PHOENIX — UConn sophomore forward Sarah Strong won the 2026 Naismith Trophy on Wednesday, which goes to the top women’s basketball player in the country.
The award could not have come as surprise to her coach, Geno Auriemma, who has called her the best player in the country.
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“Sarah’s one of those high-level players who looks you right in the eye every time you’re talking to her and gets every single word you’re saying,” Auriemma told USA TODAY Sports in February. “And if she has a question, she’s not afraid to ask it because to her, ‘I don’t want to miss anything when I’m on the court.’
“She’s curious about the game and, I think she’s curious about life in general, and that contributes to her ability to play at such a high level.”
Strong averaged 18.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.4 steals and 1.6 blocks in leading UConn (38-0) to an undefeated season and Final Four bid. She’s shooting 59.4% from the field, 40.4% from 3-point range and 84.8% at the free throw line. She leads the country in defensive rating and defensive win sharesStrong is the eighth Huskies player to win the Naismith Trophy, joining Rebecca Lobo (1995), Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2003, ’04), Maya Moore (2009, ’11), Tina Charles (2010), Breanna Stewart (2014, ’15, ’16) and Paige Bueckers (2021).
Strong is the seventh underclassman to win. UConn guard Azzi Fudd, UCLA center Lauren Betts and Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes were the other finalists for the award.
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The Naismith Trophy is Strong’s second national player of the year honor after she also won the U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s award. She is also a finalist for the Wooden Award.
Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo was named Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. Vanderbilt’s Shea Ralph was named Naismith Coach of the Year.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UConn’s Sarah Strong wins Naismith Player of the Year
