University of Connecticut Athletics
Auriemma, Strong, Fudd Earn Spots on Naismith Semifinalist Lists
3/19/2026 11:08:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma was named a semifinalist for the 2026 Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year, sophomore Sarah Strong and graduate student Azzi Fudd were selected 2026 Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year semifinalists and Strong was tabbed a 2026 Naismith Women's College Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist Thursday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
In his 41st season, Auriemma has coached the top-ranked Huskies to an undefeated 34-0 record leading into the NCAA Tournament. UConn won the 2025-26 BIG EAST regular season championship and the 2026 BIG EAST Tournament Championship, Auriemma's 32nd regular season and 31st tournament title.
Coming off UConn's record 12th national title in 2025, Auriemma is college basketball's all-time wins leader with a 1,284-165 career record. The Huskies are currently on a 50-game win streak – the fourth longest win streak in program history – and only one game during the streak has been by single digits.
Strong and Fudd were named 2026 USBWA and AP First Team All-Americans this week.
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 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.
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 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 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 (85).
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.
