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{{short description|College athletic program of the University of Connecticut, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2011}}
{{Infobox college athletics 
| name = UConn Huskies
| logo = Connecticut Huskies logo.svg
| logo_width = 150
| university = [[University of Connecticut]]
| association = NCAA
| conference = [[Big East Conference]] (primary)<br />[[Hockey East]] (ice hockey)<br />[[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Independent]] (football)<br />[[Colonial Athletic Association|CAA]] (women's rowing)
| division = [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] ([[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision|FBS]])
| director = [[David Benedict]]
| location = [[Storrs, Connecticut]]
| teams = 21 (8 men's and 13 women's) 
| stadium = [[Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field]]
| soccerstadium = [[Morrone Stadium]]
| baseballfield = [[Elliot Ballpark]]
| basketballarena = [[Gampel Pavilion]]<br />[[PeoplesBank Arena]]
| icehockeyarena = [[Toscano Family Ice Forum]]
| mascot = [[Jonathan the Husky]]
| nickname = Huskies
| fightsong = "UConn Husky"
| pageurl = https://uconnhuskies.com/
| ncaa titles             = 25
| indiv_relay ncaa champs = 2<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/champs_records_book/Overall.pdf|title=CHAMPIONSHIPS SUMMARY THROUGH JAN. 10, 2024|publisher=NCAA|date=January 10, 2024|access-date=September 13, 2024}}</ref>
| altlogo = [[File:Connecticut Huskies wordmark.svg|175px]]
}}
The '''UConn Huskies''' (or '''Connecticut Huskies''') are the [[College athletics in the United States|intercollegiate athletic]] teams that represent the [[University of Connecticut]], with its main campus located in [[Storrs, Connecticut]]. The school is a member of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]'s [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] and the [[Big East Conference]].

The university's athletic teams mainly play at on-campus facilities, but the [[UConn Huskies football|football team]] plays at [[Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field|Rentschler Field]] in [[East Hartford]], and the men's and women's basketball teams share their home court designation at [[Harry A. Gampel Pavilion]] on-campus and at the [[PeoplesBank Arena]] in [[Hartford]].

== History ==

=== Nickname ===
The university's teams are nicknamed "[[Husky|Huskies]]", a name adopted following a student poll in ''[[The Daily Campus|The Connecticut Campus]]'' in 1934 after the school's name changed from Connecticut Agricultural College to Connecticut State College in 1933; before then, the teams were referred to as the Aggies<!-- (next part not in source, restore when source found) and Nutmeggers-->.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uconn.edu/about-us/history/|title=History - University of Connecticut|work=uconn.edu|publisher=University of Connecticut|access-date=January 2, 2016}}</ref> Although there is a homophonic relationship between "UConn" and the [[Yukon]], where Huskies are native, the "Huskies" nickname predates the school's 1939 name change to the University of Connecticut; the first recorded use of "UConn" (as "U-Conn", both separately and with "Huskies") was later in 1939.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.advance.uconn.edu/1999/990405/040599hs.htm|date=April 5, 1999|last=Roy|first=Mark|title = Traditional Husky Fight Song captures school spirit across generations|work=The UConn Advance|publisher=University of Connecticut|access-date=January 2, 2016}}</ref> However, in a 1997 interview, the student body president from 1935 claimed the Husky mascot selection was a direct reference to the Yukon / UConn homophone.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1997-03-06-9703040118-story.html|title=Wonder How the Husky Came to Be? The Story Goes Back to 1930s|first=Earl|last=Yost|work=Hartford Courant|date=March 6, 1997}}</ref> The university and its athletics programs officially rebranded themselves as "UConn" in the spring of 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brandchannel.com/2013/04/05/the-university-formerly-known-as-connecticut-uconn-officially-rebrands/|title=The University Formerly Known as Connecticut: UCONN Officially Rebrands|first=Mark J.|last=Miller|website=BrandChannel.com|date=April 5, 2013}}</ref>

=== Conference history ===
UConn's teams participate in the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]'s [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] and in the [[Big East Conference]] for all sports except football and men's and women's [[ice hockey]]. UConn's football team participates in the [[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision|Football Bowl Subdivision]].

