UConn Women's Basketball Enjoys Extra Rest Day Ahead of Final Four

Top overall seed gets an extra day off before national semifinals

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:23pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a women's basketball game, with the court and players broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the intense energy and physicality of the sport.The UConn Huskies' extra day of rest ahead of the Final Four will help them recharge both physically and mentally for the season's biggest test.Today in Tampa

The UConn women's basketball team, the No. 1 overall seed in this year's NCAA Tournament, had an extra day of rest and recovery ahead of the Final Four after winning the Elite Eight on Sunday. The Huskies spent Monday relaxing poolside in Phoenix before beginning their Final Four preparations, a luxury they didn't have last season when they had to travel across the country with a condensed schedule. The extra day of rest is a new incentive for the top overall seed, implemented starting in 2024 after complaints from coaches about the quick turnaround.

Why it matters

The extra day of rest is crucial for the top-seeded teams at the end of a grueling tournament schedule. Players' bodies are worn down from the physical toll of the games, and the mental fatigue of the non-stop media obligations can be draining. This extra time allows the Huskies to recover, recharge, and fully prepare for the national semifinals, their biggest test of the season.

The details

UConn defeated Notre Dame in the Elite Eight on Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas. The team spent Sunday night in Texas before leaving for Phoenix on Monday, using that day as a travel day to get settled and adjusted to the time zone. The Huskies then had a full day off on Monday to rest and relax poolside. They've since had two or three good practices leading up to Friday's national semifinal against South Carolina. Players like Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong noted how tired their bodies felt after the physically and mentally grueling regional games, so the extra day was crucial for recovery.

  • UConn defeated Notre Dame in the Elite Eight on Sunday, April 6, 2026.
  • The team spent Sunday night in Texas before leaving for Phoenix, Arizona on Monday, April 7, 2026.
  • UConn had Monday, April 7, 2026 off as a travel day to get settled in Phoenix.
  • The Huskies practiced on Tuesday, April 8, 2026 and Wednesday, April 9, 2026 ahead of the Final Four.
  • UConn will play their national semifinal game against South Carolina on Friday, April 11, 2026 at 7pm ET.

The players

Azzi Fudd

A junior point guard for the UConn Huskies women's basketball team.

KK Arnold

A junior point guard for the UConn Huskies women's basketball team.

Allie Ziebell

A sophomore player for the UConn Huskies women's basketball team.

Sarah Strong

A sophomore player for the UConn Huskies women's basketball team who was named a Naismith Player of the Year finalist.

Kayleigh Heckel

A sophomore player for the UConn Huskies women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“It was very relaxing. The sun was out, something I've been asking for since winter started.”

— KK Arnold, Junior point guard

“Anyone would want the extra day. You get to rest, and then you get to, you know, worry about the game a little extra longer, instead of kind of a compressed schedule in terms of planning for your next opponent.”

— Morgan Valley, Assistant coach

“Everyone's a little extra tired, a little beat up, a little sore. So, just to get through all of that, the fatigue, and I feel like it's super, super mental at this point. Right now, I could have used an extra hour of sleep. That extra day of rest goes a long way, and just even playing all season, our bodies hurt.”

— Azzi Fudd

“I think it was super important for us. I think that obviously, at this time of the season, everyone's kind of tired, kind of bumped and bruised and stuff. We're really ready for tomorrow. Body-wise, mentally wise, I think that we're really ready.”

— Kayleigh Heckel, Sophomore

“The extra day of rest was really nice, definitely needed. But it doesn't matter how many days you get, you know, you just need to come prepared for whatever your schedule looks like that following day. But definitely getting an extra day to get in, settle, adjust to the time change, getting to enjoy the sun for a second was all really nice.”

— Azzi Fudd

What’s next

The Huskies will hold a shootaround early on Friday, April 11, 2026 before their 7pm ET national semifinal game against South Carolina.

The takeaway

The extra day of rest and recovery ahead of the Final Four is a crucial advantage for the top overall seed in the women's NCAA Tournament. It allows the players to recharge both physically and mentally after the grueling regional games, setting them up for success in the season's biggest moment. This new incentive, implemented in 2024, has proven valuable for UConn as they aim to win their 15th national championship.