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.
UConn's Sarah Strong cleaned up this week, winning both Naismith National Player of the Year and AP National Player of the Year in a 2026 sweep.
Strong leads the undefeated Huskies in average points (18.6), rebounds (7.6), steals (3.4), and blocks (1.6) per game while returning to the Final Four for the second time in her young college career. She received 25 of 31 votes from the national media panel for the AP award.
An efficient player, Strong shot 59.4% from the field, 40.4% from 3-point range, and 84.8% from the free throw line while averaging 27 minutes per game. Strong's 127 steals rank second in UConn history for most in a single season.
"Anybody that's watched us play would probably tell you that she's the heart and soul of our team," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said of Strong. "She elevates the play of everyone on our team."
Strong is the eighth Husky to win the Naismith Trophy. She joins Rebecca Lobo, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Breanna Stewart ,and Paige Bueckers.
Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo Wins Defensive Player of the Year
Notre Dame's 5-foot-6 Hannah Hidalgo broke the mold, becoming the first guard since 2020 to win Naismith Defensive Player of the Year — as well as its shortest-ever recipient.
Hidalgo led the nation with 5.6 steals per game, becoming the first player in women's college basketball history to reach 200+ steals in a single season with 202. She subsequently set an NCAA Tournament record with 29 steals.
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph took home 2026 Naismith Coach of the Year. She led the Commodores to a 29-5 overall and 13-3 SEC record, tying their program-best conference tally.
UConn's powerhouse duo is back in the headlines, as guard Azzi Fudd and forward Sarah Strong both made the 2026 Naismith Player of the Year shortlist this week.
Rounding out the quartet of Naismith finalists is UCLA center Lauren Betts and Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes, with Strong heavily considered this season's frontrunner after picking up 2025/26 USBWA Player of the Year honors on Wednesday.
Sideline leaders also earned Naismith nods this week, as the 2026 Coach of the Year shortlist features Geno Auriemma (UConn), Cori Close (UCLA), Vic Schaefer (Texas), and first-time finalist Shea Ralph (Vanderbilt).
Voted in by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's committee of journalists, coaches, former winners, and conference commissioners, Betts and Strong also featured on the Defensive Player of the Year shortlist, joined by West Virginia senior Jordan Harrison and Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo.
"This year's finalist class represents the best of women's college basketball," said Atlanta Tipoff Club president Eric Oberman. "The competition for each of these awards…speaks to the standard of excellence these individuals have set throughout the season."
How to vote for the Naismith Women's College Basketball Awards
Fans can once again help choose this season's winners, with online voting now open until 12 PM ET on Monday.
The Naismith Awards will announce the 2026 winners on Wednesday, April 1st, in the leadup to the Final Four.
No. 1-seed UConn has even more to brag about this week, as stars Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong made history on Wednesday when they became the first teammates to earn AP All-America women's basketball First Team honors since 2020.
The seventh Husky duo to share the distinction, Strong and Fudd are joined by Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes, UCLA's Lauren Betts, and Texas's Madison Booker on the 2025/26 First Team roster.
Strong earned the only unanimous selection from AP voters, while Betts and Booker snagged First Team honors for the second straight season.
"I'm happy for them individually, but I know it means a lot for them to get this accomplishment together as well," UConn head coach Geno Auriemma said of his All-American pair.
The AP also named its Second and Third Team All-Americans on Wednesday, tapping former teammates Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame) and Olivia Miles (TCU) alongside Jaloni Cambridge (Ohio State), Audi Crooks (Iowa State), and Joyce Edwards (South Carolina) on the second five-player roster.
Flau'jae Johnson (LSU), Olivia Olson (Michigan), Kiki Rice (UCLA), Toby Fournier (Duke), and Raven Johnson (South Carolina) rounded out the Third Team, while Clara Strack (Kentucky), Rori Harmon (Texas), and Cotie McMahon (Ole Miss) earned honorable mentions, among others.
