Grading the 2020-21 UConn women’s basketball roster and what the team could look like next season

With the UConn women’s 2020-21 season in the books following a Final Four loss to Arizona, it’s time to look back and assess how the Huskies fared.

UConn’s seven rotation players received grades, with upperclassmen — due to their experience and what’s expected — analyzed tougher than underclassmen. Anna Makurat, injured half the season, and any player who saw fewer than 10 minutes per game were not graded.

Paige Bueckers (G, 5-11, Fr.)

Grade: A

2020-21 stats: 20.0 points, 5.8 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 steals in 36.2 minutes per game; 52.4 FG%, 46.4% on 3s (29 games)

2020-21 role: Led the team in scoring, assists and steals. Was the Huskies’ go-to player who’d step up when they needed it most, so much so that they arguably had overly rely on her. Hard to imagine where this team would be without her. Earned national player of the year for good reason.

Next season: Geno Auriemma assured reporters that as good as Bueckers is, she has a lot of room for improvement. Defense is one area, and so is adding more muscle. The Huskies will need Bueckers to be great to win a national title next season, but most important they’ll need to find her more consistent help.

Christyn Williams (G, 5-11, Jr.)

Grade: B+/A-

2020-21 stats: 16.3 PPG, 2.2 APG, 4.3 RPG in 34.4 MPG; 47.9 FG%, 34.3% on 3s (29 games)

Role: The Huskies’ secondary scorer emerged as their top lockdown defender in the second half of the season. After some early inconsistencies, she found her stride in the postseason, beginning with the Big East Tournament where she made a strong argument for earning most outstanding player. She emerged into the all-around player UConn needed.

Next season: As a senior, Williams will be expected to build upon the positive way she ended the season and consistently do more on both ends of the floor. Though better shooting is on the way, Williams would benefit from improving her 3-point clip, too.

Olivia Nelson-Ododa (F, 6-5, Jr.)

Grade: B-

2020-21 stats: 12.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.8 blocks per game in 26.1 MPG; 55.9 FG% (30 games)

Role: The grade might appear harsh for a player that was the team’s third-best scorer and top rebounder. While Nelson-Ododa dominated the paint against Big East opponents, she struggled mightily against top competition when UConn needed her most, going a combined 7-for-29 (19 points) against Tennessee, Arkansas, South Carolina, Baylor and Arizona.

Next season: Auriemma will have more post options with rising sophomore Aaliyah Edwards and, should she be ready to contribute, incoming freshman Amari DeBerry. But as a senior, Nelson-Ododa needs to be able to better handle physicality down low and contribute offensively against the best teams.

Evina Westbrook (G, 6-0, R-Jr.)

Grade: B+/A-

2020-21 stats: 9.4 PPG, 4.3 APG, 5.3 RPG in 30.7 MPG; 45.4 FG%, 33.9% on 3s (30 games)

Role: A do-it-all player who brought toughness on defense and helped facilitate on offense. Her stats might not be gaudy but despite not playing since March 2019, she made an impact in multiple areas and gets extra points for her leadership as the “team mom.” Bueckers called her the heart and soul of the team.

Next season: Announced she’s returning for redshirt senior season. What’ll be asked of her will largely depend on what the incoming recruits bring to the table. While she always played with defensive intensity, UConn looked its best when Westbrook was aggressive on offense and hitting her outside shots.

Nika Muhl (G, 5-10, Fr.)

Grade: B+

2020-21 stats: 4.9 PPG, 2.7 APG, 2.4 RPG in 24.4 MPG; 38.1 FG%, 34.3% on 3s (23 games)

Role: Emerged to secure the fifth starting spot thanks to her defensive intensity. Brought a much-needed tenacity, while getting more comfortable throughout the season on the offensive end as a facilitator and three-point shooter.

Next season: Even with a crowded backcourt next season, Muhl should earn time with her defense, toughness and ability to facilitate the offense.

Aaliyah Edwards (F, 6-3, Fr.)

