UConn women’s basketball superstar Paige Bueckers and freshman phenom Sarah Strong were both named to the top 20 watchlist for the prestigious Wooden Award, placing them in contention for the both the Most Outstanding Player and the award’s All-American team.
Bueckers won the Wooden Award as a freshman in 2021 when she swept the national player of the year honors, and she was selected to the 10-player All-American team in 2024. Strong is one of two first-year players on the top 20 watchlist this season alongside Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes. Both Bueckers and Strong were also named midseason semifinalists for Basketball Hall of Fame Awards — Bueckers for the Nancy Lieberman Award for the top point guard, Strong for the Cheryl Miller Award for small forwards.
Bueckers has been one of the most efficient players in the nation this season averaging 18.8 points per game shooting 53.1% from the field, 41.5% from 3-point range and 86.6% at the free throw line. The redshirt senior currently has the highest assist-to-turnover ratio in the country, and she leads the Huskies in assists per game averaging 4.4 on top of her 4.1 rebounds and two steals.
Strong has been arguably the most consistent player on UConn’s roster, leading the Huskies in rebounds (7.9), steals (2.3) and blocks (1.4). Strong is shooting 57.7% from the field averaging 16.7 points, and she has scored at least 10 points in 23 of her first 25 collegiate games. The freshman forward also has five double-doubles including two against top-15 opponents.
The No. 7 Huskies are one of four programs with multiple players on the top 20 watchlist. No. 2 Notre Dame is represented by guard duo Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles, who combined for 45 points in the Irish’s 79-68 win over UConn in December. LSU forward Aneesah Morrow, who began her career in the Big East at DePaul, and teammate Flau’jae Johnson both made the list, as did TCU guard Hailey Van Lith and center Sedona Prince.