UConn was a founding member of the [[Yankee Conference]] in 1946. The Huskies were then founding members of the [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|original Big East Conference]] in 1979, and remained in that conference when it reorganized as the [[American Athletic Conference]] in 2013. In 2020, UConn joined the [[Big East Conference|new Big East Conference]], reuniting it with many of the schools against which it played for over three decades in the original Big East. The football team competes as an FBS independent team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/27263372/uconn-leaving-aac-20-owe-17m-exit-fee|title=UConn leaving AAC in '20, will owe $17M exit fee|last=Borzello|first=Jeff|date=July 26, 2019|website=[[ESPN]]|access-date=September 7, 2019}}</ref>

The club [[alpine skiing]] team competes in the [[United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association]] because of a stricter limit on NCAA skiing programs.

==Sports teams==
{| class="wikitable" style= " "
! width= 150px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UConn Huskies|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Men's sports
! width= 150px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UConn Huskies|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Women's sports
|-
| [[UConn Huskies baseball|Baseball]] || [[UConn Huskies women's basketball|Basketball]]
|-
| [[UConn Huskies men's basketball|Basketball]] || Cross country
|-
| [[UConn Huskies football|Football]]|| [[UConn Huskies field hockey|Field hockey]]
|-
| Golf ||  [[UConn Huskies women's ice hockey|Ice hockey]]
|-
| [[UConn Huskies men's ice hockey|Ice hockey]]|| Lacrosse
|-
| [[UConn Huskies men's soccer|Soccer]]|| Rowing
|-
| Track & field{{sup|1}} || [[UConn Huskies women's soccer|Soccer]]
|-
| || [[UConn Huskies softball|Softball]]
|-
| || Swimming & diving
|-
| || Tennis
|-
| || Track & field{{sup|1}}
|-
| || Volleyball
|-
| colspan="2" style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Connecticut Huskies}}" | {{small|{{sup|1}} – includes both indoor and outdoor.}}
|}

=== Baseball ===
{{Main|UConn Huskies baseball}}
[[File:Mason Feole.jpg|thumb|Mason Feole pitching for UConn in 2018]]
The UConn baseball team is coached by [[Jim Penders]]<ref name="roster">{{cite web|url=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/conn-m-basebl-mtt.html |title=2011 UConn Huskies Baseball Roster |access-date=November 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304023100/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/conn-m-basebl-mtt.html |archive-date=March 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> and plays home games at [[Elliot Ballpark]].

In 2010, the UConn baseball team set a program record for wins in a season with 48.<ref name="game3recap">{{cite web|url=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/060610aac.html |title=UConn Ends Season with 4–3 Loss to Oregon: Nemeth, Olt conclude 2010 season as UConn record holders |date=June 6, 2010 |access-date=November 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717072447/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/060610aac.html |archive-date=July 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy}}</ref> This eclipsed the previous mark of 39.<ref name="polls">{{cite web|url=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/070610aaa.html |title=Baseball Ranked No. 23 in Final USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches' Poll: Huskies No. 28 in final Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Poll |date=July 6, 2010 |access-date=November 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326034859/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/070610aaa.html |archive-date=March 26, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy}}</ref> The team played as the No.&nbsp;2 seed alongside No.&nbsp;1 [[Florida State Seminoles baseball|Florida State]] ([[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]]), No.&nbsp;3 [[Oregon Ducks baseball|Oregon]] ([[Pacific-10 Conference|Pac-10]]), and No.&nbsp;4 [[Central Connecticut State Blue Devils|Central Connecticut State]] ([[Northeast Conference|NEC]]). The Huskies placed third in the regional with a 1–2 and played in front of 5,684 fans in their Friday opener against Oregon.<ref name="seasonrecap">{{cite web|url=http://today.uconn.edu/?p=15510 |title=Best Season in UConn Baseball History Comes to an End |author=Kenneth Best |date=June 7, 2010 |work=UConn Today |publisher=University of Connecticut |access-date=February 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617223025/http://today.uconn.edu/?p=15510 |archive-date=June 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy}}</ref> The team finished the season ranked 22nd in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll, 23rd in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll and 28th in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll.<ref name="polls" />

In the summer of 2010, Huskies [[George Springer]] and Matt Barnes were named to the Collegiate USA National Team.<ref name="usateam">{{cite web|url=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/071210aaa.html |title=Springer and Barnes Named to Collegiate USA National Team: Announcement made late Sunday evening |date=July 12, 2010 |access-date=November 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326034920/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/071210aaa.html |archive-date=March 26, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> Also, four players were named to their respective [[List of collegiate summer baseball leagues|collegiate summer league]] All-Star teams- John Sulzicki of the [[Butler BlueSox]] ([[Prospect League]]), [[Greg Nappo]] of the [[Haymarket Senators]] ([[Valley Baseball League]]), Billy Ferriter of the [[North Fork Ospreys]] ([[Hamptons Collegiate Baseball]]), and Michael Zaccardo of the [[Riverhead Tomcats]] ([[Hamptons Collegiate Baseball]]).<ref name="cslallstars">{{cite web|url=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/071210aaa.html |title=Four Huskies Make Summer League All-Star Rosters: Nappo is 4–0 in four starts in Valley League |date=July 8, 2010 |access-date=November 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525045251/https://www.webcitation.org/5wDp5GBWq?url=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/070810aad.html |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |url-status=dead |df=mdy}}</ref>

