University of Connecticut Athletics
Sarah Strong Named 2026 Wooden Award Winner
4/10/2026 9:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – UConn women's basketball sophomore Sarah Strong was selected as the 2026 John R. Wooden Award winner, as announced by the Los Angeles Athletic Club Friday.
Five Huskies have won the Wooden Award seven times: Maya Moore (2009, '11), Tina Charles (2010), Breanna Stewart (2015, '16), Paige Bueckers (2021) and Strong (2026).
The 2026 Naismith Trophy winner, Wade Trophy winner, AP Player of the Year, USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year and Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year, Strong led the Huskies to the program's 25th NCAA Final Four this season.
Strong led UConn in points (18.4 PPG), rebounds (7.7 RPG), blocks (1.6 BPG) and steals (3.4 SPG). An incredibly efficient player, Strong put up those numbers on a .582/.404/.833 shooting split in 27.4 minutes per game.
Strong was named the unanimous BIG EAST Player of the Year and the conference's Defensive Player of the Year, as well as unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team and to the All-Defensive Team. She was named the BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player and the NCAA Fort Worth Regional 1 Most Outstanding Player.
Strong is also a 2026 WBCA, AP and USBWA First Team All-American.
Strong and graduate student Azzi Fudd were named 2026 Wooden Award All-Americans.
