UCONN's KK Arnold, left, limps from the court after an injury in the final minutes of the Huskies' Big East Tournament women's basketball quarterfinals game at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. on Saturday, March 9, 2024. UCONN won the game 86-53. At right is UCONN's Ashlynn Shade.

The top-ranked UConn women’s basketball team (6-0) had a week to recover after last weekend’s 48 hour stretch that included a harrowing win over No. 6 Michigan and a romp of Utah at Mohegan Sun

Undefeated defending champ UConn continues to be top-ranked, while Iowa is the biggest riser in the USA TODAY Sports women's college basketball poll.

The 2025-26 season tipped off with last year’s Final Four on top of the preseason poll, and the three non-UConn teams entered as the most realistic contenders to dethrone the Huskies. The inaugural Players Era championship provided a unique opportunity to evaluate that trio of Texas, UCLA and South Carolina, as they battled in Las Vegas.

However, the news wasn't as surprising to longtime UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma, who empathized with Mora's decision to leave Storrs after four seasons.

The No. 5 UConn Huskies (5-1) travel to Madison Square Garden to face the No. 13 Illinois Fighting Illini (6-1) in a SentinelOne Showdown NCAA College Basketball matchup.