The 2025/26 AP Women's Basketball All-America teams
First Team:
- Sarah Strong, UConn
- Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
- Lauren Betts, UCLA
- Madison Booker, Texas
- Azzi Fudd, UConn
Second Team:
- Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
- Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
- Olivia Miles, TCU
- Audi Crooks, Iowa State
- Jaloni Cambridge, Ohio State
Third Team:
- Olivia Olson, Michigan
- Kiki Rice, UCLA
- Flau'jae Johnson, LSU
- Toby Fournier, Duke
- Raven Johnson, South Carolina
Honorable Mention:
- Raegan Beers, Oklahoma
- Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy
- Jazzy Davidson, USC
- Maggie Doogan, Richmond
- MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU
- Rori Harmon, Texas
- Ava Heiden, Iowa
- Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA
- Avery Koenen, North Dakota State
- Ta’Niya Latson, South Carolina
- Liv McGill, Florida
- Cotie McMahon, Ole Miss
- Brooklyn Meyer, South Dakota State
- Oluchi Okanawa, Maryland
- Khamil Pierre, NC State
- Marta Suarez, TCU
- Clara Strack, Kentucky
- Riley Weiss, Columbia
- Mikaylah Williams, LSU
Top-ranked UConn women's basketball demolished fifth-seeded Creighton 100-51 in Sunday's Big East tournament semifinal. The Huskies advanced to Monday's championship game against Villanova.
Sophomore forward Sarah Strong dominated in just 25 minutes on the court, finishing with 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and six steals. KK Arnold added 18 points and four assists, while Azzi Fudd contributed 16 points and six assists.
The Huskies seized control immediately, opening with a 7-0 run before breaking the game open with a 17-0 surge that built a 29-9 first-quarter lead. UConn shot 12-of-19 from the field in the opening frame while forcing nine Creighton turnovers.
Creighton attempted a second-quarter rally with an 8-2 run, before UConn responded with a 26-5 burst to take a commanding 57-22 halftime advantage. Strong led the charge with 17 first-half points on 7-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-3 from 3-point range, while tying her career-high with six first-half steals.
"Just having so many people being able to come in and contribute — looking at this stat sheet today, seeing that everyone came in, scored, got a rebound, got a steal, they did something," Fudd said postgame.
"Being on a team this deep has been a lot of fun... I feel like we're in a great place."
The margin expanded to 82-38 entering the fourth quarter, with UConn shooting 40-of-70 from the field and 14-of-22 from 3-point range. The Huskies defense forced 19 turnovers and recorded 13 steals, extending UConn's conference tournament winning streak to 38 games.
Kennedy Townsend led Creighton with 13 points, with the Bluejays shooting 18-of-54 from the field.
How to Watch UConn Women's Basketball in the Big East Tournament Final
UConn tips off its 24th championship game on Monday at 7 PM ET, live on Peacock and NBCSN.
UConn women's basketball completed a perfect 31-0 regular season on Sunday night, as the top-ranked Huskies dominated St. John's 85-49 at Madison Square Garden to cap their undefeated 2025/26 NCAA campaign.
UConn notably notched its 11th undefeated regular season in program history, riding a 47-game winning streak. Their run is tied the fifth-longest in DI history, while the team also owns five of women's basketball's all-time Top 6 winning streaks.
"When you are fortunate enough to go through 31 games and win them all, there is something to be proud of," legendary coach Geno Auriemma said.
On Sunday, the Huskies played in front of 9,612 fans, shooting 57% from the field while forcing 22 turnovers. UConn also outscored St. John's 24-9 in the first quarter, with six players putting up at least nine points in the balanced effort.
UConn last lost on February 6th, 2025, when the team fell to Tennessee amid injury woes. However, the Huskies went on to post a +37.8 scoring margin this season — the third-highest in DI history.
National player of the year candidate Sarah Strong praised her team's accomplishment in her postgame remarks.
"Coach came in and said he was proud of us," she said. "We also have a lot to work on to get ready for the Big East tournament."
The Huskies have been named the No. 1 overall seed in both early NCAA tournament bracket reveals. However, Auriemma acknowledged the postseason brings different challenges, after UConn won the 2025 NCAA championship despite three regular-season losses.
The program's previous two undefeated teams fell in the 2017 and 2018 Final Fours.
How to watch UConn women's basketball in the 2026 Big East Tournament
After a first-round bye, UConn will face either Georgetown or Butler in Saturday's Big East tournament quarterfinals. The matchup tips off at 4 PM ET, live on Peacock.
The ongoing dominance of UConn basketball has started to break records, as the top-ranked Huskies humbled unranked Notre Dame 85-47 on Monday — keeping their perfect 2025/26 NCAA season intact.
Monday's 38-point margin of victory marked the largest in the teams' 20-year rivalry, with the win also snapping the Huskies' three-game head-to-head losing streak against the Fighting Irish.
"UConn showed why they're the best team in the country," Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey said postgame.