Grade: A-

2020-21 stats: 10.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG in 21.8 MPG; 68.9 FG% (29 games)

Role: Huge spark off the bench and one of the team’s most improved players. Could play either alongside or in place of Nelson-Ododa. Efficient shooter, great rim-runner, generally the most physical player on the floor. Auriemma said she and Muhl play “Connecticut basketball hard.”

Next season: Given the growth she showed and the remaining frontcourt question marks, Edwards could be one of the team’s most important pieces next year.

Aubrey Griffin (F, 6-1, So.)

Grade: B

2020-21 stats: 6.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG in 16.8 MPG; 52.3 FG% (29 games)

Role: Saw playing time dwindle with the emergence of Edwards and Muhl but when she got on the floor made an impact on defense , on the boards and underneath the rim.

Next season: Even with incoming freshmen vying for playing time, Griffin can keep a spot in the rotation with her defense, rebounding and ability to be a game-changing spark off the bench. Any increased comfort on offense will only help her.

Anna Makurat (G, 6-2, So.)

2020-21 stats: 3.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.4 APG in 20.4 MPG; 40.4 FG%, 31.7% on 3s (16 games)

Role: Only played nine regular-season games after missing time with a right leg stress fracture. Returned for Big East Tournament but wasn’t a regular part of the rotation, only playing more than 15 minutes in one postseason game.

Next season: Announced she’s transferring.

Mir McLean (F, 5-11, Fr.)

2020-21 stats: 2.8 PPG, 2.1 RPG in 7.0 MPG; 46.4 FG% (24 games)

Role: Saw limited time off the bench but when she’d get in was extremely productive on the boards, underneath the basket and getting to the free-throw line.

Next season: She could aim to have a Griffin-type role off the bench.

Piath Gabriel (F, 6-5, Fr.)

2020-21 stats: 0.7 PPG, 0.5 RPG in 2.5 MPG; 50.0 FG% (22 games)

Role: Saw limited time off the bench in a year that was always supposed to be a learning season.

Next season: UConn could always use more help in the post, though Gabriel has a good amount of offseason growth she’d need to undergo to contribute.

Autumn Chassion (G, 5-8, Fr.)

2020-21 stats: 1.0 PPG, 0.4 APG in 1.9 MPG; 42.9 FG% (8 games)

Role: Came aboard as a walk-on and saw limited time off the bench.

Next season: Unlikely to get more playing time with influx of guards.

Saylor Poffenbarger (G, 6-2, Fr.)

2020-21 stats: 0.5 PPG, 0.3 RPG in 2.7 MPG; 13.3 FG% (12 games)

Role: A 2021 recruit who enrolled in January and got a few months in the system under her belt before the rest of her class comes to campus this summer; saw limited time off the bench

Next season: Poffenbarger could earn more time behind her 3-point shooting and versatility.

Incoming freshmen

Azzi Fudd: A “phenomenal” shooter, per Auriemma, with a “textbook” jumper, per Steph Curry. Though she has to prove herself once she gets there, Auriemma hasn’t indicated anything to suggest that the hype behind what she’ll eventually be isn’t warranted. The 1-2 punch of Bueckers and Fudd may be pretty hard to stop, and could take some of the scoring load off of Bueckers.

Caroline Ducharme: A big wing with a great 3-point shot that presents matchup problems for opponents. Between Ducharme, Fudd and Poffenbarger, the Huskies have an influx of sharp-shooting players that can fill a massive void missing this past season.

Amari DeBerry: A skilled post player that’s earned comparisons to Napheesa Collier and Nelson-Ododa. Auriemma would gladly take another frontcourt piece that can contribute right away.

Recruiting

Isuneh Brady and Ayanna Patterson, UConn’s two 2022 commits, will sign their letters of intent in November and join the Huskies in the fall of 2022. The Huskies would have 12 scholarship players for the 2022-23 season barring any transfers, so they’re probably close to if not already done filling out that class.

Alexa Philippou can be reached at aphilippou@courant.com