University of Connecticut Athletics
Sarah Strong Named 2026 AP National Player of the Year
4/2/2026 4:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PHOENIX – UConn women's basketball sophomore Sarah Strong was selected as the 2026 Associated Press National Player of the Year, as announced by the AP Thursday.
The 2026 Naismith Trophy winner, Wade Trophy winner and USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year, Strong leads UConn in points (18.6 PPG), rebounds (7.6 RPG), blocks (1.6 BPG) and steals (3.4 SPG). An incredibly efficient player, Strong has put up those numbers on a .594/.404/.848 shooting split in 27.1 minutes per game.
Strong's 127 steals rank second in program history for the most in a single season. She ranks 14th nationally in field goal percentage (59.4) and 10th in steals per game (3.43). Strong is first in the nation in win shares (12.3), defensive win shares (5.2), defensive rating (55.8) and player efficiency (45.5).
Against top-25 opponents this season, Strong averaged 20.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.6 steals per game.
The Durham, N.C., native reached 1,000 career points in her 59th career game on. Jan. 19, becoming the third fastest player to the milestone in program history.
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.
Ten Huskies have won AP Player of the Year 13 times: Rebecca Lobo (1995), Jennifer Rizzotti (1996), Kara Wolters (1997), Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2003), Maya Moore (2009, '11), Tina Charles (2010), Breanna Stewart (2014, '15, '16), Paige Bueckers (2021) and Strong (2026).
