University of Connecticut Athletics
Strong Named Wade Trophy Finalist; Strong, Fudd Finalists for WBCA All-America
3/18/2026 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – UConn women's basketball sophomore Sarah Strong was selected as one of four finalists for the 2026 Wade Trophy, as announced by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Wednesday.
Strong and graduate student Azzi Fudd were selected to the 48-player finalist list for the 10-member WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches' All-America team.
Strong and Fudd have both been named AP and USBWA First Team All-Americans this week.
Now in its 49th year, the Wade Trophy, is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women's basketball.
Seven Huskies have won the Wade Trophy a total of nine times: Rebecca Lobo (1995), Jennifer Rizzotti (1996), Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2003), Maya Moore (2009, '10, '11), Breanna Stewart (2015, '16) and Paige Bueckers (2025).
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.
Strong is averaging a .601/.427/.873 shooting split with 18.5 points per game. UConn's most consistent player, Strong has scored in double digits in 47 consecutive games and leads the Huskies in points, rebounds, blocks and steals. She is the first UConn player with 100 steals in a season since Gabby Williams in 2016-17.
She ranks sixth nationally in steals (111), 24th in assist-turnover ratio (2.21) and 10th in field goal percentage (60.1).
Strong is first in the nation in win shares (11.0), defensive win shares (4.8), offensive rating (134.1), defensive rating (65.3) and player efficiency (46.8).
Strong has been named National Player of the Year by The Athletic and ESPN.
Strong is on the Naismith Trophy Late-Season Team, the Wooden Award National Ballot, the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Late-Season Team and is a Katrina McClain Award finalist.
Fudd is having her best collegiate season in her final year in Storrs. She is averaging a career-high 17.7 points per game on personal-best shooting percentages (.489/.446/.951). Fudd has already set single-season career highs in rebounds (87), assists (101) and steals
Fudd was named the 2026 BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection. She earned 2026 BIG EAST All-Tournament Team honors after helping the team to the 2026 BIG EAST Tournament Championship.
Fudd ranks second nationally in three pointers made (104) and seventh in three-point percentage (44.6). Against top-25 opponents this season, she is averaging 24.4 points on a .500/.468/1.000 shooting split.
Fudd is an AAU Sullivan Award finalist and Ann Meyers Drysdale Award finalist and on the Naismith Trophy Late-Season Team and the Wooden Award Ballot.
The top-seeded Huskies (34-0) host No. 16-seed UTSA (18-15) in the NCAA Tournament First Round Saturday at 3 p.m. on ABC.
