UConn's Sarah Strong wins Wooden Award to sweep player of the year honors

UConn sophomore Sarah Strong won the 2026 Wooden Award on April 11, completing her sweep of the player of the year awards.

Strong also won the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, AP Player of the Year, the Naismith Trophy and Wade Trophy.

Strong is the third underclassman to win the Wooden award, joining USC’s JuJu Watkins (2025), UConn's Paige Bueckers (2021) and Maya Moore (2009). UConn teammate Azzi Fudd, UCLA center Lauren Betts, Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes and Texas forward Madison Booker were the other finalists for the award.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) named Big East Player Of The Year as they celebrate their Big East Championship win over the Villanova Wildcats at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 9, 2026.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) defends against Villanova Wildcats guard Kelsey Joens (23) in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 9, 2026.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) and teammates warm up before the start of the game against the Villanova Wildcats at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 9, 2026.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) defends against Creighton Bluejays forward Grace Boffeli (42) in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 8, 2026.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) is introduced before the start of the game against the Creighton Bluejays at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 8, 2026.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) warms up before the start of the game against the Creighton Bluejays at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 8, 2026.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) works for the ball against Georgetown Hoyas forward Brianna Byars (32) in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 7, 2026.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) awarded player of the year and Big East first team player before the start of the game against the Georgetown Hoyas at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 7, 2026.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) returns the ball against Georgetown Hoyas forward Brianna Scott (15) in the first half at PeoplesBank Arena on Feb 26, 2026.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) and teammates react after a basket against the Providence Friars in the second half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on Feb 22, 2026.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) moves the ball against Creighton Bluejays guard Kendall McGee (1) in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on Feb 11, 2026.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) drives the ball against Creighton Bluejays center Elizabeth Gentry (35) in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on Feb 11, 2026.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) drives to the basket against DePaul Blue Demons guard Kate Novik (33) during the first half at Wintrust Arena on Feb 4, 2026.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) drive to the basket against Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Malaya Cowles (5) in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on Jan. 19, 2026.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) and Villanova Wildcats forward Kylee Watson (4) works for the ball in the second half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on Jan. 15, 2026.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) works for the rebound against Florida State Seminoles forward Avery Treadwell (32) in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on Nov. 9, 2025.

Connecticut Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) reacts while interviewed by ESPN reporter Holly Rowe after the national championship of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Amalie Arena on April 6, 2025.

Connecticut Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) cuts off a piece of the net after the national championship of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Amalie Arena on April 6, 2025.

Connecticut Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) and South Carolina Gamecocks forward Joyce Edwards (8) battle for the ball during the first half of the national championship of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena on April 6, 2025.

Connecticut Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) and guard Paige Bueckers (5) react on the bench during the fourth quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament against the UCLA Bruins at Amalie Arena on April 4, 2025.

Connecticut Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) talks with ESPN reporter Holly Rowe after defeating the UCLA Bruins during the fourth quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena on April 4, 2025.

The UConn Huskies bench reacts after forward Sarah Strong (21) makes a three point basket against the Boston University Terriers in the second half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on Nov. 7, 2024.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) named Big East Player Of The Year as they celebrate their Big East Championship win over the Villanova Wildcats at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 9, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) named Big East Player Of The Year as they celebrate their Big East Championship win over the Villanova Wildcats at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 9, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) defends against Villanova Wildcats guard Kelsey Joens (23) in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 9, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) and teammates warm up before the start of the game against the Villanova Wildcats at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 9, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) defends against Creighton Bluejays forward Grace Boffeli (42) in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 8, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) is introduced before the start of the game against the Creighton Bluejays at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 8, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) warms up before the start of the game against the Creighton Bluejays at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 8, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) works for the ball against Georgetown Hoyas forward Brianna Byars (32) in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 7, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) awarded player of the year and Big East first team player before the start of the game against the Georgetown Hoyas at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 7, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) returns the ball against Georgetown Hoyas forward Brianna Scott (15) in the first half at PeoplesBank Arena on Feb 26, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) and teammates react after a basket against the Providence Friars in the second half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on Feb 22, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) moves the ball against Creighton Bluejays guard Kendall McGee (1) in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on Feb 11, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) drives the ball against Creighton Bluejays center Elizabeth Gentry (35) in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on Feb 11, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) drives to the basket against DePaul Blue Demons guard Kate Novik (33) during the first half at Wintrust Arena on Feb 4, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) drive to the basket against Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Malaya Cowles (5) in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on Jan. 19, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) and Villanova Wildcats forward Kylee Watson (4) works for the ball in the second half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on Jan. 15, 2026.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) works for the rebound against Florida State Seminoles forward Avery Treadwell (32) in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on Nov. 9, 2025.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

Connecticut Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) reacts while interviewed by ESPN reporter Holly Rowe after the national championship of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Amalie Arena on April 6, 2025.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

Connecticut Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) cuts off a piece of the net after the national championship of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Amalie Arena on April 6, 2025.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

Connecticut Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) and South Carolina Gamecocks forward Joyce Edwards (8) battle for the ball during the first half of the national championship of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena on April 6, 2025.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

Connecticut Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) and guard Paige Bueckers (5) react on the bench during the fourth quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament against the UCLA Bruins at Amalie Arena on April 4, 2025.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

Connecticut Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) talks with ESPN reporter Holly Rowe after defeating the UCLA Bruins during the fourth quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena on April 4, 2025.

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Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

The UConn Huskies bench reacts after forward Sarah Strong (21) makes a three point basket against the Boston University Terriers in the second half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on Nov. 7, 2024.

Strong averaged 18.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.4 steals and 1.6 blocks for the Huskies. UConn, which finished the season with a 38-1 record, had its 54-game winning streak broken by South Carolina in the national semifinals.

Strong shot 58.2% from the field, 40.4% from 3-point range and 83.3% at the free throw line. She was named Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

UConn players Tina Charles and Bueckers also won the Wooden Award. Bueckers was the first freshman to earn the honor.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UConn's Sarah Strong wins Wooden Award to sweep college hoops honors