PHOENIX — UConn’s Sarah Strong was named the Associated Press women’s basketball player of the year on Thursday as she led the Huskies to an undefeated season that set them up for a trip to the Final Four.
Strong becomes the fifth player to win the award as a sophomore, joining Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris (2007), UConn stars Maya Moore (2009) and Brianna Stewart (2014), and USC’s JuJu Watkins, who won last year. The Associated Press began giving out the award in 1995.
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This is the 13th time a Huskies player has won the award, with Paige Bueckers the last to win the award before Strong in 2021.
Vanderbilt’s Shea Ralph, a former player and assistant coach at the University of Connecticut, won the Associated Press Coach of the Year Award. They both accepted their awards in front of an entire room, including the entire UConn team, who received a standing ovation when the two winners were announced.
“I’m lucky because of my teammates that got me to this point in my life,” Strong said.
Strong received 25 votes from a national media panel that votes on the top 25 each week. Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blacks received four votes and UCLA’s Lauren Bates received the other two votes. Voting is completed before the start of the NCAA tournament.
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“Anyone who has watched us play can probably tell you that she is the heart and soul of our team,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “She enhances the performance of everyone on our team.”
He called Strong “the most low-key superstar you’ll ever meet.”
“You don’t see that look in her eyes, you know, like, oh my gosh, there’s always a peace,” he said. “That’s the best way I can describe it. It allows her to play freely, fluidly and without worries.”
Auriemma has coached some of the greatest players in basketball, including Brianna Stewart, Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi. Being strong suits them well.
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“Great guys, great guys have it. I’ve never seen (Taurasi) nervous,” he said. “You know they’re freshmen and you can see in their eyes, ‘I can handle this. That’s what I think. That’s why I’m here. You know some people may pretend, but you know deep down you’re not ready for that moment. She was ready.”
Strong averaged 18.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 1.6 blocks per game, helping UConn achieve a 38-0 record. She averaged just 27 minutes per game, shooting 59.4% from the field, 40.4% from three-point range, and 84.8% from the free throw line.
The standout sophomore stepped up his game as the Huskies faced top-25 opponents, averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. She reached 1,000 points in her 59th career game, the third-fastest player in school history to reach the milestone.
Strong was the Big East Player of the Year and the most outstanding player in the Fort Worth area.
