Looking ahead
UConn finishes No. 3 in final AP Top 25 Poll; DeBerry enters transfer portal
UConn women’s basketball stunned the basketball world with its Final Four run this postseason after its third-straight season of injury turmoil.
The expectations for the Huskies to follow up the performance again the next season is clear.
UConn was ranked No. 3 in Monday’s final AP Top 25 Poll of the season. The Huskies were ranked No. 10 prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament and their Final Four run.
South Carolina, which won the national championship and remains undefeated headed into the 2024-25 season, earned all the first-place votes in the poll to hold down the No. 1 spot. Iowa, the runner up, came in ranked at No. 2 following by UConn, No. 4 NC State and USC at No. 5.
The second half of the top 10 is: No. 6 LSU, No. 7 Texas, No. 8 Oregon State, No. 9 Stanford and No. 10 UCLA.
Creighton was the only other Big East Team ranked, coming at No. 23.
The Huskies lose senior stars Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Mühl to the WNBA but return AllAmerican Paige Bueckers to the lineup next year. Azzi Fudd, Aubrey Griffin, Ayanna Patterson, Jana El Alfy and Caroline Ducharme are all expected to return next season as well following their season-ending injuries this year.
In addition to adding Sarah Strong, the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2024, the Huskies also bring in two top-20 ranked guards in Allie Ziebell (No. 4) and Morgan Cheli (No. 18).
DeBerry enters transfer portal
After three years with the UConn women’s basketball team, junior forward Amari DeBerry has entered the transfer portal. The Buffalo native announced her decision to leave the Husky program on X, formerly known as Twitter, Monday morning.
“I’ve cherished my 3 years as a Husky and I’m so thankful for my teammates and coaches during my time in Storrs,” DeBerry posted. “I have decided to enter my name in the transfer portal, and I’m looking forward to this
next chapter of my life!”
DeBerry’s departure isn’t totally surprising. She never quite found minutes on UConn’s bench despite being it’s tallest active player at 6foot-6. DeBerry played in 65 total games during her career, averaging 1.6 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 6.1 minutes per game.
“We appreciate Amari’s time at UConn,” Huskies’ coach Geno Auriemma said in a release. “We wish her and her family the best as she continues her collegiate career.”
The forward’s decision to leave opens up a scholarship spot for the Huskies for the 2024-25 season. UConn reached the 15 scholarship maximum for the new year on Saturday with the commitment of forward Sarah Strong, the No. 1-ranked recruit in the Class of 2024. Now, the team will have a space open in case it decides to sign an additional player from the transfer portal.
DeBerry was the No. 15-ranked recruit in the Class of 2021 and a McDonald’s All-American. Prior to her collegiate career, she won gold with Team USA at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup and the 2019 FIBA U16 Championship.
This season, DeBerry saw action in 23 games and averaged 1.0 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 4.5 minutes per game. She suffered a concussion in practice during the final week of the regular season and sat out the Big East Tournament. Auriemma announced on Selection Sunday that DeBerry would be unavailable for the entire NCAA Tournament run. DeBerry did still make the trip with the Huskies to both Portland, Oregon and the Final Four in Cleveland.
UConn ended the 2023-24 season Friday night, losing to Iowa in the Final Four.
DeBerry likely would have seen even less playing time next year with Strong, center Jana El Alfy (6-5), forward Ayanna Patterson (6-2), Aubrey Griffin, and Ice Brady all competing for spots in the frontcourt.