In [[2011 NCAA Division I baseball season|2011]], UConn baseball was ranked 1st in the Big East Conference preseason poll. [[George Springer]] and [[Matt Barnes (baseball)|Matt Barnes]] were named preseason Big East Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. The team advanced to the first Super Regional in program history, spoiling a potential Super Regional derby by defeating ACC powerhouse Clemson at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in winning the Clemson regional. In the Super Regional, the chances of a Palmetto Double Sweep were ended by eventual champion [[2011 South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team|South Carolina]].<ref name="2011preseason">{{cite web|url=http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/218676/connecticut-chosen-as-2011-big-east-baseball-favorite.aspx |title=Connecticut Chosen As 2011 Big East Baseball Favorite |date=January 4, 2011 |access-date=November 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110114043259/http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/218676/connecticut-chosen-as-2011-big-east-baseball-favorite.aspx |archive-date=January 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy}}</ref>

In 2013, UConn baseball became the first 8 seed to win the Big East Tournament. UConn knocked off the 1 seed Louisville 3–2 in ten innings in the opening game, came back from a 7–0 deficit to beat South Florida 8–7, beat Rutgers 2–1 in the semifinals, and beat Notre Dame 8–1 for the championship.

=== Men's basketball ===
{{main|UConn Huskies men's basketball}}

UConn men's basketball was once a regional power, winning 18 [[Yankee Conference]] championships between 1947 and 1975, including 12 by [[Hugh Greer]]. In 1979, UConn was one of the seven founding schools of the American Athletic Conference (then known as the Big East Conference), which was originally created to focus on basketball, and the last remaining school that signed the charter to remain following the 2013 split. In the early days of the Big East, UConn struggled behind national powers [[Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball|Georgetown]] and [[Syracuse Orange men's basketball|Syracuse]]. Prior to the 1986–87 season UConn hired Jim Calhoun to be the program's new head coach, but the Huskies difficulties continued and they finished the season with a record of 9–19, their fifth straight losing season. But in 1988, the team showed significant improvement and gained a berth in the [[1988 National Invitation Tournament|NIT]]. UConn went on a run in the tournament and defeated [[Ohio State University|Ohio State]], 72–67, at Madison Square Garden to win the NIT, the school's first national basketball title. [[File:Gampel PavilionUCONN.jpg|thumb|Exterior view of [[Gampel Pavilion]]]]

The 1990 "Dream Season" would bring UConn basketball to the national stage. Led by [[Chris Smith (basketball, born 1970)|Chris Smith]], [[Nadav Henefeld]] and [[Tate George]], UConn went from unranked in the preseason to winning the Big East regular season and tournament championships, both for the first time. 1990 also marked the opening of Gampel Pavilion, the program's new on-campus home. In the [[1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|NCAA Tournament]] the Huskies garnered a No.&nbsp;1 seed in the East Region, but trailed [[Clemson Tigers men's basketball|Clemson]], 70–69, with 1 second remaining in the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship#Regional semifinals and finals|Sweet 16]]. [[Scott Burrell]]'s full-court pass found Tate George on the far baseline. George spun, fired, and hit a buzzer-beater that is known in Connecticut simply as "The Shot". They would be eliminated on a buzzer-beater 2 days later by [[1989–90 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]], losing in overtime, 79–78.

UConn rose as a national program throughout the 1990s, winning five more Big East Regular Season and three more Big East Tournament Championships, but the Final Four still eluded Calhoun and the program until the [[1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|1999 NCAA Tournament]]. The Huskies were the top seed in the West region and a win over [[Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball|Gonzaga]] in the regional finals sent UConn to [[Tropicana Field]] in [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa Bay]] for the Final Four. They defeated Ohio State, 64–58, in the semi-final to face off against Duke in the final. Despite having been ranked No.&nbsp;1 for half of the year, the Huskies entered the national championship game as 9-point underdogs. The game was tight throughout, and when the final buzzer sounded, UConn had defeated [[1998–99 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]], 77–74.

