UConn just dropped 83 points on Texas, a fellow 2026 Final Four squad, fueled by an absolutely wild 59 combined points from Jovana Popovic and Sarah Strong in their preseason exhibition game Monday night. It wasn’t one of those usual blowouts against a Division II team either, which is what Geno Auriemma often gets. This was a back-and-forth battle for the first half against another All-American led team, giving Auriemma a much clearer read on his Huskies with just two weeks left before the regular season kicks off.
Huskies’ Dynamic Duo is Straight Up Unstoppable
If you’re wondering who carried the load, it was Popovic and Strong, period. They dominated on offense, racking up 22 of UConn’s first 29 points. Strong led the charge with 27 points, adding three rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and a steal. Popovic was right there with 22 points on a super efficient 7-of-11 shooting, plus a team-high seven rebounds and a team-high five assists, and a steal. These two were a nightmare for Texas. We’re talking full-court passes, dazzling layups, everything. Remember that moment in the second quarter when Popovic threw a football-like pass downcourt to Strong, who caught it, took a step, and made the bucket with a defender all over her? That was just one of Strong’s eight straight points in under a minute. Their connection is real, and it produced a combined 59 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks, and two steals. Texas All-American Madison Booker, who had 23 points, six rebounds, and an assist, just couldn’t keep up with both of them.
This Wasn’t Your Typical Preseason Walk-Through
What made this game so valuable wasn’t just the final 83-61 score, but the fact that it forced UConn to work through some real adversity. These were two 2026 Final Four teams, and Texas’s size definitely frustrated the Huskies at times. But UConn stepped up. They shot way better from deep than they did against Syracuse last week, nailing 10-of-18 from the perimeter against Texas, compared to a rough 3-of-22 in the opener. Overall, UConn outshot Texas 54% to 43%. This might not count in any standings, but it’s exactly the kind of competitive environment Auriemma needed to truly test out his lineups and see what his team is made of. Plus, Allie Ziebell made her preseason debut, coming in about four minutes into the game after missing the Syracuse exhibition with an ankle injury. That’s a huge boost, even with Blanca Quiñonez (shoulder), Marine Dursus (ankle), and Morgan Cheli (day-to-day, unspecified) still out.
Next up, the Huskies close out their preseason slate this Sunday at 4 p.m. in Storrs, hosting Army. Then, the real fireworks start on November 2, when the 2026-27 regular season officially tips off with UConn hosting Cornell in Hartford. Keep an eye on Popovic and Strong, because if they keep this up, this season is going to be something special.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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