University of Connecticut Athletics
Strong Selected as Cheryl Miller Award Finalist
3/5/2025 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – UConn women's basketball freshman Sarah Strong was named as one of five finalists for the 2025 Cheryl Miller Award, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Wednesday.
The Cheryl Miller Award, in its eighth year, honors the top small forwards in women's Division I women's college basketball. It is named after the three-time Naismith Player of the Year and Class of 1995 Hall of Famer.
As just a freshman, Strong has established herself as one of the top players in the nation. She is averaging 16.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Strong leads the Huskies in rebounds, steals and blocks and ranks second on the team in points and assists.
Against top-25 opponents this season, Strong averaged 17.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Strong already ranks in the top 10 for UConn freshmen records for numerous statistical categories: fifth in points (500), third in rebounds (245), sixth in steals (73) and ninth in blocks (46).
Strong ranks 18th nationally and leads the BIG EAST with a 58.4 field goal percentage.
The Durham, N.C., native has been named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week 10 times and the conference's Player of the Week three times this season.
UConn alumna Gabby Wiliams won the inaugural Cheryl Miller Award in 2018.
On Monday, redshirt senior Paige Bueckers was selected as a Nancy Lieberman Award (point guard) finalist. The awards are part of the Basketball Hall of Fame's Women's Starting Five.
The Huskies (28-3, 18-0 BIG EAST) are the No. 1 seed in this weekend's BIG EAST Tournament at Mohegan Sun. UConn will face either No. 8-seed St. John's (15-14, 5-13) or No. 9-seed Butler (15-16, 5-13) in the quarterfinals on Saturday at noon on FS1.
