How Sarah Strong compares to the best freshmen in program history

Before Sarah Strong even played a game at UConn, Geno Auriemma set the bar sky-high for the top recruit in the class of 2024. The coach declared that she was “probably as impressive as any freshman that we’ve had in a long, long time” — quite a statement considering the Huskies still featured Paige Bueckers, the only freshman to win national player of the year.

Auriemma ended up being more than right. Strong surpassed even the highest expectations, putting together one of the best freshman seasons in program history. She averaged 16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks, leading the team in everything but scoring and passing.

Along the way, she collected WBCA First Team All-American and National Freshman of the Year honors, the Big East Freshman of the Year and a spot on the Final Four All-Tournament Team while helping the Huskies win their 12th national championship. Strong’s 114 points in the NCAA Tournament were the most all-time, breaking a record previously set by Tamika Catchings in 1998 — pretty good company to be in.

Given all she achieved — the numbers, the awards, the championships — Strong has an argument to be the best freshman in UConn history. There aren’t many that have a resume that can compete with her.

In fact, there’s really just two: Bueckers and Maya Moore.

Subscribe to Premium to read the rest.