UConn women’s star Sarah Strong earns national defensive honor
UConn women’s basketball star Sarah Strong was named to the 2026 Naismith Women’s College Defensive Player of the Year Late-Season Team, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club Thursday.
Strong leads the top-ranked Huskies in rebounds (7.5 per game), blocks (1.6) and steals (3.2) this season. She ranks ninth nationally in steals (90) and 12th in steals per game.
Strong is first in the nation in defensive win shares (3.8) and defensive rating (56.5). She leads UConn’s top-ranked scoring defense, which allows just 50.7 points per game.
Strong is also on the Naismith Trophy Late-Season Team, the Wooden Award Late Midseason Watch List and the Katrina McClain top-10 candidate list.
The Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award was first awarded in 2018.
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