Even more, UConn sophomore forward Sarah Strong added her own individual history to Monday's tally, becoming the third-fastest Husky to reach 1,000 career points, with the 19-year-old trailing only program legends Maya Moore and Paige Bueckers — who each did so in 55 games to Strong's 59 — in the race to reach that stat.
"I would love to see if anybody has scored 1,000 points by taking less shots than she's taking," said UConn head coach Geno Auriemma. "She's so efficient."
"It means a lot to me I guess, but I wouldn't be able to do it without my teammates," Strong said after leading the Huskies with an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double on Monday night.
How to watch UConn basketball this week
UConn now returns to Big East play, with the No. 1 Huskies taking on unranked Georgetown at 7:30 PM ET on Thursday, airing live on TNT.
No. 1 UConn has aced every test in the 2025/26 NCAA basketball season so far, as No. 23 Notre Dame looks to disrupt the undefeated Huskies' national title defense in Monday's nonconference lineup.
Fresh off a 79-66 ranked loss to No. 9 Louisville on Thursday night, the Irish will lean hard on star guard Hannah Hidalgo on Monday.
The junior is averaging 6.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists on the season, while Hidalgo's 25.1 points-per-game rate trails only No. 19 Iowa State star Audi Crooks on the NCAA stat sheet.
"It's a long season, and I can't dwell on the loss for too long because my team needs me," Hidalgo said after Thursday's fall to the Cardinals.
On the flip side, UConn is racking up blowout wins, with the team's last single-digit victory dating back to a pre-Thanksgiving 72-69 win over No. 8 Michigan on November 21st.
The Huskies are now riding a 34-game winning streak, fueled by consistent output from sophomore Sarah Strong and senior Azzi Fudd.
"I've been trying to tell the girls that UConn is a different beast," Hidalgo said. "If we think certain teams that we have lost to were tough, then we're going to have a rude awakening [against] UConn."
How to watch Notre Dame vs. UConn women's basketball
The No. 1 Huskies will host the No. 23 Fighting Irish at 5 PM ET on Monday, with live coverage airing on FOX.
The No. 1 UConn Huskies kept their unbeaten streak alive in Brooklyn on Saturday, taking down the No. 11 Iowa Hawkeyes 90-64 while continuing to run the 2025/26 NCAA basketball season's AP Top 25.
The Huskies spun a tale of two halves in the victory, as senior guard Azzi Fudd and sophomore forward Sarah Strong combined for 50 points — Strong with 20 in the first half, followed by Fudd's 21-point second-half show.
"That's an example of why our team is so special — any moment anyone can go off and make shots," Fudd said postgame. "We do a great job of playing unselfish basketball."
While they aren't the only team standing tall against top NCAA competition this year, UConn is averaging a 20.4-point margin of victory through five Top 25-ranked wins — and showing few signs of slowing down.
"We've had a lot of identities over the years, a lot of people are more talking about us offensively," said longtime Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma following Saturday's win. "We had to play the way the hand was dealt, we played a little bit differently. Now we're back to where we play the way I like playing."
How to watch UConn basketball in action
The No. 1 Huskies now move fully into conference play, squaring off against unranked Butler on Sunday.
The Big East matchup will tip off at 4 PM ET, airing live on TNT.
Jordan Brand Basketball has signed another top collegiate women's basketball talent, with the Nike sportswear subsidiary announcing UConn sophomore star Sarah Strong as part of their NIL Class of 2025 on Monday.
"Being part of Jordan Brand is honestly a huge honor," Strong said in a statement. "Jordan is a symbol of greatness and confidence, so being part of the family feels very surreal."
Strong entered her second season with the Huskies earlier this month after a stellar rookie NCAA campaign that saw the forward earn the 2024/25 season's National Freshman of the Year award as well as second-team All-America honors.
The 19-year-old reigning national champion adds to the company's already stacked NIL roster, with Strong joining Jordan Brand Basketball's previous year class partners like UCLA senior guard Kiki Rice — the brand's first-ever NIL signee — as well as Penn State sophomore guard Kiyomi McMiller, LSU junior guard Mikaylah Williams and freshman teammate Bella Hines, and USC's 2026/27 recruit Saniyah Hall.
The partnership further punctuates Strong's rising stardom and Jordan Brand's continued commitment to the women's game.
The iconic brand's professional roster currently features more than 10 WNBA players, including Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier and Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard.