UConn women’s basketball vs North Carolina live updates: Huskies face UNC in Sweet 16 UConn women’s basketball advanced to the Sweet 16 after a dominant 98-45 victory over Syracuse, showcasing their offensive prowess with an average of 1.8 points per possession and a 53-point halftime lead. North Carolina, meanwhile, overcame a tough Round of 32 matchup against Maryland, winning 74-66. The Huskies’ Sweet 16 showdown with the Tar Heels is set for Friday afternoon, with the game delayed slightly to tip off around 5:15 p.m. ET due to a dramatic finish between Notre Dame and Vanderbilt. Notre Dame secured a 67-64 win over Vanderbilt, with a 31-point triple-double from Hannah Hidalgo propelling the Fighting Irish. This game, featuring former UConn assistant coach Shea Ralph, was deferred due to scheduling conflicts. UConn and North Carolina will take the court in Fort Worth, Texas, with ESPN broadcasting the matchup. Tiffany Greene will handle play-by-play, joined by color commentator Carolyn Peck and rules analyst Dee Kantner. UConn is poised to break the program’s single-season assist record, needing just 10 more dimes to surpass the 2016-17 squad. The Huskies’ star, Sarah Strong, faces a local rival in North Carolina, as she admitted to a strong connection with UNC coach Courtney Banghart. Despite her ties to Durham, N.C., Strong chose UConn for its opportunities and support. North Carolina presents a formidable challenge, ranked No. 12 in adjusted efficiency rankings, the highest-rated opponent UConn has faced since November. The Tar Heels excel defensively, holding teams to 36.5% shooting and outrebounding opponents. Offensively, they rank No. 20 in effective field goal percentage, with six players averaging at least 8.5 points per game.#north_carolina #sarah_strong #fort_worth #uconn_womens_basketball #courtney_banghart
UConn Women's Basketball Set for NCAA Tournament Clash Against Syracuse No. 1 seed UConn will face No. 9 seed Syracuse in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, continuing its pursuit of a deep run in the 2026 women’s basketball championship. The Huskies, who advanced past No. 16 seed UTSA in their opening game, will look to build on their strong performance led by Sarah Strong, who recorded 18 points, five rebounds, five steals, four assists, and one block. A victory over Syracuse would mark UConn’s 33rd appearance in the Sweet 16, solidifying its status as one of the most dominant programs in college basketball history. The matchup will take place on Monday, March 23, at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut, with the game scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET. The broadcast will be carried nationally on ESPN, with play-by-play commentary from Ryan Ruocco and sideline reporting from Holly Rowe. Fans can also stream the game live via the ESPN app or Fubo, which will provide coverage of all NCAA women’s basketball tournament games in 2026. Syracuse, which defeated No. 8 seed Iowa State in the first round, will rely on the scoring prowess of Uche Izoje, who contributed 23 points on 11-of-19 shooting against the Cyclones. The Orange’s ability to overcome early deficits, such as a 37-point outburst from Audi Crooks, highlights their resilience as they aim to advance further in the tournament. The NCAA Tournament schedule for March 23 features multiple high-profile matchups, including No. 3 Louisville vs. No. 6 Alabama at noon, No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 10 Virginia at 2 p.m., and No. 4 West Virginia vs. No. 5 Kentucky at 5 p.m. All games will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2, or streamed via the ESPN app and Fubo. Additional games on the same day include No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 7 Illinois at 7 p.m. and No.#uconn #sarah_strong #syracuse #harry_a_gampel_pavilion #uche_izojee
Sarah Strong's Parents: Allison Feaster and Danny Strong Sarah Strong, a standout forward for the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies, has built her basketball career on the foundation laid by her parents, Allison Feaster and Danny Strong. Born on February 3, 2006, in Spain, Sarah spent her first decade of life there before moving to the United States at age 10. Her parents, both former professional athletes, played a pivotal role in shaping her path to success. Allison Feaster, Sarah’s mother, had a storied basketball career that spanned college, the WNBA, and international play. She was a key player for the Harvard Crimson in the 1990s, where she remains the team’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, and steals. After graduating in 1998, she joined the WNBA, playing for the Los Angeles Sparks, Charlotte Sting, and Indiana Fever. During her time in the league, she also became pregnant with Sarah while playing for the Sting. After retiring in 2016, Allison transitioned to the NBA, working as the Boston Celtics’ vice president of team operations and organizational growth. Her role focuses on supporting players’ education and post-retirement planning. Danny Strong, Sarah’s father, also had a successful basketball career. He played for North Carolina State University (NC State) before spending 15 years in Europe, including stints in the French National Basketball League. After retiring in 2012, he founded the Strong Center, a nonprofit organization in North Carolina dedicated to community building through sports. The foundation provides resources to underserved families, including food assistance, clothing, and mentorship for students struggling with school or sports. Despite their shared passion for basketball, Allison and Danny divorced.#sarah_strong #university_of_connecticut #allison_feaster #danny_strong #strong_center
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
UConn Huskies vs Georgetown Hoyas Big East Tournament - Quarterfinal No. 1 UConn dominated Georgetown in a 84-39 victory during the Big East tournament quarterfinals on Saturday, extending its winning streak to 48 games. Serah Williams led the Huskies with 14 points, scoring 12 of them in the first half, while Sarah Strong added 11 points and Azzi Fudd contributed 10. The Huskies, now 32-0 on the season, secured their 37th consecutive conference tournament win and 43rd straight victory against the Hoyas. KK Arnold and Kayleigh Heckel each scored 12 and eight points, respectively, as UConn built a commanding lead early. Georgetown, which had lost to UConn in the Big East tournament four times in the past five seasons, struggled to contain the Huskies’ offense. The Hoyas managed just one field goal in the third quarter, marking a low point in their performance. Laila Jewett was Georgetown’s top scorer with nine points. The game began with Georgetown scoring the first four points, but UConn quickly turned the tide. Williams sparked a 10-0 run, scoring eight points in the stretch, to give the Huskies a lead they never surrendered. The Hoyas went seven minutes without a basket in the second quarter as UConn scored 13 consecutive points, leading 47-18 at halftime. Georgetown’s inability to respond to UConn’s pressure continued in the second half. The Hoyas’ struggles highlighted their inconsistency throughout the season, as they finished with a 14-17 record and a 6-14 mark in the Big East. UConn, meanwhile, advanced to the semifinals where they would face Creighton. The Huskies’ success was underscored by individual achievements, including Strong joining a select group of UConn players with 100 steals in a season.#big_east_tournament #serah_williams #uconn_huskies #georgetown_hoyas #sarah_strong
