University of Connecticut Athletics
Fudd, Strong Named to Naismith Trophy Late-Season Team
2/17/2026 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – UConn women's basketball graduate student Azzi Fudd and sophomore Sarah Strong were selected to the 30-player late-season team for the 2026 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club Tuesday.
Fudd is having her strongest season in her final year in Storrs. She is averaging 17.8 points per game this season while shooting 49.5%, 46.3% from three and 94.9% from the free throw line.
Fudd's points per game, field goal percentage and three-point percentage are all career highs. She's already set single-season career highs this season in rebounds (70), assists (80) and steals (66).
Against top-25 opponents this season, Fudd is averaging 24.4 points per game on a .500/.468/1.000 shooting split.
One of the best shooters in the nation, Fudd ranks sixth nationally in three pointers made (81) and sixth in three-point percentage (46.3).
Strong leads UConn in points, rebounds, blocks and steals this season and is currently averaging a .591/.396/.905 shooting split. She's averaging 19.2 points per game in 27.0 minutes per game compared to 16.4 in 28.6 last season.
Against top-25 opponents this season, Strong is averaging 20.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.0 steals per game.
Strong ranks 13th nationally in steals per game (3.23), 13th in field goal percentage (59.1), 19th in assist-turnover ratio (2.29) and 25th in points per game (19.2).
Fudd and Strong were named to the Wooden Award Late Midseason Watch List last week. Fudd was named an Ann Meyers Drysdale Award top-10 candidate. Strong was named a Katrina McClain Award top-10 candidate and to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List.
Seven Huskies have won the Naismith Trophy 11 times: Rebecca Lobo (1995), Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2003, '04), Maya Moore (2009, '11), Tina Charles (2010), Breanna Stewart (2014, '15, '16) and Paige Bueckers (2021).
