Paige Bueckers' best shot at a national title likely hinges on this UConn freshman star

Yahoo

21-03-2025

Paige Bueckers isn't that much older than Sarah Strong. Yet the four years between them is enough to create some knowledge gaps. That came to light in December when, after Strong scored 21 points in UConn's 33-point drubbing of Louisville, Bueckers compared Strong to one of her favorite cartoon characters. Bueckers said UConn's freshman forward had go-go gadget arms.
Strong was confused. 'Inspector Gadget' — the title character of a 1980s series about a crime-solving detective with numerous gadgets at his disposal — wasn't part of her cartoon rotation.
'I don't know what this is,' Strong said.
'A different generation of kids, man,' Bueckers replied, then laughed.
The 2025 NCAA Tournament is upon Bueckers, Strong and the rest of their UConn teammates who are chasing the program's first title since 2016. The second-seeded Huskies take on No. 15 seed Arkansas State in Saturday's first round at Gampel Pavilion. History says Bueckers will perform at an All-American level. But the player who might be the difference in determining how a current generation of kids remembers Bueckers' final run at a national title?
That's Strong, UConn's 6-foot-2, 19-year-old star with go-go gadget arms and magnetic hands. 'Every single time a ball comes off the rim, she's going to grab the rebound,' Bueckers said.
Strong has inspired confidence in her teammates in more ways than one. Rebounding, yes, but Bueckers is broadly effusive in her praise of Strong, who leads the Huskies in rebounds (8.4), blocks (1.6) and steals (2.4) per game. Strong is also second in points (16) and assists (3.4) to Bueckers.
'Anytime you throw it to her, she's going to catch it and finish,' Bueckers said. 'She can pass. She defends, rebounds. She can score at all three levels.'
UConn coach Geno Auriemma provides a similarly glowing scouting report: 'I don't know that anyone has had the offensive skill set that Sarah has since (Breanna Stewart) was here.'Paige Bueckers ➡️ Sarah Strong pic.twitter.com/3dIQRmuiHF— UConn Women's Basketball (@UConnWBB) March 8, 2025
But Auriemma knows that what Stewart accomplished at UConn was rare. In college, Stewart was a three-time first-team All-American, three-time Naismith Player of the Year and four-time NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. More importantly to supporters in Storrs, Conn., she won four national championships in four years. UConn hasn't won a title since Stewart's senior year.
Strong's high school coach, Chad Revelle, isn't concerned with how Strong might fare in her first NCAA Tournament. While at Grace Christian High School (N.C.), she elevated her play at critical times. As a senior, Strong faced Joyce Edwards, a current South Carolina star freshman. Strong scored 15 of her team's first 17 points. She hit seven 3-pointers and finished with 31 points and 17 rebounds in Grace Christian's 58-52 victory.
'One of the most locked-in competitors I've ever coached,' Revelle said. 'The moment is never too big for her.'
Revelle said that is partially because basketball is ingrained in Strong. Her father, Danny, played collegiately at NC State before playing professionally in France, Portugal, Italy and Spain — the latter where Sarah was born. Her mother, Allison, was a three-time Ivy League Player of the Year at Harvard. She was the nation's leading scorer when then-No. 16 seed Harvard upset No. 1 Stanford in the first round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament. From there, she went on to the pros, playing a decade in the WNBA and internationally until 2016. Sarah grew up watching old clips of her parents, understanding the game through their eyes.
Sarah's understanding of other sports also helps on the court. She played soccer in Spain and in high school, acquiring the deft footwork of someone who can glide around the pitch. 'She has incredible anticipation,' Revelle said. Grace Christian often played a 1-3-1 zone. Strong was usually the spear of the defense, stopping the basketball, fighting around screens and causing deflections in passing lanes.
Part of what has made Strong's college debut so remarkable is her relative understated persona, especially compared to Bueckers. At UConn's First Night, its public kickoff celebration for the basketball season, Strong 'sheepishly trotted out and gave a quick wave to the fans,' Revelle said. Bueckers, meanwhile, was the last player announced and strutted onto the court wearing sunglasses and blowing kisses to fans inside Gampel Pavilion.
Her media interviews are brief as she said she's still getting used to the spotlight. Auriemma joked after UConn's Big East tournament championship victory over Creighton that Strong, Bueckers and guard Azzi Fudd were some of the 'most boring interviewees' he has ever been around.
More pressing is ensuring he can get the most out of Strong in March.
Auriemma cited Maya Moore, another multi-time champ at UConn and national Player of the Year winner, who arguably had one of the best freshman seasons in women's basketball. He said Moore attacked daily practices with the intention that she would prove she was the best player in the country.
'I'm trying to instill in (Strong) more of a Maya mentality because the average person has not seen half of what Sarah Strong has the capability of doing,' he said. 'I don't think there's 10 players in the country that have the skill set that she has, and the temperament to go along with it.'
With plenty still to unlock, Strong is nevertheless a national standout. She ranks second nationally in win shares and was voted onto 's All-American second-team as she helps lead a program that has won 31 games and counting. Some of her best games have come against the Huskies' best opponents.'I'm very excited for the future of UConn after I leave, with Sarah Strong taking over.'—Paige Bueckers on UConn freshman Sarah Strong's first season with the Huskies 💪 pic.twitter.com/MJSHbRhWyV— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) February 16, 2025
She also immediately meshed with Bueckers. UConn has a plus-45.2 point differential per 100 possessions with both on the floor, according to CBB Analytics. They've played almost 200 more minutes together (805) than any other UConn pairing (Strong and guard Kaitlyn Chen have played 617 minutes this season). And when the Huskies offense gets stuck, Auriemma turns to actions involving their two best players.
'Whenever we get a little bit stale, we're going to go to that two-man game with Paige and Sarah, and something is going to click,' Auriemma said. 'Something is going to happen.'
When one needs a rest, Auriemma knows he needs to leave the other on the floor.
'I always like to think that we don't want to play with both Sarah and Paige on the bench,' he said. 'That's how important I think (Sarah) is. I'm okay with Paige being out of the game as long as Sarah is in the game because I think she (is) more like having two or three players out there instead of just one.'
Strong downplays the impact she thought she could have at UConn. 'I was just hoping to do well in some ways,' she said.
That's an understatement equal in size to her contributions this season. UConn greats have taken note of her impact.
Napheesa Collier said: 'She's such a talented player. The sky's the limit for her.'
Stewart said: 'Her presence isn't always the loudest, but you know when she is on the court.'
Katie Lou Samuelson said: 'She has the same kind of drive that Napheesa had at UConn.'
As long as he's known Strong, Revelle has observed her focus and commitment. In high school, she often would practice an hour before formal practices started, then she would go to another gym and keep training. Errors didn't crush her but instead motivated her.
'She's not scared of mistakes on the court,' Revelle said. 'She goes and works on those things in the quiet and so she becomes an incredible machine when she gets out on the court.'
Look hard enough and you can see her working on things during gameplay, too. Revelle picks up on Strong's facial expressions or sometimes sees her form-shooting after misses. Strong's work has given her belief she can succeed in March. But Bueckers provides a boost, too.
'One thing I learned (from Bueckers) is that confidence is really important,' Strong said.
Strong should soak up as much as she can this March and April as this is likely Bueckers' last go-around with the Huskies before entering the 2025 WNBA Draft.
In recent seasons, Auriemma entered the tournament concerned about injuries. Bueckers missed the entirety of the 2022-23 season with an ACL tear. By the conclusion of last season, six Huskies had been ruled out for the season with injury. Auriemma said he entered the NCAA Tournament crossing his fingers that no other ailments would happen. He compared it to operating on borrowed time.
'You are just waiting for that last shoe to fall,' he said.
That took a toll on UConn's depth and created smaller margins for error. The Huskies couldn't afford turnovers or missed shots. They had to play perfect, or close to it.
Health and versatility have given them more options this time around. But Strong has changed UConn's outlook, too. She's already playing beyond her years — not in her preference in cartoons, but in her impact on the floor.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Connecticut Huskies, Women's College Basketball, Women's NCAA Tournament
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