Sarah Strong: UConn’s Rising Star and Freshman Sensation
Before Sarah Strong even set foot on the court for the UConn Huskies, her coach, the legendary Geno Auriemma, was already singing her praises. Over the summer, he made a bold comparison, likening Strong to UConn’s first All-American, Kerry Bascom, and hailed her as a positionless star. Auriemma’s words were not just high praise; they were a declaration that Strong would be a game-changer for the program. He even went as far as to say she was “probably as impressive as any freshman that we’ve had in a long, long time.”
Fast forward to the first six weeks of the season, and Sarah Strong has not only met those expectations but has exceeded them. She’s not just the frontrunner in the freshman-of-the-year conversation; she’s quickly becoming one of the best players in the country. Her stats are impressive: averaging 17.3 points, second only to Paige Bueckers for the No. 4 Huskies, along with a team-best 8.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks. Her shooting is equally remarkable, with a 56% field goal percentage, including 76.9% at the rim, and she’s sinking 36.5% of her 3-pointers. Her 23 triples are tied for the most on the team.
In a recent game against Iowa State, Strong’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. She scored 29 points, matching the entire Iowa State roster’s output in the third quarter alone. Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly couldn’t help but express his admiration, saying, “She was so good. There’s certain people, and Geno’s had them over the years I think, that the game looks really easy and it just pisses you off,” he added with a laugh.
After her college debut, Auriemma stated that for the Huskies to win their first national championship since 2016, Strong would need to play like an All-American. While those expectations seemed lofty at the time, they now appear well within reach. Just eleven games into her career, she’s already drawing comparisons to UConn legends Breanna Stewart and Maya Moore.
“If we’re going anywhere with this team this year, [Strong] has to be a big, big part of it,” Auriemma said, “and she’s OK with that.”
Strong’s poise and consistency have been so remarkable that a reporter asked her after the Iowa State game if playing at the college level has even been challenging for her. She assured the reporter that it has been. When asked if anything frazzles Strong, Bueckers jokingly mentioned something unrelated to basketball entirely—playing Fortnite.
“I think I’ve adjusted pretty well,” Strong said. “Game one I was really nervous and kind of excited to get everything started, but now I feel like I’m more confident in myself and my abilities.”
Strong’s basketball prowess is no surprise, given her family history. Her mother, Allison Feaster, was a three-time Ivy League women’s basketball player of the year at Harvard and led the nation in scoring when Harvard pulled off a legendary upset over Stanford in the 1998 NCAA tournament. Feaster went on to play 10 seasons in the WNBA and now works for the Boston Celtics as vice president of team operations and organizational growth. Strong’s father, Danny Strong, also played basketball at NC State, and with both parents playing overseas, Sarah was born in Spain and moved to the United States at age 10, settling in North Carolina.
UConn was quick to recognize Strong’s potential during the recruiting process. Auriemma noted, “The way she saw the floor, how she finished around the basket,” and her “nonrushed, casual approach to the game, where all the great players have the ability to slow the game down somewhat.”
Strong took her time making her college decision, with Duke and North Carolina also in her top three, before committing to the Huskies in April of her senior year. Her addition to the team was crucial, especially with Bueckers’ expected final season in Storrs, as UConn aims to win now and build for the future. Auriemma has often said that UConn’s best teams have a great guard, a great wing, and a great inside presence. The 2024-25 edition seems to have that with Bueckers, Azzi Fudd (who has missed time this season due to knee issues), and Strong.
Bueckers has praised Strong’s versatility, saying, “She just wants to come in and contribute to winning, and you can see that within her game. In games she’s not scoring, she’s still impacting winning, still making plays, whether it’s rebounding, defending, she can pass extremely well. And then there’s games where she has outbursts scoring. She’s humble, she’s hungry, she’s driven, and she wants to be a great player.”
Bueckers has also noted Strong’s passing, shooting, and ability to play on the perimeter, comparing her quick hands to “go go Gadget arms” from “Inspector Gadget.”
“There’s not a lot of things that Sarah can’t do,” Bueckers said.
As the season progresses, Auriemma has observed a growing comfort level in Strong, noting that she more often wants the ball and tries to make something happen with it. Her next opportunity to shine will be when UConn hosts No. 7 USC and JuJu Watkins.
Auriemma believes they’ve “barely, barely, barely” scratched the surface of Strong’s potential. With each game, Strong is showing she’s ready to embrace the challenge.
“I think sometimes [the tradition and expectations at UConn] scares some kids,” Auriemma said. “They start to question whether they can, and yet at the same time it motivates some kids to actually go, ‘Yeah, that’s why I came here, because I can do this, and I’m going to be one of those people that people talk about, that was a great player at UConn.’
“You’re never quite sure what you’re getting, but I thought we knew what we were getting when we got Sarah.”
Ranking the Country’s Best Freshmen
- 1. Sarah Strong, UConn, 6-2, forward
- 2. Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt, 5-8, guard
- 3. Syla Swords, Michigan, 6-0, guard
- 4. Kiyomi McMiller, Rutgers, 5-8, guard
- 5. Jaloni Cambridge, Ohio State, 5-7, guard
Strong is one of two freshmen to rank in the top 10 in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage. She also stands out on the defensive end as the only freshman to rank in the top 10 in blocks and steals.
In Shea Ralph’s revival of the Commodores, Blakes—the No. 8 recruit in the class—could be the difference-maker that helps them return to SEC and national relevance. Blakes’ 20.4 points per game rank top 20 nationally and is tied for first among freshmen, helping the Commodores to an 11-1 start. She already has earned at least a share of the SEC freshman of the week award three times.
The crown jewel of the Wolverines’ strong freshman class and the highest-ranked recruit in program history, Swords announced her arrival to the college scene in her debut when she recorded 27 points and 12 rebounds against reigning national champion South Carolina. It remains the most points scored by a freshman against a ranked team this season. The 2024 Canadian Olympian boasts three other 20-point games this season.
The Scarlet Knights have been an afterthought in the Big Ten in recent years, but McMiller is a player people around the country will know sooner than later. Her team-high 20.0 points per game is tied for first among freshmen with Blakes, but McMiller’s ballhandling is impressing early. A recent highlight when she did an Allen Iverson-esque crossover spin move vs. Wagner that led to a jumper made the rounds online this past week.
Cambridge, the No. 2 prospect in the class, has made an instant impact for the unbeaten Buckeyes, scoring 31 points on 14 shots in her first game against Cleveland State. She fits perfectly into Ohio State’s press defense, averaging 2.6 steals, second most among freshmen, and is the Buckeyes’ top facilitator (4.4 APG). Ohio State has had an underwhelming nonconference slate so all eyes will be on Cambridge as she faces stiffer competition in the Big Ten.
Originally Written by: Alexa Philippou
