UConn star Sarah Strong capped a historic NCAA season on Friday by winning the 2026 John R. Wooden Award. The annual honor recognizes the nation's most outstanding women's college basketball player.
Strong became the fifth Husky to claim the Wooden Award, joining program legends Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, and Paige Bueckers. The sophomore forward is additionally just the fourth underclassman to win, after USC guard JuJu Watkins and fellow UConn greats Bueckers and Moore.
Strong beat out finalists Azzi Fudd (UConn), Lauren Betts (UCLA), Mikayla Blakes (Vanderbilt), and Madison Booker (Texas) after finishing the 2025/26 season with unmatched stats. Strong averaged 18.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.4 steals, and 1.6 blocks while shooting 58.2% from the field and 40.4% from 3-point range.
"She affects every part of the game," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said of his star center. "Scoring, defending, rebounding — she does it all."
Sarah Strong Completes NCAA Sweep with Wooden Award Win
The Wooden Award completed Sarah Strong's sweep of major national player of year honors. She also won the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, AP Player of the Year, the Naismith Trophy, and the Wade Trophy.
Strong additionally earned unanimous Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Her defensive presence stood out with elite steal rates and rim protection, solidifying her as one of the most complete players in the country.
The daughter of former WNBA All-Star Allison Feaster, the 6-foot-2 forward is a former No. 1 recruit. Since joining the Huskies, Strong has emerged as one of the brightest stars in women's basketball, drawing comparisons to some of UConn's all-time greats.
The Los Angeles Athletic Club presents the Wooden Award each year, spotlighting both athletic excellence as well as character and leadership. Strong's season checked every box, cementing her place among college basketball's elite.
