The Huskies’ five newcomers picked digits that span from never-before-worn to one of the most popular in program history.
One of the first orders of business for UConn at the start of summer workouts? Assigning new jersey numbers. While none of the returners changed their choices, the Huskies’ five newcomers all picked their digits for the upcoming campaign — spanning from never-before-worn numbers to one of the most popular in program history.
Blanca Quiñonez — No. 4
Total players to wear it: 6
Most recent: Qadence Samuels (2022-23)
Most notable: Moriah Jefferson (2012-16)
Quiñonez couldn’t go with her preferred No. 11 — Allie Ziebell has ownership currently — so she ended up with No. 4, a jersey number without much longevity in UConn’s program history. Of the six players to wear it, only one — Moriah Jefferson — played four seasons with the Huskies. Quiñonez will look to change that.
Kelis Fisher — No. 7
Total players to wear it: 0
Most recent/most notable: None
Fisher will be the first player to wear No. 7 in program history, a beneficiary of the NCAA’s decision to allow jersey numbers with digits 6-9 ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. Since Geno Auriemma doesn’t let allow anyone to use her preferred No. 1, she had to find something new. Now, Fisher will have a chance to create a legacy all her own.
Kayleigh Heckel — No. 9
Total players to wear it: 0
Most recent/most notable: None
Like Fisher, Heckel will be the first player to have her number as a Husky. She keeps the No. 9 that she used at USC even though she (potentially) could’ve gone back to No. 4, which she wore in high school.
Serah Williams — No. 22
Total players to wear it: 11
Most recent: Evina Westbrook (2020-22)
Most notable: Ashley Battle (2000-05)
While Williams wore No. 25 at Wisconsin, that number’s belonged to Ice Brady for the last three years. She decided to double up the digits for No. 22, becoming the first to wear it since another transfer: Evina Westbrook. Williams will be the 12th to have it overall, making it the second-most popular jersey number at UConn behind only No. 23.
As if it weren’t confusing enough with two Serah/Sarahs in the frontcourt, their respective jersey numbers will be separated by just a single digit.
Gandy Malou-Mamel — No. 42
Total players to wear it: 4
Most recent: Amari DeBerry (2021-24)
Most notable: Nykesha Sales (1994-98)
Unlike most of the other newcomers, Malou-Mamel seems to have gotten her first choice with No. 42. She wore it in high school and has also picked it when playing with the Irish youth national teams. Malou-Mamel will be just the second player this century to wear the digits, joining another big in Amari DeBerry.
The number has seen great days in the past. Peggy Walsh (now Meyers) was the first player in program history to earn all-conference first team honors and ranks 10th on the all-time rebounding list. Nykesha Sales donned it during a career that saw her named an All-American twice and depart as UConn’s all-time leading scorer.
Full numerical roster
2 — KK Arnold
4 — Blanca Quiñonez
7 — Kelis Fisher
8 — Jana El Alfy
9 — Kayleigh Heckel
11 — Allie Ziebell
12 — Ashlynn Shade
21 — Sarah Strong
22 — Serah Williams
23 — Morgan Cheli
25 — Ice Brady
33 — Caroline Ducharme
34 — Ayanna Patterson
35 — Azzi Fudd
42 — Gandy Malou-Mamel