STORRS, Conn. – The UConn women's basketball team is gearing up for a significant March push, and the spotlight is shining brightly on two of its stars, Paige Bueckers and Sarah Strong, who have both claimed prestigious All-America honors from the Associated Press and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association as of March 19, 2025.
Redshirt senior guard Paige Bueckers was honored as a First-Team All-American by both associations, while freshman forward Sarah Strong was recognized as an AP Second Team All-American and a USBWA Third Team All-American. This recognition comes as no surprise considering Bueckers' impressive averages of 19.0 points and 4.9 assists per game, along with her notable shooting splits of .536/.406/.899.
Bueckers has been a standout player throughout her career, marking her presence as a leader both on and off the court. She is currently the national leader with a remarkable 3.9 assist-turnover ratio. Her achievements include being the first player in BIG EAST history to be named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament three times and the fourth player to earn the conference's Player of the Year award three times. Against ranked opponents this season, she showcases her prowess, averaging 19.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.
Moreover, she reached a significant milestone by becoming the fastest player in program history to hit the 2,000 career points mark, accomplishing the feat in just 102 games. Bueckers is one of only three Huskies in history to tally at least 2,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists.
Freshman Sarah Strong has also made waves this season, asserting herself as one of the nation's top young talents. Averaging 16.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, she led her squad in rebounds, steals, and blocks while maintaining an impressive offensive output.
Strong's performance against top-25 opponents has been particularly noteworthy, with averages of 16.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. As a freshman, she is already breaking records, ranking fourth in points (543), third in rebounds (286), and 10th in assists (116) among UConn freshmen.
Furthermore, her accolades continue as she was unanimously voted the BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and recognized by The Athletic as the National Freshman of the Year. In the BIG EAST Tournament, Strong excelled, earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team after posting double-doubles in all her games, averaging 14.3 points and 13.7 rebounds during the tournament.
As the UConn women's basketball team prepares to host Arkansas State in the NCAA Tournament's First Round on March 22, 2025, at 1 p.m. on ABC, both Bueckers and Strong will be pivotal in the team's strategy. With a season record of 31-3, the second-seeded Huskies are looking to make a deep postseason run, and their performances will be critical in achieving a national championship—a title that has eluded Bueckers throughout her illustrious career.
Fans are hopeful that the culmination of their efforts will bring home a championship, solidifying their legacies at UConn. The coming weeks will undoubtedly be crucial as the stakes are raised and the competition heightens.
