting to face.

One evaluator said, “Teams get into the habit of thinking, ‘Okay, we’ve got our first option and second option’ — you don’t get those options against UConn.” “You’ve got to be ready to run your offense and maybe get your third option. You’ve got to set great screens and stay disciplined.”

In the second round, the Huskies will face the winner of No. 8 Iowa State vs. No. 9 Syracuse. The Cyclones, who finished seventh in the Big 12, revolve around junior center audi crux (25.5 ppg), but they have struggled down the stretch and entered the NCAA Tournament losing three of their last four games. Syracuse is fifth in the ACC and has a strong center Uche IzojeACC Freshman of the Year.

UConn will make it difficult for Crooks or Izzoje to get the ball where they want it. This is where patience is necessary.

“You can’t expect to come out openly against them,” said one evaluator. “You’re not going to get a pick-and-roll right off the bat. You’re going to have to reverse it, go up and down. If they’re playing high, you’re going to be looking for back doors. And if your offense is going to require a lot of ball screens, you’re going to have to know how they’re protecting them.”

“You have to enjoy it. You have to embrace it. You have to like the challenge.”

-to Geno Auriemma @SportSiren What he learned from coaching in March 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ZORzPGkJtq

– Sports Center (@SportsCenter) 16 March 2026

Don’t panic! try to control the speed

This goes hand in hand with patience. Huskies show no mercy. They can increase the lead from 5 to 15 to 25 in a matter of seconds. They will let down your defenses. They will make your crime disappear.

One evaluator said, “The team facing them will be like, ‘Oh, OK, here they go again.’ “You have to do something to slow things down. Call a timeout, although you have to use your timeouts wisely.”

Part of avoiding panic is not letting the Huskies dictate the pace.

One evaluator said, “I’m curious how UConn will handle consistent full-court defensive pressure, like we see from Texas.” “UConn’s quarter-court offense is very good and rhythmic; it relies on the pass and the cut.

“If a team has physical personnel and style – allowing cutters to be hit – and refuses to pass through the lane, it could be challenging for UConn.”

Unless the Huskies play for a national championship, they won’t meet fellow No. 1 seed Texas, but in the Sweet 16, they could face No. 4 North Carolina or No. 5 Maryland. The Tar Heels were third in the ACC in points allowed (59.0) and the Terps were sixth in the Big Ten in that category.

South Carolina, which could be UConn’s national semifinal opponent, allows 57.9 ppg, second only to Texas (56.6) in the SEC.

Avoid turnover as much as possible

Everything about the Huskies’ offense is scary, but their transition points may be the most frightening. UConn forces 24.5 turnovers per game and scores 33.6 ppg from them.

One evaluator said, “UConn is always really good in transition.” “You really have to focus a lot on taking care of the ball.”

The Huskies caused turnovers in a way that many other teams could not, due to their tenacity and their ability to take away passing lanes.

“You can try to put pressure on them,” one evaluator said. “But then you have to deal with their pressure defense.”

No opposing coach knows how UConn’s defense works better than former star Huskies player and assistant coach Vanderbilt’s Shea Ralph. Their No. 2 seed Vanderbilt team could face UConn in the Elite Eight. The Commodores have averaged 13.1 turnovers per game this season, fourth in the SEC. Vandy has a turnover margin of plus-7.35, second only to Texas’ 10.62 in the SEC.

Make 3-pointers – lots of them

Every evaluator we spoke to critically valued 3-pointers against the Huskies. UConn leads Division I in 3-point percentage at 39.6. Fudd is the Huskies’ most accurate from behind the arc with 44.6% (104 of 233). Shoot a strong 42.7% from 3-point range (53 of 124), and Eli Ziebel 43.2% (57 out of 132).

Among other No. 1 seeds, UCLA Shoots 37.5% from 3-point range, South Carolina 37.1 and texas 33.9. The Longhorns have the fewest at No. 1 with 3, with 146. UConn has 322, UCLA has 242 and South Carolina has 206.

If a team can get an edge on UConn – either by outshooting them from behind the arc or limiting them there – they might have a chance.

“You want to expose them analytically to their weaknesses, if they have any,” said one evaluator. “Don’t let Aji beat you to it on the outside. Don’t let Sara beat you to it. Try to get them to leave it.”

It’s not impossible to beat UConn without excelling from behind, but it makes the tough task even more difficult. One evaluator said michigan12 3-pointers in a 72-69 loss in November, the closest any team has come to UConn this season.

“How do you get 3s against them?” The appraiser said. “You’ve got to make some tough, contested shots. That’s what Michigan did.”

game

Does UCLA have the toughest path to the Final Four among No. 1 seeds?

Chiney Ogwumike and Rebecca Lobo disagree on why UCLA may have the toughest road to the Final Four among No. 1 seeds.

Take advantage of the inside shape

The Huskies aren’t just a great 3-point shooting team; They are very nice inside too. But one evaluator pointed out that perhaps a team with a dominant center could create some problems.

“UCLA might have a chance because of the 6-foot-7 inside edge,” the evaluator said, referring to the senior center. Lauren Bates. “They have to hit from the outside, too, but I think it’s going to take someone with that kind of big-time skill set to beat UConn.”

The Huskies and Bruins would not face off until this season’s championship game. In last year’s national semifinals, Bates was the only Bruin who played well against the Huskies in an 85–51 loss. He had 26 points on 11-of-18 shooting.

This season, Bates was the Big Ten Player of the Year, averaging 16.4 points and 8.6 rebounds while shooting a career-high 65.6% from the field. His teammates have provided plenty of assistance, with three others averaging double figures for a team that is averaging 85.1 ppg.

Bottom line: If anyone wants to beat UConn, they need everything to work out in the best possible way.

One evaluator said, “At UConn there are usually five guys on the court who can hurt you.” “If you have somebody on the court that can’t hurt them, they know that. They’re really smart, and they’ll beat them. If one of your guys isn’t being guarded, they better be a great screener.

“Otherwise, you’ll just start racking up shots, and that’s it.”