A wave of former UConn standouts is making noise across the pro ranks this week, from the NFL to the WNBA to the start of the NBA exhibition season.
Skyler Bell got his first shot with the Buffalo Bills on Monday night, taking part in an overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams. The former UConn wideout, who earned All-America honors last season in Storrs, was targeted twice by Josh Allen, including once in the end zone, but finished without a catch. Even so, with injuries stacking up for Buffalo, his chances should keep growing.
Joe Fagnano also found himself in a new spot on Sunday, even though he never got into the game. Because of Lamar Jackson’s injury, the former UConn quarterback was active for the first time in the Baltimore Ravens’ win over the Atlanta Falcons and served as Tyler Huntley’s backup. Fagnano led the Huskies to a 9-4 mark last season and threw 28 touchdowns against just one interception.
Tarris Reed Jr. is already turning heads in San Antonio. The center, who helped push UConn to the national title game last season, grabbed 17 rebounds in an exhibition on Tuesday night for the Spurs. That kind of activity around the glass suggests he could be carving out a real role with the reigning Western Conference champions.
And the WNBA Finals are set to feature a strong UConn footprint, too. The No. 2 seed Golden State Valkyries and No.
4 Atlanta Dream open the series on Oct. 17.
Golden State’s group of former Huskies includes Kaitlyn Chen, Tiffany Hayes, Kiah Stokes and Gabby Williams.
The Valkyries advanced by beating the Dallas Wings in Round 1 and the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals. Dallas was powered by former UConn stars Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, although Fudd did not play in the playoffs because of a knee injury. Atlanta earned its spot by knocking out the New York Liberty, a team led by former UConn star Breanna Stewart, who won four national titles in Storrs.
In Other News...
Former UConn QB Dan Orlovsky Asks For Support After Devastating Loss
Dan Orlovsky shared heartbreaking personal news this week, telling followers about the sudden death of his brother-in-law and offering a way for people to help the family through a difficult stretch. The former UConn quarterback, now an ESPN analyst, posted a GoFundMe as a financial lifeline while his family absorbs the shock of the loss and tries to take care of what comes next.
The fundraiser is aimed at easing the burden for Lascanos wife, Christine, and their three sons, a detail that underscores how quickly this tragedy has changed daily life for those closest to him. For Orlovsky, who has stayed connected to the public eye long after his UConn days, the ask was simple and deeply personal: support the family in a moment when practical help matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Hurley Got An Early Answer UConn Fans Wanted To See
A preseason exhibition rarely tells the whole story, but UConns meeting with Syracuse offered Dan Hurley and Huskies fans a useful early look at what this group can be right away. The Huskies handled the Orange 72-52 and did it with the kind of defensive edge that has become part of the programs identity, holding Syracuse to below 31 percent shooting while getting helpful production from Nik Khamenia and Silas Demary Jr.
Najai Hines gave UConn the most complete showing of the night, and the performance fit the larger takeaway for a team trying to sort out its rotation in October. Syracuse briefly stayed within striking distance before UConn separated in the second half, and the way the Huskies closed the game suggested there was already a clear standard for effort and execution even with the season still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Fans May Need To Brace For A Tradition Changing
UConns preseason spotlight will look a little different again this fall. The Huskies will not host their annual First Night basketball event for the second straight season, with Gampel Pavilion still in the middle of a renovation project that began earlier this year and includes a roof replacement. The work is expected to be finished in November, which means the programs usual start-of-the-season showcase remains on hold for now.
For UConn fans, First Night has long been one of the most familiar markers on the basketball calendar, a chance to get an early read on the mens and womens teams before the games count. But with the college basketball preseason landscape shifting and the building unavailable, the athletic department says the events future is still undecided. For now, another staple of the UConn experience is stuck in limbo, and there is no clear answer yet on when it will return in its old form. [Read more 🡒]