UConn Has Secret Weapon With Freshman Forward

Quiñonez's Exhibition Performance

In UConn’s exhibition opener, Quiñonez's mixed showing perfectly encapsulated her unpredictable style. In 20 minutes, she scored just four points on 2-of-8 shooting, missed all three of her three-point attempts, and went 0-for-0 from the free-throw line.

Quiñonez had one rebound, dished out four assists, and recorded two steals, but turnovers were an issue, as she led the team with five. There were also personal fouls to her name and a block to her credit.

While the box score looks messy, it barely tells the full story. As Auriemma puts it, “She tries to do a lot of things, and in the beginning, that’s okay because she’s out there trying to impact the game. Obviously, the way they call the game here and the way they call it where she’s been playing are two different things. So, as she gets more acclimated to this, it’ll get better.”

And he’s right. What might look ugly on the stat sheet has more to it. Quiñonez’s athleticism is obvious; she’s taller than her listed height of 6-foot-2, moves like a guard, and can make it past bigger players with a spin move.

Perhaps Auriemma put it best when he said, "She’ll throw some passes that no one else can throw—there were a couple of them today. And then she’ll throw a couple of passes that no one else should ever throw. So, she’s an adventure.”

Her teammates see it too.

What Does KK Arnold Think About Blanca Quiñonez?

For KK Arnold, watching her Italian teammate comes with fascination and admiration.

“She’s great. Honestly, sometimes she doesn't know what we're saying; she'll just laugh, which is something I would do as well if I were in her place. But like I said, she's a sponge. She knows the game really well. Watching her, you can see she has that dog mentality. When she slows things down and really learns the game, she’s dangerous. She asks plenty of questions, but she goes out there and works hard,” said Arnold.

Arnold and Fudd’s perspective explains why Quiñonez stands out. Her years in Italy hardened her for physical, high-level competition, but now she’s learning to navigate the faster pace and stricter rules of American college basketball.

Additionally, let's not forget that Quiñonez arrived late and missed summer workouts, which meant she skipped the usual acclimation period. However, she hasn’t slowed down; turnovers might be part of growth. Perhaps that’s precisely why Auriemma is making her play during exhibition games.

The unpredictability of Quiñonez’s game makes Blanca a potential game-changer for UConn. The key now is turning those “adventures” on the court into lessons that consistently tip the balance in UConn’s favor.

Don't forget to bookmark UConn Huskies on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage and more!

• UConn’s Balanced Offense Surpassing College Football’s Powerhouses
• UConn Star Forward Earns Preseason All-American Nod
• UConn HC Reflects on Season That Almost Caused Retirement
• Three UConn 2026 Recruits to Watch
• UConn HC Reflects on Season That Almost Caused Retirement