The 1999 national championship would not be the last. In 2004, the Huskies returned to the Final Four in [[San Antonio, Texas]]. Once again, they faced Duke, this time in the National Semifinal, and used a late run to beat the Blue Devils, 79–78. Two nights later, led by [[Ben Gordon (basketball)|Ben Gordon]] and [[Emeka Okafor]], UConn beat [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball|Georgia Tech]], 82–73, to win the championship.

In 2006, UConn became the third school ever to have four players drafted in Round One of the [[2006 NBA Draft|NBA draft]], and the first school ever to have five players selected in the two-round draft. In the first round, [[Rudy Gay]], [[Hilton Armstrong]], [[Marcus Williams (basketball, born 1985)|Marcus Williams]] and [[Josh Boone (basketball)|Josh Boone]] were selected. In the second round, [[Denham Brown]] was selected. [[Rashad Anderson]] also entered the NBA draft and has played for several European, Middle Eastern and NBA-D League teams since then.

In the [[2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|2009 NCAA Tournament]], UConn was awarded the No.&nbsp;1 seed in the West. Led by [[AJ Price]], [[Hasheem Thabeet]] and [[Jeff Adrien]], the Huskies reached the Final Four by defeating No.&nbsp;16 seed [[University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Marching Mocs|Chattanooga]] in the 1st round, No.&nbsp;9 seed [[2008–09 Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball team|Texas A&M]] in the 2nd round, No.&nbsp;5 seed [[2008–09 Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team|Purdue]] in the Sweet 16 and No.&nbsp;3 seed [[2008–09 Missouri Tigers men's basketball team|Missouri]] in the Elite Eight. This marked the third time in the program's history to reach the Final Four. In the two other occurrences, UConn also came out of the West region and won the national championship on both occasions.

Connecticut returned to the NCAA tournament in 2011 after an off year. Under the leadership of [[Kemba Walker]] Uconn won five consecutive games in five nights to earn the Big East Tournament championship in New York City. They headed to the NCAA as a No. 3 seed, and completed one of the most improbable runs to the Championship game defeating Butler to earn their third National championship in a 53–41 defensive affair in [[Houston, Texas]].

In 2014 led by American Athletic Conference Player of the Year [[Shabazz Napier]], UConn become the first #7 seed to win the NCAA Championship, getting past No. 1 seed Florida, No. 2 seed Villanova, No. 3 seed Iowa State, and No. 4 seed Michigan State, before defeating the Kentucky Wildcats, 60–54, in the championship game in [[Arlington, Texas]].

After returning to the Big East for the 2020-21 season, UConn won its fifth and sixth NCAA Championships in 2022-23 and 2023-24, becoming the first program to win back-to-back championships since the University of Florida in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

=== Women's basketball ===
{{main|UConn Huskies women's basketball}}
[[File:2010 WhiteHouse.jpg|thumb|350px|right|alt=Whitehouse ceremony commemorating 2010 NCAA National Champions Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team|2010 NCAA National Champions Connecticut Huskies at the White House]]

Strong alumni, student, and fan support for UConn's men's basketball teams helped the Huskies' women's basketball program attract [[Geno Auriemma]] as head coach. Under the tutelage of Auriemma, UConn has become one of the few schools that consistently competes for the national title in women's basketball.

The Huskies were also part of one of the fiercest rivalries in all of women's college sports. In the [[UConn-Tennessee rivalry|rivalry between UConn and the University of Tennessee]], there was no love lost between Auriemma and [[Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball|Tennessee]] coach [[Pat Summitt]]. The two schools have faced each other seven times in the NCAA Tournament, and four times in the NCAA Championship Game. UConn leads 5–2 in those games including a 4–0 record in the finals. UConn leads the all-time series 13–8. Summitt ended the regular season series in the summer of 2007. It is unknown why the series was ended, but media outlets reported that Tennessee reported to the NCAA that UConn committed minor recruiting infractions with the recruitment of Maya Moore which included a tour of ESPN while Moore was a junior in high school.

[[Rebecca Lobo]], [[Jennifer Rizzotti]], [[Svetlana Abrosimova]], [[Shea Ralph]], [[Nykesha Sales]], [[Kelly Schumacher]], [[Swin Cash]], [[Kara Wolters]], [[Tamika Williams]], [[Diana Taurasi]], [[Asjha Jones]], [[Sue Bird]], [[Ann Strother]], [[Barbara Turner (basketball)|Barbara Turner]], [[Jessica Moore (basketball)|Jessica Moore]], [[Ashley Battle]], [[Ketia Swanier]], [[Charde Houston]], [[Tina Charles (basketball)|Tina Charles]], [[Kalana Greene]], [[Renee Montgomery]], [[Maya Moore]], [[Bria Hartley]], [[Stefanie Dolson]], [[Napheesa Collier]], and [[Katie Lou Samuelson]] are among the women's professional basketball players or WNBA draftees who attended UConn.

