UConn women’s basketball has officially signed 6-foot-2 forward Blanca Quiñonez from Milagro, Ecuador, to its 2025 recruiting class. Quiñonez will be the first South American player in the program’s history.
Quiñonez has been playing professionally in Italy’s Serie A1 league with Magnolia La Molisana Campobasso since 2020. During the current season, she has averaged 10.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and a team-high 2.4 steals per game. Her experience in a top European league has contributed to her maturity and skill development.
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma expressed enthusiasm about Quiñonez’s addition, stating, “Blanca is mature, and her game has matured because she’s playing against high-level competition over in Europe that you wouldn’t get at a normal high school.” He highlighted her physicality and advanced understanding of the game as assets for the Huskies.
Quiñonez has also represented Ecuador’s national team, making her senior debut at the 2022 South American Women’s Championship, where she averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Additionally, she participated in the NBA and FIBA’s Basketball Without Borders global girls camp during the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix.
She joins point guard Kelis Fisher from Maryland and power forward Gandy Malou-Mamel from Ireland in UConn’s 2025 recruiting class. ESPN has ranked this class as the fifth-best in the nation. Quiñonez’s international experience and versatile playing style are expected to make a significant impact on the Huskies’ roster.
With the addition of Quiñonez, UConn continues to demonstrate its commitment to recruiting top talent globally, enhancing the team’s competitiveness in the NCAA.
