For the first time since 2016, Geno Auriemma and the UConn Huskies have reclaimed the NCAA women’s basketball national title.
With standout performances from Paige Bueckers, Sarah Strong, and Azzi Fudd, UConn proved too dominant for defending champions South Carolina, cruising to an 82–59 victory in the championship game.
While Bueckers drew widespread praise for her scoring prowess throughout the tournament and Fudd earned Most Outstanding Player honors, it was freshman Sarah Strong who made a massive impact in the title game. Strong recorded a double-double with 24 points and 15 assists, playing a pivotal role in UConn’s return to the top of women’s college basketball.
Ironically, Strong’s choice to join UConn over South Carolina raised some eyebrows, given that her mother, Allison Feaster, played alongside Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley in the WNBA for five seasons.
“I don’t know how we missed out on Sarah,” Staley joked. “They clearly did a great job recruiting her. She looked comfortable, and it seems like a perfect fit where she can really showcase her entire skill set. And no, I haven’t called Allison since, just kidding!”
Ahead of UConn’s title run, Auriemma shared the backstory of recruiting Strong during an appearance on the *Good Game with Sarah Spain* podcast. “Sometimes you get the players you’re meant to get, and sometimes you don’t,” he said. “One thing that helped us with Sarah was that we spotted her early, before most others even knew about her.”
He recalled contacting USA Basketball when Strong was just a sophomore: “I told them, ‘You’re missing someone on your list for the 15-Under group.’ They said she was on the ‘watch list,’ and I said, ‘Good keep her there. The fewer people who know about her, the better.’”
Auriemma added, “I’ve got a soft spot for USA Basketball, and even then, I knew this kid was better than most of the players they had.”
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