University of Connecticut Athletics
Sarah Strong Named USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year
3/25/2026 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ST. LOUIS – UConn women's basketball star sophomore Sarah Strong was selected as the 2026 USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association announced Wednesday.
Strong has led the top-ranked Huskies to an undefeated 36-0 record as UConn prepares for the NCAA Sweet 16 this weekend. She leads UConn in points (18.4 PPG), rebounds (7.5 RPG), blocks (1.6 BPG) and steals (3.3 SPG). An incredibly efficient player, Strong has put up those numbers in 26.4 minutes per game.
Strong's 117 steals rank second in program history for the most in a single season. She ranks 13th nationally in field goal percentage (49.5) and 10th in steals per game (3.34). Strong is first in the nation in win shares (11.06, defensive win shares (4.8), defensive rating (65.3) and player efficiency (46.4).
UConn's most consistent player, Strong is averaging a .600/419/.850 shooting split and has scored in double digits in 49 consecutive games, dating back to Feb. 16, 2025.
Against top-25 opponents this season, Strong averaged 20.0 points, 10.6 rebounds 4.4 assists and 3.0 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 an AP and USBWA First Team All-American last week. She was the only unanimous selection on the AP team.
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.
Strong is on the Wooden Award National Ballot and is a Katrina McClain Award finalist.
Strong is the eighth Husky to earn USBWA National Player of the Year. This is the 11th time a UConn player has won the award: Rebecca Lobo (1995), Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2003), Maya Moore (2009, '11), Tina Charles (2010), Breanna Stewart (2014, '15, '16), Paige Bueckers (2021) and Strong (2026).
