Creighton has been a reliable challenger for the UConn women’s basketball team in Big East play, but the Bluejays are rebuilding this year.

Because of additions like Heckel, the Huskies' depth has allowed for more balanced scoring distribution. Serah Williams and Blanca Quiñonez have stepped up and made buckets when Strong and Fudd get cold or become heavily guarded. Quiñonez is UConn’s biggest threat off the bench and is averaging 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.

UConn's Sarah Strong, center, and Serah Williams, right, playfully console UConn center Gandy Malou-Mamel after she mistakenly got up to sub into the game in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Loyola Chicago, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Kayleigh Heckel’s stats against St. John’s didn’t stand out, but UConn coach Geno Auriemma went out of his way to praise her performance.

Playing at the CHI Health Center for the second consecutive season, Creighton Women's Basketball faces #1 Connecticut in the annual Pink Game

The women's college basketball season is ramping up, and while many ranked teams have already suffered upsets early in 2026, the top four teams -- UConn, Texas, South Carolina and UCLA -- are holding strong and proving to be true championship contenders.

HARTFORD, CT -- The UConn women's basketball team continued its Big East dominance, defeating Seton Hall, 84-48, on Saturday at PeoplesBank Arena. The Huskies (15-0, 6-0 Big East) have won 53 consecutive games against conference opponents and are on 31-game win streak overall going back to last season's 12th national title.

As for Texas and South Carolina: Despite beating UCLA early in the season, the Longhorns have played a less challenging schedule thus far and have fewer quality wins. South Carolina and Texas are nearly equal in resume, but Texas owns the head-to-head matchup after topping the Gamecocks 66-64 on Nov. 27.