For the majority of 2020, the most difficult and exciting question Geno Auriemma had to face was which wine to drink that night. Red or white? Not which defense to use, which play to run and certainly, not which time to hold practice. However, once the season did eventually begin in the midst of the pandemic, the UConn women’s basketball team made it to yet another final foul. 

A loss to Arizona in April sent them home without any trophy, but now the Huskies return to Storrs, Connecticut for the summer, and life is beginning to look a little bit more normal. 

“You can feel that there is a difference in the air,” Auriemma said. “People are a little more relaxed, there is more of a looseness about engaging with other people.” 

Almost every member of the UConn women’s basketball program is fully vaccinated, a select few are waiting for second shots and have been wearing masks according to Auriemma. 

With players also almost fully vaccinated, the summer training program can begin without the protocols that were in place before. Now the Huskies staff can plan for recruiting, traveling, and whole team activities. 

“It feels great, it feels a million times better.” 

The goal of the summer school session remains the same as always. First, it is to get the student athletes acclimated to waking up in the morning and going to class. With classes now in person, it's important to allow freshman and sophomore students to get used to an in person classroom atmosphere. Overall, to get a head start on academics. Second thing, it is to get players acclimated to UConn basketball culture. 

Whether it is the question of what it is like in the weight room, what practice is like, what does watching film look like and what does an individual training session entail, are all questions that look to be answered over the summer. 

The excitement remains even with a shortened roster arriving on campus. Aaliyah Edwards will not be with the team in June since being invited to the Canadian senior national training camp, in hopes to compete in Tokyo in July. Incoming freshman Azzi Fudd will be with the USA Basketball women's U19 World Cup team. Paige Bueckers is recovering from ankle surgery with no expectations to practice all summer. Piath Gabriel recently had surgery and is expected to be out for at least the month of June.