UConn's Sarah Strong, UCLA's Lauren Betts, Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes lead star-studded AP All-America 1st team The 34-0 UConn Huskies were prominently featured on the AP All-America team, with Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd becoming the 10th pair of teammates to earn first-team honors. This marks the first time since Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard in 2020 that UConn has had two players named to the first team. Strong and Fudd were instrumental in leading the NCAA tournament favorite this season. Strong, a unanimous selection with 31 first-place votes, averaged 18.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 3.4 steals, and 1.6 blocks. She leads UConn in all categories except assists, where she trails only KK Arnold by 0.7. Strong also shoots 60.1% from the field and 42.7% from beyond the arc as a sophomore. Fudd, averaging 17.7 points, 3 assists, and 2.6 rebounds, shot 48.9% from the field and 44.6% from three-point range. Alongside Strong and Fudd, the first team includes Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes (29 first-place votes), Texas' Madison Booker (29 first-place votes), and UCLA's Lauren Betts. Blakes leads the NCAA in scoring with an average of 27 points per game. Betts, the Big Ten Player of the Year, was named to the first team and earned the conference's Defensive Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year. She helped UCLA secure a 31-1 season and its second straight Big Ten title. Booker, a second-team selection for the second year in a row, contributed to Texas' SEC tournament title after defeating South Carolina in the championship game. The second team includes Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo, South Carolina's Joyce Edwards, TCU's Olivia Miles, Iowa State's Audi Crooks, and Ohio State's Jaloni Cambridge.#uconn_huskies #sarah_strong #azzi_fudd #vanderbilt #mikayla_blakes
UConn's Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd have been named to the AP All-America 1st team, becoming the first teammates in six years to achieve this honor. The duo helped UConn secure an undefeated season heading into March Madness, marking the 10th time in history that teammates have been selected to the first team, with seven of those instances involving UConn players. The last pair to accomplish this feat was Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard in 2020. Strong and Fudd were joined on the first team by Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes, UCLA's Lauren Betts, and Texas' Madison Booker. Strong, a unanimous selection from the 31-member national media panel, averaged 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting 60.1% from the field. Fudd contributed 17.7 points and 4.2 rebounds, shooting 43.6% from beyond the arc. UConn coach Geno Auriemma praised their efforts, noting that Strong "picked up where she left off last season" and that Fudd's perseverance after overcoming challenges "has paid off." Blakes, a standout sophomore, led the nation in scoring with 27 points per game, adding 4.4 assists and a 45.8% field goal shooting rate. Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph highlighted her impact, stating that Blakes has "cemented herself as one of the best players in the country" and "elevated her play against the toughest competition." Blakes became only the second first-team All-American in Vanderbilt's history, joining Chantelle Anderson in 2002. Betts, a senior for UCLA, averaged 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 60.1% from the field. This marks her second consecutive season on the first team, making her the first Bruins player to earn this honor twice. UCLA coach Cori Close called Betts a "generational player," emphasizing her influence on both the court and the program. Booker, a junior for Texas, averaged 18.9 points and 6.#uconn #sarah_strong #azzi_fudd #vanderbilt #mikayla_blakes
2026 Big East Women's Basketball Tournament: UConn Dominates, Secures NCAA Tournament Seed UConn secured another Big East tournament title with a commanding 90-51 victory over Villanova on Monday night, cementing their status as the top team in the conference. The Huskies, led by head coach Geno Auriemma, delivered a blowout performance at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, extending their dominance in the tournament and their season. The win marked UConn’s 11th undefeated regular season in program history, with the team finishing the year with a perfect 31-0 record. This achievement further extended their historic win streak, which now spans 47 games dating back to their 2025 national championship run. The Huskies have only had one game this season where the final margin was within single digits—a three-point win over then-No. 6 Michigan in November. Since then, UConn has averaged a staggering 37.8-point margin per game, ranking third in NCAA women’s basketball history for scoring dominance. Only two previous UConn teams had a higher average. The tournament victory solidified UConn’s position as the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament. Villanova, which reached the championship game, will also earn an at-large bid, but the Wildcats were outmatched against the Huskies. UConn’s performance in the Big East tournament mirrored their regular-season dominance, as they controlled every aspect of the game. The Huskies led for the entire contest, holding Villanova to just 23 points in the first half before cruising to the win. Azzi Fudd led UConn with 19 points, shooting 8-of-13 from the field. Sarah Strong added 18 points and eight rebounds, while Blanca Quiñonez contributed 13 points off the bench.#uconn #sarah_strong #azzi_fudd #geno_auriemma #blanca_quinonez
Unbeaten UConn women's basketball is close to a title repeat The University of Connecticut women’s basketball team, led by head coach Geno Auriemma, is on the verge of securing its 13th NCAA championship and seventh undefeated season after dominating the 2025-26 campaign. With six victories remaining to clinch a perfect season, the Huskies have maintained their dominance through a combination of elite talent, strategic depth, and a relentless focus on execution. Their path to the Final Four will be revealed when the NCAA bracket is released, but for now, the team continues its pursuit of history. Auriemma’s squad has been anchored by standout performers like freshman phenom Olivia Strong and senior guard Azzi Fudd, who have emerged as key figures in the program’s success. Strong, the top recruit from the 2024 class, has lived up to her billing as a versatile forward. She averaged 18.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 3.4 steals while shooting 60.1% from the field and 42.7% on three-pointers. Her performance in the 2025 Final Four, where she led UConn with 46 points and 23 rebounds against UCLA and South Carolina, earned comparisons to potential future WNBA draft prospects. Coach Dawn Staley of South Carolina acknowledged Strong’s impact, suggesting she could become the best UConn player of all time. Fudd, meanwhile, has evolved into a seasoned leader after overcoming injury setbacks. Projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA draft, she has averaged career highs in points (17.7), assists (3.0), and steals (2.5) while improving her shooting efficiency. Her ability to step into the role of primary ball-handler following the departure of Paige Bueckers has been critical to UConn’s success.#south_carolina #university_of_connecticut #geno_auriemma #olivia_strong #azzi_fudd
