Numbers game: Why UConn players chose their jerseys
When you go to a UConn women’s basketball game, it’s easy to spot Paige Bueckers’ No. 5 jersey in the crowd and even sometimes her No. 1 Hopkins High School jersey too.
In Storrs, while it’s not about the name on the back of a jersey that matters (why UConn’s jerseys don’t include player names), a player’s jersey number becomes just as symbolic with greatness.
The Huskies have retired only two numbers: Rebecca Lobo’s No. 50 and Swin Cash’s No. 32. Sue Bird’s No. 10 and Maya Moore’s No. 23 will likely be the next ones up on the wall following their recent retirements. The Seattle Storm retired Bird’s No. 10 in June 2023 and the Minnesota Lynx will do the same for Moore this August.
There’s only a certain amount of jersey numbers to pick from too. Until this season, the NCAA prohibited players from wearing a number that includes digits 6, 7, 8 or 9 since those numbers are unclear to specify with hand signals during games. Geno Auriemma also doesn’t allow players to wear 00, 0 or 1
since he believes those numbers draw too much attention.
Here’s why this year’s current active Huskies chose their jersey numbers.
No. 2 — freshman point guard KK Arnold:
“I was No. 1 in high school, and I was like, ‘Do I want to go up more numbers?’ So, the next number was two. So, I just have to keep going up. …. It was definitely between 2 or 4 and just 2 stood out to me honestly.”
No. 3 — senior forward Aaliyah Edwards:
“I definitely wanted either 24 or 7. Anna (Makurat) had 24 when I first got here and seven is not a number for NCAA, but then I ultimately picked 3. Obviously, DT (Diana Taurasi was No.3 from 2000-04), she’s a G.O.A.T. As well as my family, (we’re) a family of three: two brothers and me. So it meant something for me family-wise.”
Edwards said she didn’t have to call Taurasi to ask permission to wear her
number, like previous Huskies have had to do in years’ prior to wear former great players’ numbers. But when Taurasi visited campus earlier this season, she complimented Edwards’ choice and said, ‘You picked a great number.’
No. 4 — freshman guard Qadence Samuels:
“I love No. 10. But they said someone else has number 10 and I saw Nika (Mühl) had it. I’ve worn No. 10 like my whole life. … They had other numbers (available), but
I love like a single (digit) number not like a doubledigit number. Ten just just looks better on me. But I just said, ‘OK 4.’”
While UConn has not announced what they will do with No. 10 after Mühl graduates this spring (Bird will be eligible to have the number retired in two years), Samuels said she wants first dibs if it becomes available.
No. 5 — redshirt junior guard/forward Paige Bueckers: “I wore No. 1 in high school. UConn doesn’t allow 0 or 1. And I wore 5 with USA Basketball so it was like, ‘Next number up.’”
Bueckers said she was assigned No. 5 with Team USA.
No. 10 — senior point guard Nika Mühl: “I feel like ever since I was a kid, like when I went into my first club, that was the only number that was free. All the older guys took all the numbers and I can’t believe No. 10 was open but I was like, ‘I’ll take it.’ And ever since then I kind of stuck with it.”
Mühl said she knew Bird wore No. 10 when she first arrived at UConn, but that wasn’t the reason why she also chose to wear it. The Croatian point guard might be the last player to wear No. 10 if UConn decides to put it aside after this season so it can be retired in Bird’s honor.
No. 12 — freshman guard Ashlynn Shade:
“My mom was in charge of assigning my number when I was little and originally I wanted to be 19, but 19 is an illegal number, because Joey Votto is my favorite baseball player. But then I had a huge crush on Aaron Rodgers when I was little. So, number 12 was my next favorite number.”
No. 21 — sophomore point guard Inês Bettencourt:
“Usually at home (in Portugal) I used to wear No. 7 or 8. But now in America it’s not possible to choose those numbers. … So, I had to choose a different number and at home it’s like a 24-hour clock. I kept seeing the time 21:21, which would be 9 p.m. So, it was a sign to me.”
No. 25 — redshirt freshman forward Ice Brady: “Growing up, my favorite player, don’t tell CD (Chris Dailey) this, my favorite player was Alyssa Thomas when she was at Maryland. And at the time she was also a lefty.”
Thomas still wears No. 25 now in the WNBA with the Connecticut Sun. While Brady has been to a couple Sun games to watch as a fan, she has yet to meet the All-Star in person.