Sarah Strong has been making waves for the UConn women's basketball team, not just as their leading scorer but also as a standout defender. This sophomore All-American is turning heads on one of the nation's top defensive squads.
Her defensive prowess hasn't gone unnoticed. On Thursday, she was named among the 15 players on the late-season list for the prestigious Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award. Joining her on this list are some heavy hitters, including last year's Defensive Player of the Year, UCLA's center Lauren Betts, and Texas A&M's senior guard Ny'Ceara Pryor.
Strong is a force in the Big East, leading in scoring with 19.0 points per game and boasting a field-goal percentage of 60.0. She's not just about scoring, though; she's fourth in rebounds with 7.5 per game and fifth in assists, averaging 4.2. Her defensive stats are equally impressive, topping the conference with 3.2 steals and ranking second in blocked shots at 1.6 per game.
UConn, sitting undefeated at 29-0 and 18-0 in the Big East, is dominating on defense, allowing just 50.7 points per game. As they gear up to face Georgetown at the PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Strong's contributions on both ends of the court are pivotal.
The late-season list also features talents like Mikayla Blakes from Vanderbilt, Ohio State's Kennedy Cambridge, Jazzy Davidson of USC, Joyce Edwards from South Carolina, and several others who are making significant impacts for their teams.