UConn women’s basketball forward Sarah Strong has saved her best performances for the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament.
The Huskies‘ freshman star has not hidden behind superstar teammates Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd at the biggest stages, but rather made a name for herself this tournament. Strong started strong and finished with four 3-pointers in both wins against No. 1 USC and No. 1 UCLA in the Elite Eight and Final Four, respectively.
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Sunday’s national championship game for the Huskies against No. 1 South Carolina will be the final collegiate game for Bueckers, and Fudd has announced her intention to return to college for one more season. However, fans may wonder if Strong intends to return to UConn for another season or if she is eligible for the WNBA draft, along with Bueckers.
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Here’s what you need to know about Strong’s eligibility for the 2025 WNBA draft:
When is Sarah Strong eligible for WNBA draft?
Strong was born on Feb. 3, 2006, which makes her 19 years old during the 2024-25 college basketball season. She is also only a freshman. That makes her ineligible for the WNBA draft, as she does not meet either of the league’s requirements to go pro.
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Unlike the NBA, which has a “one-and-one draft” eligibility status for college freshmen, the WNBA requires that a domestic entrant must be at least 22 years old during the year the draft occurs. The player must have no remaining college eligibility or renounce any remaining college eligibility.
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Is Sarah Strong a senior?
No, Strong is a true freshman for UConn. Strong was the No. 1 player in the 2024 recruiting class and the top-rated forward, according to ESPN HoopGurlz recruiting rankings.
Sarah Strong stats
After averaging 16.8 points per game during her freshman regular season, Strong has improved to 18 points per game in the postseason, to go along with 11 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 steals per game.
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Strong has scored 20-or-more points in three out of the five NCAA Tournament games, including back-to-back 22-point games in the Elite Eight and Final Four.
Here’s a breakdown of Strong’s game logs from the NCAA Tournament:
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vs. No. 15 Arkansas State (First Round): 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting (2 of 3 3-point shooting) with 12 rebounds, five assists and five blocks
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vs. No. 10 San Diego State (Second Round): 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting (0 of 1 3-point shooting) with seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks
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vs. No. 3 Oklahoma (Sweet 16): 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting (1 of 7 3-point shooting) with 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block
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vs. No. 1 USC (Elite Eight): 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting (4 of 6 3-point shooting) with 17 rebounds, four assists and a steal
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vs. No. 1 UCLA (Final Four): 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting (4 of 6 3-point shooting) with eight rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block
Here’s a look at Strong’s stats this season at UConn entering Sunday:
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Field-goal shooting: 58.4%
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sarah Strong WNBA draft: When is UConn basketball star eligible?
