UConn Women's Basketball Clinches Big East Title with Win Over Villanova

Huskies overcome slow start to defeat Wildcats 83-69 and secure sixth straight regular season conference championship.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The UConn women's basketball team overcame a poor first half performance to defeat Villanova 83-69 on Wednesday night and clinch the Big East regular season title. The Huskies trailed at halftime but opened the second half with a 6-0 run to take the lead for good, outscoring the Wildcats 46-29 over the final two quarters. Azzi Fudd led UConn with 25 points, while Sarah Strong added 21 points, 12 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists.

Why it matters

This win marks UConn's sixth straight Big East regular season championship, further cementing their status as one of the premier women's basketball programs in the country. The Huskies' ability to overcome a slow start and rally in the second half also demonstrates their resilience and championship pedigree.

The details

UConn fell behind early, trailing for over 16 minutes in the first half and going into the break down 40-37. But the Huskies opened the second half with a 6-0 run to retake the lead, and then outscored Villanova 46-29 over the final two quarters to pull away for the 83-69 victory. Azzi Fudd led the way with 25 points, including a clutch 3-pointer to tie the game to start the second half. Sarah Strong also had a big game with 21 points, 12 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.
  • UConn trailed at halftime for the first time all season.

The players

Azzi Fudd

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

Sarah Strong

A senior forward for the UConn Huskies who had a double-double in the win over Villanova.

Ashlynn Shade

A key contributor off the bench for UConn, finishing with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.

Blanca Quiñonez

A UConn player who returned to action after missing the last six games with a shoulder injury.

KK Arnold

A UConn player who scored a key layup to help the Huskies pull away in the second half.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Huskies will return home for senior day on Sunday, when they take on Providence from Gampel Pavilion. Tip-off is set for noon on FS1.

The takeaway

This win demonstrates UConn's championship pedigree, as the Huskies were able to overcome a slow start and rally in the second half to clinch their sixth straight Big East regular season title. The team's resilience and ability to make key plays down the stretch will serve them well as they look to make another deep NCAA Tournament run.