The UConn Huskies women’s basketball team has been a juggernaut this past season, going undefeated throughout their regular season, and so far, moving through the NCAA Tournament without many issues.
Last week, they defeated Hannah Hidalgo and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to reach another Final Four. That puts UConn in a prime position to claim another championship under the leadership of the great Geno Auriemma, with several players having standout seasons.
Azzi Fudd is one of those players, and she’s destined to become a top pick in the WNBA after UConn’s postseason ends. However, Sarah Strong has also emerged as one of the all-time greats in the history of UConn’s women’s basketball.
On Wednesday, UConn shared major news regarding Strong just a few days ahead of their impending matchup with South Carolina in the Final Four.
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After her stellar season leading the Huskies, Strong was named the Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year for women. UConn shared the exciting news on social media to celebrate their star.
“the best in the nation…Sarah Strong is the 2026 Naismith Trophy winner!” their message said on an X (formerly Twitter) post.
With the win, she follows in the footsteps of previous winners, including USC’s JuJu Watkins and back-to-back winner, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark. Strong is the first UConn women’s player to win the award since Paige Bueckers after the 2020-21 season.
Strong led the Huskies in multiple categories this past season, averaging 18.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game.
In the team’s 70-52 Elite Eight win against Notre Dame, Strong finished with 21 points, seven boards, five steals, three blocks, and an assist. Her performances have UConn remaining the favorite to win it all, but they’ll face Dawn Staley’s South Carolina in the Final Four, a team hungry to hand UConn its first loss at an opportune time.
In addition to Strong and Bueckers winning the award, other UConn legends who claimed the Naismith Trophy include Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi, and Sue Bird, all of whom have won championships at UConn.
Strong, only a sophomore, was part of the team’s championship run last season. She will for Auriemma’s Huskies, likely for two more seasons, before becoming a top pick in the WNBA, much like other UConn greats.
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For more about college basketball, visit Newsweek Sports.
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