Sarah Strong, No. 1 Women's CBB Recruit, Commits to UConn over UNC, Duke

UConn secured a small victory just hours after a heartbreaking defeat in the Final Four of the 2024 NCAA women's basketball tournament.

Five-star forward Sarah Strong announced Saturday her commitment to the Huskies. She's the No. 1 player in HoopGurlz's 2024 rankings and one of three top-20 talents heading to Storrs next season, joining Allie Ziebell (No. 4) and Morgan Cheli (No. 18).

Daniel Connolly of UConn WBB Weekly provided a look at the team's roster for the next four years when accounting for the newest commit:

Shane Laflin of ESPN detailed what Strong brings to the court.

"The 6'2" point forward might be the most unique player in the country with her versatility and skills," he wrote. "Powerful in the paint but with a feathery touch around the 3-point line, Strong is comfortable all over the floor and features a combination of strength and skill. The most outstanding part of her game may be her precision passing. Her outlet passing is particularly impressive."

Strong has represented the United States at the youth level, winning back-to-back golds in the 2022 and 2023 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup.

The Huskies are no longer the preeminent force they once were. They were last crowned national champions in 2016 and watched as South Carolina emerged as the foremost dynasty in women's basketball.

The retirements of legendary coaches in other sports also point to how the Geno Auriemma era will come to an end at some point.

Still, neither of those factors has prevented UConn from remaining a magnet for top talent. Ashlynn Shade and KK Arnold were both top-20 recruits in 2023, and the pair of Ayanna Patterson and Ice Brady ranked in the top five for 2022.

Injuries rather than a lack of quality across the roster is the single biggest reason the Huskies' championship drought goes on.

UConn already received a huge boost with Paige Bueckers spurning the WNBA and deciding to use her final year of eligibility. With the recruiting class that's coming in, the program is likely to be near the top of the early power rankings for 2024-25.