UConn freshman center Jana El Alfy became the first ever Egyptian to win an NCAA women’s national title after her No. 2 seed Huskies defeated No. 1 seed South Carolina to clinch the program’s 12th title. Before college, she made a name for herself by leading all scorers at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup with 21.4 points per game.
After missing all of last season with a torn Achilles, El Alfy made her college debut by averaging 5.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and an assist per game while shooting 52.1% from the floor. In the Final Four, she played a big role in UConn’s huge 85-51 win over UCLA, grabbing eight rebounds and four steals.
Jana El Alfy Makes History As First Egyptian Champion
Jana El Alfy has always taken pride in where she comes from. During UConn’s media day in October 2024, she spoke about how important her Egyptian roots are to her.
“I’m so proud to represent Egypt. It’s where I grew up, where I learned to love basketball, and it’s a huge part of who I am. Being able to bring my culture to UConn and show the world what an Egyptian player can do means everything to me,” she said.
Her parents made the 6,500-mile trip from Egypt to Tampa, Florida, to watch as their daughter played in her first Final Four.
UConn’s Jana El Alfy’s mom traveled all the way from Egypt to watch her daughter play in the Final Four 🙌
Now, she’s got a piece of the net as a souvenir ❤️ pic.twitter.com/aQgQP8vUoH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 6, 2025
In a short interview with ESPN, she shared how much that moment meant to her, saying, “Having my family here, bringing a piece of Egypt to Tampa, it’s so special.”
With UConn’s national championship win, El Alfy not only capped off a memorable freshman season but also made history as the first Egyptian player to win an NCAA women’s basketball title.
Her journey—from Cairo to the biggest stage in college basketball—inspires, showing what’s possible when talent, culture, and determination come together on one team.
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With notable UConn stars like Paige Bueckers expected to depart for the WNBA, El Alfy, joined by freshman sensation Sarah Strong, will look to reload instead of rebuild next season.
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