[[File:WNBA Sue Bird cropped.jpg|thumb|180px| [[Sue Bird]], on offense]]
In 2002, UConn became the only school ever to have four women drafted among the top 10 of the first round of the [[2002 WNBA draft]], with National Player of the Year Sue Bird drafted 1st, Swin Cash drafted 2nd, Asjha Jones drafted 4th, and Tamika Williams Raymond drafted 6th. The 5th starter on the UConn 2002 NCAA championship team was future No. 1 WNBA draft choice and future two-time National Player of the Year Diana Taurasi. A total of 11 UConn alumnae play in the WNBA in the 2010 season.

In 2004, UConn became the second school ever, and the first in Division I, to win the men's NCAA National Championship and the women's basketball title in the same season and did it again in 2014. It was also the first school to ever have both teams ranked number 1 in the nation at the same time (during the 1994–95 season), and has also spent the most weeks by far with both teams holding the number one spot, with Duke being the only other team ever to achieve the feat, for a short period during the 2003–04 season.

In 2008, freshman [[Maya Moore]] made history by being named Big East Player of the Year, the first time a freshman was so honored in either men's or women's basketball. She was named Big East Player of the Year again in 2009.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}

UConn women entered the 2008–09 season ranked No.&nbsp;1 in all national polls. They finished the season ranked as No.&nbsp;1 as well, winning the national championship, finishing the season with a perfect 39–0 record, while winning every game by 10 points or more. At the end of the year, Maya Moore swept the National Player of the Year honors, receiving the Wooden, Wade and Naismith Awards, and she, [[Renee Montgomery]] and [[Tina Charles (basketball)|Tina Charles]] were named to various All-America teams. Coach Geno Auriemma received his record sixth recognition as the National Coach of the Year.

UConn women entered the [[2009–10 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2009–10 season]] ranked No.&nbsp;1 in all the national polls, and remained ranked No.&nbsp;1 every week for the entire season. They finished the season as the first back-to-back undefeated National Champions, beating No.&nbsp;2 Stanford at the San Antonio Alamodome. UConn also set the national consecutive victory record at 78 when it won its seventh National Championship at the Alamodome.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/tournament/2010/news/story?id=5057928 UConn vs. perfect teams of the past], ESPN.com</ref>

UConn women entered the [[2010–11 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2010–11 season]] ranked No.&nbsp;1 in all the national polls. On December 19, 2010, the UConn Huskies beat No.&nbsp;10 ranked [[Ohio State Buckeyes women's basketball|Ohio State]] at Madison Square Garden's annual [[Maggie Dixon Classic]] to tie the NCAA consecutive win streak to 88 games, and on December 21, 2010 they beat No.&nbsp;20 ranked [[2009-10 Florida State Seminoles women's basketball team|Florida State]] at the XL Center in Hartford to set a new NCAA consecutive win record at 89 games, the streak ended at 90 on December 30, 2010 with a 71–59 loss at [[2009-10 Stanford Cardinal women's basketball team|Stanford]].

UConn is not only a pipeline to both the NBA and the WNBA, but to coaching ranks throughout the sport of basketball. UConn alumnae in the coaching ranks include head coaches [[Jennifer Rizzotti]] at the [[Hartford Hawks women's basketball|University of Hartford]], [[Jamelle Elliott]] at the [[Cincinnati Bearcats women's basketball|University of Cincinnati]], [[Tonya Cardoza]] at [[Temple Owls women's basketball|Temple University]], [[Carla Berube]] at [[Princeton Tigers women's basketball|Princeton University]], and [[Shea Ralph]] at [[Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball|Vanderbilt University]], and assistant coaches [[Stacy Hansmeyer]] at the [[Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball|University of Oklahoma]], [[Morgan Valley]] at the [[Washington Huskies women's basketball|University of Washington]] and [[Willnett Crockett]] at Temple. [[Mel Thomas]] is the Director of Basketball Operations at [[Florida Gulf Coast Eagles women's basketball|Florida Gulf Coast University]]. [[Tamika Williams]] is head coach of [[India]]'s national women's team,<ref name="Head India">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiabasketball.org/newsdetails.php?id=257&news=Tamika%20Raymond%20appointed%20to%20lead%20Indian%20Sr.%20Women%27s%20National%20Team |title=Tamika Raymond appointed to lead Indian Sr. Women's National Team|date=October 7, 2010|publisher=Basketball Federation of India|access-date=October 13, 2010}}</ref> and a former assistant coach at [[Ohio State Buckeyes women's basketball|Ohio State University]] and the [[Kansas Jayhawks women's basketball|University of Kansas]].

