UConn star Sarah Strong was named the winner of the 2026 John R. Wooden Award on Friday, taking home the honor given to the most outstanding player in women's basketball.
Strong won the award over fellow finalists Lauren Betts of UCLA, Mikayla Blakes of Vanderbilt, Madison Booker of Texas and UConn teammate Azzi Fudd. All five players were named Wooden All-Americans for 2026.
Strong averaged 18.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists this season. After helping the Huskies win the national title as a freshman, Strong and UConn won their first 38 games this season before losing to South Carolina in the Final Four.
A sophomore, Strong becomes just the fourth underclassman to win the honor, which was first handed out in women's college basketball in the 2003-04 season. Maya Moore won during her sophomore season at UConn in 2009 and Paige Bueckers won it in 2022, becoming the first freshman to do so. USC's JuJu Watkins won last year as a sophomore.
Strong also won Associated Press Player of the Year, the Naismith Women's College Player of the Year and the Wade Trophy.