UConn forward Blanca Quiñonez had surgery on Monday to repair a torn labrum in her left shoulder. After missing eight games as a freshman, she returned to help the Huskies reach the 2026 Final Four, and now is expected to be ready for the start of the upcoming
Blanca Quiñonez walked into Monday with one clear goal: get her left shoulder fixed and be back for the season UConn is preparing to run.
The Huskies program said the forward underwent surgery on Monday to repair a torn labrum in her left shoulder. The expectation is that she will be ready for the start of the upcoming season after the procedure.
Quiñonez’s return matters to UConn for reasons that go beyond roster depth. She was already a foundational piece by the time the Huskies won 38 consecutive games, captured the Big East title, and advanced to the 2026 Final Four before losing to South Carolina.
As a freshman, Quiñonez battled the shoulder injury and missed eight games. She still pushed through enough to become an instrumental contributor during a historic run. Her freshman hardware followed: she was voted Big East Rookie of the Year and Big East Sixth Player of the Year.
Her production that season was a major part of UConn’s momentum. Quiñonez averaged 10.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. She shot 53% from the floor and 39% from 3-point range. and she finished third on the team in scoring behind National Player of the Year Sarah Strong and No. 1 overall WNBA Draft pick Azzi Fudd.
In the 2026 NCAA Tournament, Quiñonez made her impact felt again—especially during the second weekend—earning All-Region honors in Fort Worth. She averaged 18 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 1.5 assists in wins over North Carolina and Notre Dame.
One moment stood out for how it happened: she became the first UConn player to score 20 points off the bench in an NCAA tournament game when she did so against the Fighting Irish in the Elite Eight.
Her confidence and finishing didn’t wait for the postseason, either. During the regular season, she delivered a breakout game against Utah, scoring 21 points in just 18 minutes in a win. She also turned in a non-conference performance against Iowa with a season-best five assists and four steals.
Coach Geno Auriemma described what makes Quiñonez difficult to guard—especially when her legs are under her.
“She’s at her best when she’s putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim,” Auriemma said this past season. “She’s just so, so strong and so quick. She’s tough to keep away from the basket.”
There’s a personal thread running through Quiñonez’s basketball story, too. She left her family at age 13 to go play basketball in Italy and has lived away from them ever since. She is the first South American player to feature for UConn.
“To have the opportunity to represent Ecuador and Ecuadorian players is really important to me and it gives me a lot of joy,” Quiñonez said during March Madness.
Blanca Quiñonez UConn women’s basketball Geno Auriemma shoulder surgery torn labrum Big East Rookie of the Year Big East Sixth Player of the Year 2026 Final Four Ecuador