Six American female basketball players have attained the Triple Crown "plus one" — an NCAA national title, a WNBA title, a World Cup gold medal, and an Olympic gold medal. Of those six, four are UConn alumnae: [[Sue Bird]], [[Swin Cash]], [[Kara Wolters]] and [[Diana Taurasi]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}

=== Football ===
{{main|UConn Huskies football}}
UConn football started in 1896.  The program's progression lead to an undefeated season in 1924.  Four players who attended UConn that year went on to play in the NFL, with one winning a world title with the [[Providence Steamrollers (NFL)|Providence Steamrollers]] in [[1928 NFL season|1928]].  Two played for the [[Hartford Blues]] alongside the [[Four Horsemen (American football)|Four Horsemen]], former members of 1924 national champions, the [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|University of Notre Dame]].

UConn football reached Division I-A status in 2000, was included in official Division I-A statistics for the first time in 2002, and became a full Big East member in 2004. UConn has been recognized as having the fastest progression out of I-AA in NCAA history, as it was invited into a [[Bowl Championship Series|BCS]] conference only two years after becoming a full I-A member, was bowl-eligible in its first season in I-A, and was invited to a bowl game in its first season as a conference member. The Huskies defeated the [[University of Toledo]] in the [[2004 Motor City Bowl]] by a score of 39–10, with quarterback [[Dan Orlovsky]] being named Most Valuable Player. In 2003, the team was also honored for being one of only 7 schools in the U.S. to graduate 80% or better of its members; it was the only public school on the list. In 2007, the Huskies had their best year as they went 9–3, finished 7–0 at home and earned a berth in the [[2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl]], where they were defeated by Wake Forest, 24–10. In 2008, the Huskies finished 7–5 and defeated Buffalo in the [[2009 International Bowl]] in Toronto.

During the 2009–2010 football season, [[cornerback]] [[Jasper Howard]] was stabbed to death on campus after celebrating the win early that day against the [[Louisville Cardinals]]. UConn honored Jasper for the remainder of 2009 and 2010, which would have been his senior year.  The Huskies would defeat SEC opponent South Carolina in the [[2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl]]. The next year, Connecticut made its first major bowl by winning the Big East Conference and going to the [[2011 Fiesta Bowl]], though it struggled after the move to the AAC and became an [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|independent]] school in the sport in 2019 as the school transitioned to the current Big East (which does not sponsor football) in most sports.

=== Men's cross country/track and field ===
:Head Coach: Beth Alford-Sullivan
:American Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships: (1) 2014
:American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships: (1) 2015
:Penn Relays Championship of America Titles: (1) 2000
:Big East Indoor Track and Field Championships: (9) 1987, 1997, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013
:Big East Outdoor Track and Field Championships: (4) 1982, 2002, 2011, 2013
:Big East Relay Championships: 2
:All-Americans: 32

=== Women's cross country/track and field ===
:Head Coach: JJ Clark
:Olympians: 1 (in women's bobsled)
:Big East Indoor Track and Field Championships: (2) 2008, 2009
:Big East Outdoor Track and Field Championships: (1) 1995
:NCAA All-Americans: 9

=== Field hockey ===
{{main|UConn Huskies field hockey}}
:Playing facility: George J. Sherman Sports Complex
:Head Coach: Paul Caddy
:Most victories: 23 in 1999, 23 in 2017. 
:NCAA Tournament appearances: 26
:NCAA National Championships: (5) 1981, 1985, 2013, 2014, 2017
:NCAA Runner-Up: (2) 1982, 1983
:Final Fours: (15) 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
:Big East Regular Season Championships: (15) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
:Big East Tournament Championships: (15) 1992, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
:All-Americans: 46
:Olympians: 2

=== Men's golf ===
:Head Coach: Dave Pezzino
:NCAA appearances: (1) 1980
:Big East Championships: (1) 1994

=== Men's ice hockey ===
{{main|UConn Huskies men's ice hockey}}
On June 21, 2012 Connecticut announced the program would join [[Hockey East]] as the conference's 12th member beginning in the 2014-15 season. As part of the move from Atlantic Hockey to Hockey East, the university added 18 scholarships for the men's ice hockey team and additional scholarships to existing women's sports programs to meet Title IX gender equity requirements. The university was also investigating options to build a new, larger ice arena on-campus as its then-current venue, the [[Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum|Freitas Ice Forum]], has a seating capacity of only 2,000 and was too small for the jump up to Hockey East. Since then, UConn has used the [[PeoplesBank Arena]], a former NHL venue in downtown [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]], as its primary men's home. While the arena has a hockey capacity of 15,635, UConn has capped ticket sales at 8,089. Select home games have also been played at the [[Total Mortgage Arena]] in Bridgeport.

