Strong has put together one of the best freshman seasons in UConn’s history.
After putting up one of the best inaugural seasons in UConn history, Sarah Strong earned the 2025 WBCA Freshman of the Year Award. She’s the second Husky to earn this specific honor (which has only been handed out since 2017) along with Paige Bueckers (who shared it with Caitlin Clark in 2021) and the fourth national freshman of the year in program history, joining Tina Charles (2007), Maya Moore (2008) and Bueckers (2021).
During the preseason, Geno Auriemma said that Strong would “significantly change the trajectory of the program” and that she was “probably as impressive as any freshman that we’ve had in a long, long time.” That still somehow undersold just how good she was.
Strong earned a spot in the starting lineup on day one and has put up 16.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.6 blocks — all of which rank in the top 12 nationally among freshmen. She’s also second in the entire country in Win Shares with 8.7 while being ultra efficient with a shooting line of .580/.371/.743.
Among UConn freshmen all-time, Strong ranks second in points (611), third in rebounds (259), second in assists (135), fourth in steals (89) and fourth in blocks (62).
Strong has been especially good in her first NCAA Tournament, averaging a double-double with 17.0 points and 11.8 rebounds. She earned a spot on the Spokane 4 All-Regional Team as well.
This is the latest accolade for the Durham, North Carolina native. She earned Big East Freshman of the Year, landed on the all-league first team and also received AP Second Team and USBWA Third Team All-American honors.
Behind the play of Strong and Bueckers, UConn will go for its 12th national championship this weekend in Tampa. The Huskies will take on No. 1 overall seed UCLA in the semifinals on Friday in the late game, which will tip sometime after 9 p.m. ET.