UConn's Sarah Strong Wins 2026 Naismith Women's College Player of the Year Award

UConn sophomore forward Sarah Strong was named the 2025-26 Naismith Women's College Basketball Player of the Year on Wednesday.

Strong beat out fellow finalists in UConn teammate Azzi Fudd, UCLA center Lauren Betts and Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes for the honor.

The 20-year-old Strong burst onto the scene last season as a freshman and made a massive impact for a Huskies team that won the national championship, but she has been even better during her second campaign at the collegiate level.

In 37 games this season, Strong is averaging 18.6 points on 59.4 percent shooting to go along with 7.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.4 steals, 1.6 blocks and 1.6 three-pointers made on 40.4 percent shooting from deep.

The 6'2" superstar is even shooting 84.8 percent from the free-throw line, making her arguably the most efficient player in the nation across numerous areas.

Notre Dame-UConn WCBB Highlights

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After guard Paige Bueckers left UConn to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, head coach Geno Auriemma tasked returning players with stepping up, and both Strong and Fudd have been up to the task.

The Huskies are the No. 1 team in the nation with a perfect 38-0 record, and they are back in the NCAA tournament's Final Four for a third straight year after beating Notre Dame 70-52 in the Elite Eight.

Given UConn's dominance, it was only for one of Auriemma's players to win Player of the Year honors, and Strong had the slight statistical advantage over Fudd.

Strong is the first UConn player to be named Naismith Women's College Player of the Year since Bueckers in 2021, and the eighth different UConn player to achieve the honor overall, joining Rebecca Lobo, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Breanna Stewart and Bueckers.

Now, Strong will lead UConn into its Final Four matchup with South Carolina on Friday, and the winner of that game will then face the winner of Texas vs. UCLA for the national title.