UConn opened a new on-campus arena for the 2023–24 season. The new facility, known as the Toscano Family Ice Forum,<ref>{{cite web |title=Toscano Family Ice Forum |url=https://uconnhuskies.com/facilities/toscano-family-ice-forum/90 |website=UConn Huskies |publisher=University of Connecticut |access-date=11 November 2024}}</ref> is adjacent to the former Freitas Forum. Both the men's and women's teams moved to the new arena, which seats 2,600 and meets all NCAA Division I requirements.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2021/12/10/mens-ice-hockey-uconn-hockey-holds-topping-off-ceremony-for-new-arena.aspx |title=UConn Hockey Holds Topping-Off Ceremony for New Arena |publisher=UConn Huskies |date=December 10, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2022}}</ref>

=== Women's ice hockey ===
{{main|UConn Huskies women's ice hockey}}
:Playing facility: Toscano Family Ice Forum
:Head Coach: Christopher MacKenzie
:Most wins: 22 in 2007–08

=== Women's lacrosse ===
:Playing facility: Joseph J. Morrone Stadium at the Rizza Performance Center
:Head Coach: Katie Woods
:Most wins: 13 in 2013
:NCAA Tournament appearances: (4) 2013, 2021, 2022, 2023
:ECAC Championships: (1) 2006
:All-Americans: 9

=== Women's rowing ===
:Home surface: Coventry Lake
:Head Coach: Jennifer Sanford

=== Men's soccer ===
{{main|UConn Huskies men's soccer}}
In addition to its basketball success, UConn is known for its championship soccer teams. The men's team has won two NCAA national championships, in 1981 and 2000, and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America named the undefeated 1948 team the national champion. The 2000 team was known for its stellar depth on the bench including the likes of Garrett Grinsfelder, Michael Rueda, and Ryan Brown, who exuded the team's "never say die" attitude. The men's team won back to back Big East championships in (2004 and 2005). As of 2011 UConn led the nation in total attendance in eight of the preceding 12 seasons. No program can match it for having drawn better on-campus support for more than 30 years.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kennedy |first=Paul |url=http://www.socceramerica.com/article/44360/uconn-continues-to-pack-them-in.html |title=UConn continues to pack them in 10/25/2011 |publisher=SoccerAmerica |date=2011-10-25 |access-date=2014-08-27}}</ref> In the early 1980s, before the NCAA kept soccer attendance records and before Morrone Stadium was downsized, the Huskies drew huge crowds. Total attendance in 1983 was 64,535—a record that held until 2010. [[Major League Soccer]] players Maurizio Rocha, [[Chris Gbandi]], [[Damani Ralph]], [[Bobby Rhine]], [[Julius James]], [[Shavar Thomas]], [[O'Brian White]], [[Kwame Watson-Siriboe]], [[Toni Ståhl]],  [[Cyle Larin]], and [[Chukwudi Chijindu]] each attended UConn.

=== Women's soccer ===
{{main|UConn Huskies women's soccer}}
:Playing facility: Joseph J. Morrone Stadium at the Rizza Performance Center
:Head Coach: Len Tsantiris
:Most victories: 23 in 1997
:NCAA Tournament appearances: 28
:Last NCAA appearance: 2016
:NCAA Championship Game appearances: (4) 1984, 1990, 1997, 2003
:College Cups: (7) 1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1994, 1997, 2003
:All-Americans: 26 Players Awarded 44 Times
:Big East Regular Season Championships: (8) 1995,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005
:Big East Tournament Championships: (2) 2002, 2004
:All-Big East Selections: 81

=== Softball ===
{{Main|UConn Huskies softball}}

:Playing facility: Burrill Family Field at the Connecticut Softball Complex
:Head Coach: [[Laura Valentino]]
:Most victories: 45 in 1993
:[[Women's College World Series]] appearances: (1) 1993
:Big East Regular Season Championships: (6) 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
:Big East Tournament Championships: (7) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2001
:All-Americans: 47

