UConn sophomore Sarah Strong is a prolific scorer with powerful inside moves and a sweet jump shot, a pinpoint passer from under the basket and on the fast break, and a rock-solid defender with the ability to thoroughly disrupt her opponents’ offensive game in many ways.
It’s no wonder she's sweeping the major national-player-of-the-year awards leading up to her second Final Four appearance this weekend.
On Thursday, Strong picked up the 2026 Wade Trophy from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), the oldest of the women’s player-of-the-year honors.
She’s averaging 18.6 points per game this season, a number that would be higher except for the fact that she hasn’t played late into many games because UConn generally wins via runaway blowouts. She plays 27 minutes per game (of a possible 40).
Strong and teammate Azzi Fudd were also named WBCA All-Americans. They are also AP First Team All-Americans.
Strong previously won the prestigious 2026 Naismith Trophy from the Atlanta Tipoff Club and the Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year from the basketball writers.
The defending national champion, UConn (38-0) will play in the women’s Final Four on Friday night (7 pm/ESPN) against South Carolina (35-3) in Phoenix.
