Latest news with #ElAlfy
Washington Post
07-04-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Jana El Alfy's parents traveled from Egypt to watch the freshman center and UConn win a title
TAMPA, Fla. — Jana El Alfy's parents flew from Cairo to Poland to New York to Tampa to watch their daughter play with UConn for the first time. They got to see her celebrate a championship with the Huskies. El Alfy, a 19-year-old starting center, was limited by foul trouble and had two points and two rebounds in UConn's 82-59 victory over South Carolina on Sunday. The powerful, 6-foot-5 Egyptian played a key role in a semifinal victory over UCLA and should be a major force for Geno Auriemma's program next season and beyond.
USA Today
06-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
This UConn player's family traveled from Egypt to watch run to national championship game
This UConn player's family traveled from Egypt to watch run to national championship game Show Caption Hide Caption Paige Bueckers on final game: 'Don't want to take it for granted' Paige Bueckers isn't getting caught up in the moment of having her last collegiate game in the National Championship TAMPA, Florida — Jana El Alfy had some special visitors here to watch her and the UConn women's basketball team dominate to reach the national championship game. El Alfy's father, mother and uncle traveled more than 6,500 miles to Tampa from Egypt, and it was worth every bit of the 25-hour journey. 'This is the first time I watched Jana live. We are so excited, so proud,' her father Ehab El Alfy told USA TODAY Sports at halftime. 'They've played aggressive defense, and I hope UConn can win the game, and continue (the season)." Shop UConn vs. South Carolina national championship tickets And win they did. UConn dominated UCLA 85-51, the largest margin of victory in Final Four history, to advance to the NCAA title game for the 13th time in program history. El Alfy was tasked with matching up against UCLA's star center Lauren Betts and was disruptive all night, finishing with four of the Huskies' 13 steals to go along with eight rebounds and six points. 'I thought her performance was the tone-setter tonight,' guard Paige Bueckers said. 'How aggressive she started and how determined she started.' Basketball is ingrained in the El Alfy family. Ehab El Alfy is the head coach of the Egyptian women's national team, where El Alfy first got UConn's attention with her youth international team play. She led all players in the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup with 21.4 points per game, and became the first Egyptian player in UConn history. El Alfy's UConn career got off to a rocky start after an injury forced her to redshirt last season. But this year she has been a key contributor in UConn's frontcourt, just in time for her family to see her start in the Final Four. 'It means absolutely everything to me,' said El Alfy, who became visibly emotional when asked about her family attending. 'I'm so glad that they were able to come and watch me. I know they're happy, just them being here. I just wanted to do my best for them.' El Alfy grew up begging her father to let her compete against the older players. She said her father was hard on her in practice, and would throw her out at times when they butted heads. But she credits him for instilling her competitive drive. 'I think that's what made me really competitive,' El Alfy said. 'That's what helped me grow. I'm super thankful. I wouldn't have done it if it wasn't for him. And then my mom too, there's always that support system.' South Carolina vs. UConn time, TV channel, how to watch Time, date: 3 p.m. ET | Sunday, April 6 3 p.m. ET | Sunday, April 6 TV Channel: ABC ABC Live Stream: Fubo - Watch Now! Bo Underwood is a student in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.
USA Today
24-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Paige Bueckers cooks breakfast for fasting UConn teammate during Ramadan, March Madness
Paige Bueckers cooks breakfast for fasting UConn teammate during Ramadan, March Madness Huskies women's basketball player Jana El Alfy is fasting during the holy month. With help from teammates, she's keeping her energy high while competing in the NCAA tournament Show Caption Hide Caption Hannah Hidalgo explains impact of support in women's basketball Hannah Hidalgo explains impact of support in women's basketball It turns out the saying, 'Let Paige Bueckers cook,' has an entirely different meaning this month. The UConn women's basketball star has taken a significant responsibility to assist a teammate off the court during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Bueckers cooks breakfast for teammate Jana El Alfy in the mornings while El Alfy, who is from Cairo, Egypt, fasts during the 2025 women's NCAA Tournament. REQUIRED READING: These LSU, FSU superstars used to train together. Now, they're meeting in March Madness Muslims observe a fast from sunrise to sundown during Ramadan ― from Feb. 28 to March 29 this year. The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. During the fasting hours, Muslims do not eat or drink, even water. Bueckers has taken on the responsibility of preparing breakfast for her teammate to eat before sunrise, called Suhoor (or Sehri). El Alfy ― who has been fasting since she was 11 ― said Bueckers walked into their apartment with two grocery bags and offered her support through the month. "That was really, really sweet of her," El Alfy said to the CT Insider. "And it meant a lot because obviously, being away from home, that's tough, and my teammates made it so much easier for me." Teammates Caroline Ducharme and Allie Ziebell also join El Alfy for her early morning breakfast before sunrise. KK Arnold has already offered to help El Alfy next season when Bueckers is likely off to the WNBA. Sometimes, Bueckers has to serve as the cook and the alarm clock for El Alfy to make sure she can have her meal in the morning and has the energy to get through the rest of the day. On Sunday, Bueckers had to bang on El Alfy's door before UConn's second-round game vs. South Dakota State. "I was like, 'Jana, wake up! I didn't make these scrambled eggs for nothing!,'" Bueckers said. "She makes really good scrambled eggs," El Alfy added. El Alfy, a 6-foot-5 Huskie center, said she used to spend Ramadan with her family. Usually, the breaking of the fast right after sunset ― called iftar ― would be done as large family gatherings. While she cannot be with family during the basketball season and March Madness, El Alfy will FaceTime her family, even with a six-hour time difference. El Alfy missed all of last season with an Achilles injury. This is the first year the Huskies' redshirt freshman is fasting while dealing with the demands of playing in March Madness. "It's definitely tough. It's an important month for me," El Alfy said. "I try as much as I can to fuel whenever it's time to eat and manage it with playing. Obviously, it's hard. It wasn't easy at all. But my teammates really helped with that, and the staff, they were all supportive. "I feel like I'm blessed and grateful to be surrounded with this group. It's a really, really special group, and they're always asking questions, and they're always like, 'Oh, how are you feeling?' or 'I can't imagine doing that.' … I think I wouldn't have done it or made it this far if it wasn't for my teammates."
