If you didn’t catch UConn vs Michigan last night, you genuinely missed one of the wildest games women’s college basketball has produced in the last two seasons. And I don’t say that lightly. I’m trying to think of games that even belong in the same neighborhood as this one — USC vs Iowa, the Fever vs Liberty shootout when Caitlin Clark went nuclear, UConn–Oklahoma when Paige put on a masterpiece — those are the kind of games that come to mind. But this one? This was its own brand of chaos.
UConn came into this matchup knowing they were facing a Michigan team powered by two absolute studs: Olivia Olsen and Sila Swords. And trust me, if you haven’t been paying attention, both of these players are about to be serious problems for the rest of college basketball.
UConn Starts HOT — Like “Game Over” Hot
There was a point early on where it felt like UConn might actually run Michigan right out of the building. They went up by 20 points, and the scoreboard looked like something from a mismatch in November, not a top-tier showdown.
They were blitzing Michigan.
They were forcing turnovers.
Everything looked clean, controlled, and honestly almost too easy.
And then… it all flipped.
Michigan’s Comeback Was Straight-Up Ridiculous
This is where the game got insane. UConn was cruising, and then here comes Michigan piece by piece, inch by inch, just clawing back like their season depended on it.
But honestly, the moment that changed the game came from the one player nobody expected to be the hero:
Aaliyah Edwards? Paige? Nope.
The one who flipped the switch was A Foot — yes, A Foot — who suddenly decided to go full NBA Jam and hit three threes in a row during a crucial stretch.
The game went from a tight two-point margin…
to an 11-point UConn lead…
in minutes.
That run felt like it iced the game.
Except Michigan said nope.
Enter Sila Swords: The Monster Who Refused to Quit
With about three minutes left, Michigan was down 13. Most teams fold there. Sila Swords did the exact opposite.
She went full supernova:
- Two and-1s
- Big-time free throws
- A series of clutch threes
- Constant interior buckets
- Just pure willpower
And it wasn’t just her. Olivia Olsen came alive, Sarah Strong started cooking late, and suddenly UConn looked like they forgot how to inbound the ball.
Turnover.
Steal.
Turnover.
Fumbled possessions.
No timeout.
Absolute chaos.
Michigan nearly tied the game, and honestly, if they had gotten a final clean look, I’m not sure UConn walks out with a win.
Sarah Strong: “Bad Game” With a Monster Statline
What’s hilarious is that people were calling this an iffy game from Sarah Strong — and she still casually dropped:
- 16 points
- 20 rebounds
- 6 assists
- 3 steals
- 4 blocks
If that is a bad performance, I don’t even know what we’re doing anymore.
She’s already one of the best power forwards not just in college — but in the entire basketball world. Stewie, A’ja, Fee… and then Sarah Strong isn’t far behind. And she’s 19.
Michigan Might Actually Be the Second-Best Team in the Nation
People slept on Michigan last season, and it looks like they’re doing it again. But look:
- Olsen is a sophomore putting up 17.8 PPG
- Sila Swords is right behind her with 15.6 PPG
- Their toughness is unreal
- They don’t back down from anyone
UConn got everything they wanted… and still almost lost.
That says a lot about Michigan.
UConn’s Future Looks Bright — Especially With International Talent
One thing that still amazes me about UConn is how they keep winning without getting every American five-star. They’re doing it through brilliant development and international recruiting:
- Jana Elalfy (Egypt)
- Blanco Quiñones (Ecuador)
- Gandy (Serbia)
- Kayleigh Heckel via transfer
Geno and his staff just find gems all over the world. NIL or not, players still want to play at UConn.
Final Thoughts
This game was messy, chaotic, thrilling, dramatic, and flat-out wild from start to finish. UConn nearly choked away a 20-point lead. Michigan showed the world they’re legit contenders. Sila Swords played like a superstar. And A Foot had the most unexpected takeover of the season.
If this is what women’s college basketball is giving us already?
We are in for one hell of a year.
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