=== Men's and women's swimming & diving ===
:Playing facility: Wolf-Zackin Natatorium
:Head Coaches: Swimming – Chris Maiello<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://swimswam.com/uconn-tabs-former-north-dakota-coach-chris-maiello-lead-program/|title=UConn Tabs Former North Dakota Coach Chris Maiello To Lead Program|date=April 20, 2017|website=SwimSwam}}</ref> | Diving – John Bransfield
:Big East Champions: 5
:Olympians: 1

=== Men's tennis ===
:Playing facility: UConn Tennis Courts
:Head Coach: Glenn Marshall
:Most victories: 20 in 2000

=== Women's tennis ===
:Playing facility: UConn Tennis Courts
:Head Coach: Glenn Marshall
:Most victories: 14 in 2002

=== Women's volleyball ===
:Playing facility: UConn Volleyball Center<ref>{{cite web |title=UConn Volleyball Center |url=https://uconnhuskies.com/facilities/uconn-volleyball-center/12 |website=UConn Huskies |publisher=University of Connecticut |access-date=10 November 2024}}</ref>
:Head Coach: Ellen Herman-Kimball[https://uconnhuskies.com/sports/womens-volleyball/coaches]
:Most victories: 35 in 1979
:Big East Regular Season Championships: 2 1994 & 1998

==Championships==
===NCAA team championships===

Connecticut has won 25 NCAA team national championships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/champs_records_book/Overall.pdf |title=Championships summary through Jan. 1, 2022 |date= |website=[[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) |access-date=2015-02-25 |archive-date=2014-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320185655/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/champs_records_book/Overall.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

*'''Men's (8)'''
**[[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship#Team titles|Basketball]] (6): 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023, 2024
**[[NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship#Team titles|Soccer]] (2): 1981, 2000
*'''Women's (17)'''
**[[NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship#Team titles|Basketball]] (12): 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2025
**[[NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship#Team titles|Field Hockey]] (5): 1981, 1985, 2013, 2014, 2017
*see also:
**[[Big East Conference#NCAA Team Championships|Big East NCAA team championships]]
**[[List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I championships#NCAA Division I Team Championships|List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I championships]]

===Other national team championships===
Below are two national team titles that were not bestowed by the NCAA:

*Men's
**Soccer (1948)
*Women's
**Rugby (1993)
{{see also|List of NCAA schools with the most Division I national championships}}

==Facilities==
[[File:UConnTourBanners.JPG|300px|thumb|Gampel Pavilion: A prospective student tour group is shown the women's basketball championship banners.]]
The university's notable athletic facilities include:
* [[Harry A. Gampel Pavilion]] on the main campus in Storrs, the regular home for both men's and women's basketball
* [[Toscano Family Ice Forum]], on the main campus in Storrs, the regular home for both men's and women's hockey team.
* [[Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field]] in [[East Hartford, Connecticut|East Hartford]], home to the [[American football|football]] team
* [[PeoplesBank Arena#The Veterans Memorial Coliseum|PeoplesBank Arena]] in [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]], the second home for both basketball teams and the secondary venue of the men's hockey team.
* [[Joseph J. Morrone Stadium]] on the main campus in Storrs, the regular home for both men's and women's soccer and lacrosse.
* [[Elliot Ballpark]] on the main campus in Storrs, home for baseball.
* Burton Family Football Complex on the main campus in Storrs, serves as the on-campus home of UConn football and complements Rentschler Field in East Hartford; opened in 2006 <ref name="uconnhuskies.com">{{Cite web|url=https://uconnhuskies.com/index.aspx|title=University of Connecticut Athletics - Official Athletics Website|website=University of Connecticut Athletics}}</ref>
* Mark R. Shenkman Training Center on the main campus in Storrs, adjacent to the [[Burton Family Football Complex]], "an {{convert|85000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} training complex, featuring a 120-yard long state-of-the-art FieldTurf playing surface, an {{convert|18000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} strength and conditioning area, and state-of-the-art video capabilities, the indoor training center provides UConn's football team with the most technologically advanced training equipment";<ref name="uconnhuskies.com"/> also serves as a home to UConn club and intramural sports

==Pageantry==
:Mascot: [[Jonathan the Husky]]
:Outfitter: [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]]
:Marching band: [[University of Connecticut Marching Band]], known as "The Pride of Connecticut"
:Fight songs: "UConn Husky" and "Fight On Connecticut"

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons cat}}
* {{Official website}}

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[[Category:UConn Huskies| ]]