Orange, Huskies Meet at Mohegan Sun for Preseason Game Monday

Syracuse opens its 2026-27 season on Oct. 12 with a preseason exhibition game against UConn at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC Boston, with radio on ESPN 97.7. Out of market fans can stream the contest on cuse.com/watch for free.

The Orange are coming off a 24-9 season (12-6 ACC) that ended with a second-round NCAA Tournament loss to UConn at Gampel Pavilion. This is a new-look group, with only one returning starter and eight newcomers (four transfers and four freshmen). That one starter is Uche Izoje, the reigning ACC Rookie of the Year and First Team All-ACC selection. As a freshman she averaged 15.6 points and 9.2 rebounds and led the ACC in blocks (2.6 per game).

The transfer class gives Syracuse added experience with Ty Skinner who averaged 19.3 points per game at Arizona State before an injury-shortened season at SMU last year, Jaleesa Molina who neared a double double at Temple as a junior with 9.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game and Iowa transfer Emely Rodriguez and Sarah Rambus (Oregon) who add depth in Syracuse's back and front court.

Captains Keira Scott, Olivia Schmitt and Angelica Velez lead the group, and the freshman class of Madison Howard, Destiny Robinson, Elif Çayir and Célaine Ricco adds a strong New York and international presence.

UConn went 38-2 last year and unbeaten in the Big East finishing the season ranked No. 3 on both the AP and USA Today Coaches Polls. The Huskies are led by Geno Auriemma who enters his 42nd season. Syracuse is 12-42 all-time against UConn in the regular season and hasn't beaten them since Jan. 2, 1996. Syracuse Head Coach Felisha Legette-Jack, an assistant on that 1996 staff, will look to see how her young roster handles one of the sport's premiere programs.

Legette-Jack has guided the Orange to three 20-win seasons in her four years and two NCAA Tournaments, advancing to the second round in both years (2024 and 2026).

Tickets for the 2026-27 Syracuse women's basketball season are on sale now and can be purchased at cuse.com/basketballtickets.

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