Kelis Fisher is UConn women's basketball's first commit from the Class of 2025. The sophomore from Baltimore transferred to IMG to complete her high school career.

Geno Auriemma is a week into his 40 ^th season coaching UConn women’s basketball.

And the Hall of Fame coach continues to bring in talent all over the world to Storrs, Connecticut.

The Huskies announced on Thursday, they've signed two incoming freshmen to its Class of 2025 during the early signing period, which began Wednesday and closes on Nov. 20.

Kelis Fisher (ranked No. 27 in the Class by ESPN) and Gandy Malou-Mamel (No. 73) have made their commitment to UConn official this week by signing national letters of intent with the program. Fisher first verbally committed to the Huskies as a sophomore in 2022, while Malou-Mamel will be the program's first-ever player from Ireland.

UConn is also expected to sign Ecuador native Blanca Quiñonez, who committed to the Huskies in October, to its incoming freshmen class.

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"I think we’ve got a pretty good mix of athletes coming in," Auriemma said in a release Thursday afternoon. "It was a pleasure recruiting them because they want to come to here. That means the world, that they want to come to UConn. We’re excited about them joining the program."

The Huskies are also awaiting on the decision from No. 4-ranked recruit Agot Makeer. The 6-foot-1 wing from Florida, announced in August she will be choosing from UConn, South Carolina, Michigan State and Kentucky. While it's unclear when exactly Makeer will make her decision, various reports on online suggest it will come on Sunday, Nov. 17.

What to know about the recruits

Fisher, from Maryland, was the first of the trio to verbally commit to UConn and the first to sign her NLI on National Signing Day.

The point guard committed on the spot during her official visit as a sophomore in 2022. Despite originally from Baltimore, Fisher, 5-9, spent her sophomore, junior and senior years of high school attending IMG Academy in Florida – a college preparatory boarding school that focuses on training elite high school athletes.

Fisher first fell in love with basketball through playing NBA 2K with her older brother, Malik. The known ‘gym rat’ has impressive handles and scoring ability. But it’s her relentless motor in practice and work ethic that makes her stand out.

The point guard grew up idolizing UConn and Maya Moore. When she met Auriemma in person, she immediately bonded with the Hall of Fame coach and knew Storrs was where she was meant to be.

Kelis Fisher is UConn women's basketball's first commit from the Class of 2025. The sophomore from Balitmore transferred to IMG to complete her high school career.

"It feels like this was long, long time in the making," said Auriemma on Nov. 13 after Fisher had officially signed. "I think it's been since maybe her freshman year that she's kind of been wanting to come here. And certainly we've seen enough of her over the last four years in high school. ... I think she's going to be perfect for us."

Auriemma added in the team's release: "Kelis is an athletic guard that can have an impact on the game at both ends of the court. I think she can be a tremendous defender."

She chose UConn over offers from Maryland, Oklahoma, St. John’s, Penn State, Mississippi State, Arizona State and Georgetown. Next season at UConn, Fisher will provide rotation in the point guard position alongside current sophomore KK Arnold. As of now, the two will be UConn’s only true point guards on the 2025-26 roster following the departures of Kaitlyn Chen and Paige Bueckers.

On Wednesday, Fisher was named to the 50-player preseason watch list for the 2024-25 Naismith Trophy Girl’s High School Player of the Year award.

"UConn was just my top choice," Fisher said. "As soon as I saw it, I was there. I didn’t even have a top 10 or a top 5. I was just there. As soon as I got it, it was just like every other college went out the way because I knew where I wanted to go, and I knew what I wanted to be and who I wanted to play for."

Gandy Malou-Mamel, from Ireland, plays at Gill St. Bernard's School in New Jersey. Malou-Mamel committed to UConn women's basketball in July 2023.

Malou-Mamel was the next to commit to the Huskies.

The 6-6 center from Limerick, Ireland moved to New Jersey to attend high school in the States starting her sophomore year in the fall of 2022. Malou-Mamel was discovered in the Irish circuit by Kieran Quinn, who is also from Ireland and helps elite high school athletes navigate high school recruiting in the States.

Quinn first saw Malou-Mamel in the background of a highlight video of another player and was impressed by her power on the glass. She attacked rebounds with hunger and was competitive every play.

Malou-Mamel moved into Quinn’s family home in August 2022 and enrolled at Gill St. Bernard’s School in Gladstone, N.J. Not even 12 months later, she committed to UConn after Auriemma watched her play at an EBYL tournament in Dallas for the Jersey Gemz – an AAU team coached by former Rutgers star Patty Coyle, former teammates with UConn associate head coach Chirs Dailey.

Not only did Malou-Mamel feel at ease in Storrs, she felt comforted by the fact that many international players have come to UConn to play under Auriemma and developed their skills for the next level.

"Gandy is in some ways raw, but she has a couple characteristics that are really valuable,” Auriemma said in the release. “She runs the floor great, and she wants to play defense and rebound the ball."

The forward will add to UConn’s deep frontcourt next year and become its second player listed at 6-5, joining center Jana El Alfy. The duo’s size will create a formidable force down low, especially with their ability to hunt down rebounds on both sides of the court.

"I decided to commit because it had no cons for me," Malou-Mamel said. "I want to go to the WNBA in the future and with their past with big players, I know I'll be a successful big. … I know they'll take care of me, seeing that a lot of their staff has a lot of UConn players. I want to have a safe, secure feeling when I graduate. And I'll have that at UConn. … It just felt perfect for me as a player and a person."

Blanca Quinonez dribbles the ball during a game at the 2022 NBA Academy Games in Atlanta. Quinonez will be UConn women's basketball's first-ever player from South America when she joins for the 2025-26 season.

Quiñonez was the most recent of the three to verbally commit to the Huskies, doing so in October after opening her college recruitment in April.

The Ecuador native currently attends high school and plays overseas in Italy. Quiñonez, a 6-1 wing, was originally content with continuing her career overseas, but after watching the 2024 Final Four and seeing how well celebrated college women’s basketball has become in the States, she decided to commit to playing in the NCAA.

Quiñonez impressed college coaches during the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders camp in Phoenix this July. While she received offers from many top Division-one programs across the country, she felt the most connected to Auriemma.

“I chose this place because I felt from the very first second like I belonged to this amazing family,” Quiñonez wrote in an email to CT Insider. “Coach Geno made me feel confident and secure during our first talk, which was very important since I will be living and working with these people.”

Quiñonez will give the Huskies an athletic all-around player who can contribute from anywhere on the court. Not only does she attack the rim consistently, but she’s a sharp defender and quick learner. She'll become UConn's first-ever player from South America.

Limited roster spots

Paige Bueckers , Kaitlyn Chen and Aubrey Griffin will all depart Storrs this spring. Bueckers is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Azzi Fudd and Caroline Ducharme’s futures in Storrs, however, remain unclear. Both could depart after this season, or they could return for an additional year due to their redshirt year available because of injuries. Fudd is expected to be a high draft pick in whichever year she declares for the WNBA.

If Fudd and Ducharme join Bueckers, Chen and Griffin and leave after this season, that’ll leave UConn with six open roster spots for 2025-26. Fisher, Malou-Mamel and Quiñonez will take up three of those spots, leaving three more open for potential transfers or additional freshmen.

However, if Fudd and Ducharme do not leave and return for next season, UConn will only have four open spots. Fisher, Malou-Mamel and Quiñonez’s additions will then leave just one open slot remaining.