Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

UConn's Geno Auriemma Dealt Transfer Portal News After NCAA Tournament

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Apr 10, 2025 3:20 PM ET

It had been an unusually long time since Geno Auriemma led the UConn Huskies women's basketball team to a national championship. But after nine seasons, UConn is back on top.

Led by senior guard Paige Bueckers, the Huskies were able to cruise through the entire tournament, winning each of their six games by double-digits. UConn capped March Madness off with an 82-59 win over defending champion South Carolina.

Now, Auriemma will have to prepare for the 2025-26 season without his All-American guard, who is departing for the 2025 WNBA Draft. But fellow guard Azzi Fudd has elected to return.

However, Auriemma has now lost another guard just a few days after the championship win. On Thursday, On3's Talia Goodman reported that sophomore Qadence Samuels has entered the transfer portal.

"BREAKING: UConn’s Qadence Samuels has entered the transfer portal, sources told @On3sports," Goodman wrote on X. "The 6-0 sophomore averaged 1.3 ppg this season."

BREAKING: UConn’s Qadence Samuels has entered the transfer portal, sources told @On3sports.

The 6-0 sophomore averaged 1.3 ppg this season.

TRACKER: https://t.co/StsxDxjlYl pic.twitter.com/2DcRmcWd0J
— Talia Goodman (@TaliaGoodmanWBB) April 10, 2025

Samuels, a 6-foot sophomore out of Bishop McNamara High School (Forestville, MD), was a four-star prospect in the class of 2023 (ESPN). She was given a 94 overall grade, ranking as the 41st-best prospect in her class.

With Fudd out for the majority of the 2023-24 season due to an ACL injury, Samuels played 36 games, receiving an average of 12.3 minutes of action. She tallied 5.0 points on 40.2% shooting and 2.6 rebounds per game.

With Fudd returning to the lineup this season, Samuels saw a big hit in minutes. She still appeared in 33 games, including four in the NCAA Tournament, but only averaged 5.5 minutes. She finished the season recording 1.3 points on 32.7% shooting and 1.8 rebounds per contest.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: