Michigan beats No. 2 UConn 77-66 to end 39-game win streak

The Michigan Wolverines defeated the No. 2 ranked UConn Huskies 77-66 on Thursday night at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. The victory ended a 39-game regular-season winning streak for UConn that had continued since February 2025. It also marked the first time the two programs met in a top-5 matchup.

Michigan improved to 1-0 on the season. The win avenged last year's loss to UConn in the teams' first ever meeting. The result gave the Wolverines their first victory against an opponent ranked No. 1 through No. 4. Prior to Thursday, Michigan had a record of 0-31 against that group.

UConn dropped to 1-1. Freshman Jovana Popovic led the Huskies with 25 points. She scored 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting by the six-minute mark of the third quarter. Popovic remained steady despite a hostile crowd that chanted after her initial miss. She helped UConn take its first lead of the game in the opening quarter.

Reigning national player of the year Sarah Strong struggled with foul trouble. She committed her third personal foul with over two minutes left in the first quarter. Strong sat out the entire second quarter. She fouled out with 18 seconds remaining while UConn trailed by 10 points. Her absence limited the Huskies' offensive options in the first 20 minutes to four players.

The Wolverines deployed a zone defense that disrupted UConn's rhythm. The Huskies recorded double-digit turnovers less than 15 minutes into the game. Michigan outscored UConn 18-8 in the second quarter. The game featured nine ties and 14 lead changes. UConn led by as much as five in the first half but played catch-up for much of the contest.

Michigan seized control late in the third quarter. The Wolverines went on a 7-0 run in 55 seconds to take the momentum. UConn's defense slowed down, allowing Michigan shooters to find open looks. The Huskies failed to pressure traps or crash the boards effectively. UConn entered halftime down by six points on a scoring drought of nearly two and a half minutes.

Redshirt sophomore Morgan Cheli made her season debut against the Wolverines. She had missed two preseason exhibitions and UConn's season opener against Cornell. Cheli played five minutes in her first game in 634 days. She recorded one rebound. UConn had all 13 players available for the contest.

The Huskies attempted to match Michigan's physicality but fell short. The Wolverines challenged UConn for the full 40 minutes. UConn's offense stalled when facing the zone, and its defense allowed big shots from the perimeter. The loss caps a difficult start to the competitive schedule for the Huskies.