Switch Kayleigh Heckel thriving in new position with No. 1 UConn

[ad_1] If you cannot beat 'em, be a part of 'em.

That is probably not precisely how sophomore Kayleigh Heckel ended up taking part in for No. 1-ranked UConn, however it's true that she completed her freshman season at USC with a loss to the crew she ended up becoming a member of after coming into the switch portal.

"My final recreation at USC was in opposition to UConn," Heckel mentioned in a video posted by UConn previous to the season. "The stakes had been excessive, was the Elite Eight recreation, so excited to to be on this facet now."

Heckel is becoming proper in with the Huskies, averaging 13 factors, 2.5 assists and three.5 steals. She brings vitality off the bench to a backcourt led by Azzi Fudd and KK Arnold. Heckel had six steals as UConn ran its press and overwhelmed Florida State, 99-67, on Sunday. The Huskies scored 42 factors off 23 turnovers.

"Lots of people on our crew are very aggressive defensively," mentioned Heckel, whose Huskies host Loyola on Wednesday (truTV, 7:30 p.m. ET). "(Operating the press) helps us rather a lot. The six steals, that comes from my teammates serving to me and getting a place the place I can get a steal. All of us work collectively defensively."

WOMEN'S SPORTS: The most recent information and insider insights from USA TODAY Studio IX.<img class="gnt_em_gl_i" data-g-r="lazy" data-gl-src="https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2025/10/22/USAT/86825401007-01-uconn.jpg?crop=7389,4158,x0,y384&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp" data-gl-srcset="https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2025/10/22/USAT/86825401007-01-uconn.jpg?crop=7389,https://www.usatoday.com/4158,https://www.usatoday.com/x0,https://www.usatoday.com/y384&width=1320&height=744&format=pjpg&auto=webp 2x" decoding="async" alt="" width="660" height="372"/> Coach Geno Auriemma mentioned Heckel is accustomed to UConn's type of protection.

"Her complete highschool profession, the crew that she performed on, they had been a stress protection" Auriemma mentioned "It type of suits in with what she likes, that is her abilities. That is your talent set. So it sound like we're introducing something new right here, however she's going to get higher at it."

A 5-foot-9 native of Port Chester, New York, Heckel was the No. 13-ranked recruit in her class. Auriemma mentioned that though he wasn't certain concerning the match out of highschool, he was impressed together with her play final season. The Huskies misplaced to USC in December final season earlier than getting their revenge within the Elite Eight.

"Watching her play, taking part in in opposition to her, I simply thought that issues that she's actually good at can assist us, the opposite stuff, I feel we are able to work with," Auriemma mentioned. "I do not suppose she's modified (her recreation) that a lot (final season), however the adjustments she has made have made her for the higher.

"She's a manner higher offensive participant than I believed she was. You realize, She loves that pull up. She is aware of that."

Heckel has already doubled her 6.1 level scoring common with USC. She mentioned Auriemma challenged her to work on being aggressive.

"Coach instructed me that I've to have a really constant midrange shot, so I have been engaged on it rather a lot, and I simply attempt to get to my spots," Heckel mentioned. "If it is open, I am gonna take it. If not, I can at all times go to an open teammate."

Heckel watched UConn elevate its championship banner on Sunday. The Huskies have received 12 nationwide titles, the final in opposition to South Carolina in April. She mentioned taking part in for UConn comes with stress, however she's right here for it.

"I might say the most important adjustment is like, the expectations," Heckel mentioned. "I feel that they are tremendous excessive and I actually like that as a result of I've quite a lot of objectives for myself and for the crew this yr, so I am tremendous excited to simply be held to the expectations and people requirements.