Michigan opened its 2026-27 women’s basketball season with a result that says plenty about where this team can go. On Thursday night, the Wolverines welcomed No. 2 UConn and walked away with a 77-66 win that looked even more convincing once the second quarter tilted hard in Michigan’s favor.
That middle stretch was the difference. Michigan outscored the Huskies 18-8 in the second quarter and never let them fully climb back in, even when UConn had chances to make it interesting. After falling to Texas in last season’s Elite 8, the Wolverines got the kind of early measuring-stick game they needed - and passed it.
Te’Yala Delfosse was the player who kept Michigan steady when the offense needed a lift. The junior guard was everywhere, attacking the rim, finishing layups and knocking down jumpers on her way to 22 points and nine rebounds. She nearly turned in a double-double against a UConn defense that usually makes life miserable for opponents.
Delfosse’s production stood out even more because her role last season was limited. She started one game and appeared in 35, and if Thursday was any indication, Michigan may have found a major piece for the year ahead.
The Wolverines also did a strong job on Sarah Strong, which is no small thing. Strong, last season’s player of the year, finished with 13 points, but Michigan kept her off the board in the first half. She didn’t score in either the first or second quarter, and UConn had to work to get her going after halftime.
Michigan’s rotations were sharp, and when Strong found space, the Wolverines closed out quickly. That defensive effort had to please Kim Barnes Arico, especially in the season opener.
There’s also reason to like the roster balance. Michigan brought back four of five starters from last season, though Mia Holloway was out with an injury. Even without her, the Wolverines showed enough on Thursday to suggest they have the pieces for a big year.
Dallas Loughridge didn’t have the debut she probably wanted. The newcomer, who played pro ball in Australia and averaged nearly 26 points, went 1-for-9 from the field. But with the way Michigan looked overall, that kind of night feels more like an outlier than a concern.
If Loughridge settles in, Michigan’s offense could become even tougher to handle. For now, the Wolverines have already put one of the sport’s best teams on notice.
In Other News...
Former UConn Star Just Faced A Brutal First NFL Test
Joe Fagnanos first NFL start came under difficult circumstances, and it looked every bit like it. The former UConn standout was pressed into duty for Baltimore against Jacksonville, stepping in for a Ravens offense already without Lamar Jackson and trying to navigate the kind of situation that can expose even a veteran quarterback.
The result was a rough afternoon for Baltimore, which fell 33-10 and slipped to 4-5 on the season. Fagnano was also working through a foot injury, adding another layer of difficulty to a debut that offered little margin for error and even less help from the game script. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Faces A Brutal Spotlight In Belichicks New England Return
Bill Belichicks second college season has brought a noticeable step forward for North Carolina, which heads to Rentschler Field at 4-4 with a more settled look on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. has helped steady the offense, while defenders Xavier Lewis and Derek McDonald give the Tar Heels some punch on the other side, making this a tougher assignment than the name on the schedule might suggest.
For UConn, the matchup carries real weight beyond the usual November grind. Jason Candles team is still searching for a breakthrough against power-conference competition, and the Huskies will lean on dual-threat quarterback Kalieb Osborne to keep pace with a balanced North Carolina attack. It is the kind of game that can sharpen the edges of a season, and the setting only adds to the pressure around what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Gets An Early Chance To Expose Michigans Biggest Weakness
Michigans season opener offered a quick reminder that the reigning national runners-up still have some early edges to sharpen before the rematch with UConn. Even in an 84-68 win over Oakland, the Wolverines had trouble on the glass and from beyond the arc, which is exactly the kind of opening the Huskies can try to exploit when the teams meet again in a matchup carrying plenty of recent history.
Mike Boynton Jr. made it clear after the opener that his guards need to do a better job helping on the boards, a point that matters even more against a UConn team that knows how to turn extra possessions into pressure. Michigan also expects center Moustapha Thiam back for the game, a boost that should help inside, but the bigger question is whether the Wolverines can clean up the same issues quickly enough to avoid giving UConn an early chance to seize control. [Read more 🡒]