UConn's Sarah Strong named Naismith Player of the Year ahead of Final Four

Sarah Strong was already crowned the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and the Big East Player of the Year. The latest addition to the UConn star’s trophy case is even grander. Strong was named the Naismith Player of the Year on Wednesday, becoming the first Huskies player to collect that honor since Paige Bueckers in 2021.

Bueckers was a freshman at the time. Strong is a sophomore, and the forward is currently leading an unbeaten UConn team in points, rebounds, steals and blocks. She’s averaging 18.

6 points, 7. 6 rebounds, 3. 4 steals and 1.

6 blocks per game for the 38-0 Huskies, who are set to face fellow top seed South Carolina in the NCAA tournament national semifinal on Friday in Phoenix. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥. Congratulations to Sarah Strong of @UConnWBB on being named our 2026 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year.