UConn women's basketball dominated the Big East preseason honors ahead of the 2026/27 NCAA basketball season, claiming both major individual awards and multiple all-conference selections. The Huskies also topped the Big East preseason poll after posting a 38-1 record and reaching the Final Four last spring.
Sarah Strong, Olivia Vukoša Recognized for Breakout Seasons
Leading the haul, junior forward Sarah Strong earned Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Strong put up 18.4 points a game to go with 7.7 boards and 3.8 assists during her sophomore campaign. That run netted her the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award, and AP Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, first-year center Olivia Vukoša collected Freshman of the Year honores after arriving as ESPN's No. 3 recruit and the 2026 Gatorade National Player of the Year.
Beyond the headliners, Blanca Quiñonez and KK Arnold both earned first-team All-Big East selections, while Ashlynn Shade picked up an honorable mention. With five Huskies basketball players recognized across the board, UConn heads into the new season carrying both the conference's expectations and the returning talent to meet them.
They'll launch their preseason against Syracuse on October 12th before kicking off their conference slate against Cornell in November.
