STORRS, Conn. – UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma announced the addition of Blanca Quiñonez to the 2025 freshman class Tuesday.

Quiñonez is a 6-foot-2 forward from Milagro, Ecuador. She will be the first UConn player from South America.

"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," Auriemma said. "She's a physical player and she's skilled in knowing how to play because you have to be older than your years to play in a pro league. I'm excited to see what she brings because it's different."

Quiñonez has competed for Magnolia Basket Campobasso in Italy's Serie A1 league since 2020.  

Quiñonez joins Kelis Fisher and Gandy Malou-Mamel in UConn's freshman class for next season.

Quiñonez represented Ecuador at the 2018 South American U15 Championship (silver medal) and the 2019 FIBA U16 Americas Championship. She made her senior national team debut at the 2022 South American Womens Championship and averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

Quiñonez participated in the NBA and FIBA's Basketball Without Borders global girls camp at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix.