UConn stats.... Sarah started "Strong" and then got better...

[DavidinNaples]

Sarah Strong was one of only two players who started all 40 games for UConn last season. (The other was Kaitlyn Chen.) Her total playing time of 1,145 minutes was only 4 minutes shy of Paige's team leading 1,149 minutes. Here are several fun facts about the terrific season by freshman Sarah in 2024-25.

1. Sarah's 356 total rebounds was the 5th highest, for a season, in UConn history.
2. Her 92 steals was the highest total in a season since Gabby Williams' 100 in 2016-17. The team total of 455 steals was the highest in decades.
3. In her first 3 games in a UConn uniform, Sarah score 44 points, grabbed 24 rebounds and shot 51.3% from the floor. That is a 14.6 average in points and 8 rebounds per game.
4. As a freshman, Strong had 142 assists and only 62 turnovers. That is an assist to turnover ratio of 2.29 !!
5. Sarah's 66 blocked shots were 40% of the team total and the highest number since the 2019-20 season.
6. The 657 points scored by Sarah was 160 points better than Stewie's freshman total of 497.
7. For the final three games of the season, in the NCAA tournament, Sarah scored 68 points (22.6 avg.), grabbed 40 rebounds (13.3 avg) and shot 67% from 3 pt range (10-15). Double-double when it counted..!

Sarah saved the best for last..!! Congrats on a fine season and can't wait for 2025-26 season to start.
Go Huskies.!!

 

[MainefanSC]

We've been blessed with many phenom players, that I don't need to try and name. Sarah was so good her freshman year that I get goose bumps thinking what her potential is. As you so eloquently stated, she consistently got better as the season progressed. It's so much fun to watch this young lady play and develop before our eyes. She is and will certainly become one of the best all time Huskies.

 

[Bone Dog]

We’re going to have to face the fact that Sarah is going to muscle her way into the record books and displace a number of our favorites along the way. Folks resist change because the past always seems better. But the present may turn out to be the best we’ve seen so far.

 

[victor64]

I am sure Geno met with her to discuss things she has to improve on next year.

My guess is the meeting was short because he would take three more years like this past one.

If anything, and I am picking nits, she needs to be a little less unselfish. Maybe he encouraged her to take a more active leadership role even though she is just a sophomore.

The list of returning college players I would rather have than Sarah is quite short.

 

[oldude]

I’m going way out on a limb here.

Sarah’s going to be pretty good…..

 

[SVCBeercats]

Strong scored 68 points (22.6 avg.), grabbed 40 rebounds (13.3 avg) and shot 67% from 3 pt range (10-15). Double-double when it counted..!

Sarah saved the best for last..!! Congrats on a fine season and can't wait for 2025-26 season to start.
Go Huskies.!!

She was the NCAAW MOP! The MOP is a popularity selection. Sarah was robbed!

 

[SVCBeercats]

The list of returning college players I would rather have than Sarah is quite short.

My list is ∅.

 

[oldude]

She was the NCAAW MOP! The MOP is a popularity selection. Sarah was robbed!

While I do believe you can make a case for Sarah as the MOP, it had nothing to do with popularity or Paige might have won it. First off, the MOP is based only on play in the FF. What Sarah or anyone else did in the Sweet 16 or Elite 8 is irrelevant.

Sarah & Azzi both played great in both FF games. I think Azzi got the edge because she dominated the first half against SC when UConn effectively won the game. In addition, I do think Azzi may have gotten the nod over Sarah because she was an upperclassman.

The good news for Sarah is that she has 3 more years to win the FF MOP.

 

[bigfive]

Sarah Strong was one of only two players who started all 40 games for UConn last season. (The other was Kaitlyn Chen.) Her total playing time of 1,145 minutes was only 4 minutes shy of Paige's team leading 1,149 minutes. Here are several fun facts about the terrific season by freshman Sarah in 2024-25.

1. Sarah's 356 rebounds was the 5th highest total, for a season, in UConn history.
2. Her 92 steals was the highest total in a season since Gabby Williams' 100 in 2016-17. The team total of 455 steals was the highest in decades.
3. In her first 3 games in a UConn uniform, Sarah score 44 points, grabbed 24 rebounds and shot 51.3% from the floor. That is a 14.6 average in points and 8 rebounds per game.
4. As a freshman, Strong had 142 assists and only 62 turnovers. That is an assist to turnover ratio of 2.29 !!
5. Sarah's 66 blocked shots were 40% of the team total and the highest number since the 2019-20 season.
6. The 657 points scored by Sarah was 160 points better than Stewie's freshman total of 497.
7. In the final three games of the season, in the NCAA tournament, Sarah scored 68 points (22.6 avg.), grabbed 40 rebounds (13.3 avg) and shot 67% from 3 pt range (10-15). Double-double when it counted..!

Sarah saved the best for last..!! Congrats on a fine season and can't wait for 2025-26 season to start.
Go Huskies.!!

Compared to the other 25 wcba UConn all Americans, Sarah currently ranks first in 2 point field goal shooting percentage at .683, third in assist turnover ratio at 2.29 (Moriah 2.65, Paige 2.64), 10th in points/40 minutes, third in rebounds 40 minutes at 12.40 (Lobo 14.20, Charles 14.13), 10th in assists/40 minutes, 7th in blocks/40 minutes, 6th in steals/40 minutes, and fifth in fewest turnovers/40 minutes. Best player in college basketball now, should be Olympian in 2028.

 

[bigfive]

Compared to the other 25 wcba UConn all Americans, Sarah currently ranks first in 2 point field goal shooting percentage at .683, third in assist turnover ratio at 2.29 (Moriah 2.65, Paige 2.64), 10th in points/40 minutes, third in rebounds 40 minutes at 12.40 (Lobo 14.20, Charles 14.13), 10th in assists/40 minutes, 7th in blocks/40 minutes, 6th in steals/40 minutes, and fifth in fewest turnovers/40 minutes. Best player in college basketball now, should be Olympian in 2028.

If you look at a simplified version of player efficiency rating per 40 minutes (points + rebounds + steals + assists + blocks) - (turnovers- missed field goal attempts- missed free throws) divided by minutes played times 40, Sarah is FIrst at 36.24, Collier 34.36, Stewart 34.23,

 

[Cuango]

Have I mentioned how grateful I am that Sarah Strong is a Husky?

 

[Steelerone]

I'm constantly amazed that a state as small as Ct. continues to produce the best Women's Basketball teams in the nation year after year. I realize that it's due to the efforts of Geno and his staff and as many kudo's as we throw out to them the bottom line is they deserve those and more. The only negative part of it is the months between April and October where we have to wait to see Sarah again.

 

[Charliebball]

I’m going way out on a limb here.

Sarah’s going to be pretty good…..

I expect her to score in new and exciting ways, but I think we have to be a bit patient with her at the start of next season because she's not going to have the benefit of all of those exquisite Paige Bueckers passes.....

 

[JRRRJ]

Compared to the other 25 wcba UConn all Americans, Sarah currently ranks first in 2 point field goal shooting percentage at .683, third in assist turnover ratio at 2.29 (Moriah 2.65, Paige 2.64), 10th in points/40 minutes, third in rebounds 40 minutes at 12.40 (Lobo 14.20, Charles 14.13), 10th in assists/40 minutes, 7th in blocks/40 minutes, 6th in steals/40 minutes, and fifth in fewest turnovers/40 minutes. Best player in college basketball now, should be Olympian in 2028.

Very nice research, and it's good to see proof that the Per40 spreadsheets are apparently useful to someone else. :^)

Minor correction, though. Since you used Sarah's one-season stats in the rankings, she would be 4th in rebounds, not 3rd. Jana's TRB number per-40 for last season is 12.71 vs Sarah's 12.40.

 

[Bigboote]

We’re going to have to face the fact that Sarah is going to muscle her way into the record books and displace a number of our favorites along the way. Folks resist change because the past always seems better. But the present may turn out to be the best we’ve seen so far.

I’m good with that.

 

[DemonDeac22]

If you look at a simplified version of player efficiency rating per 40 minutes (points + rebounds + steals + assists + blocks) - (turnovers- missed field goal attempts- missed free throws) divided by minutes played times 40, Sarah is FIrst at 36.24, Collier 34.36, Stewart 34.23,

I’m surprised Maya Moore is not in the top 3…

 

[bigfive]

Very nice research, and it's good to see proof that the Per40 spreadsheets are apparently useful to someone else. :^)

Minor correction, though. Since you used Sarah's one-season stats in the rankings, she would be 4th in rebounds, not 3rd. Jana's TRB number per-40 for last season is 12.71 vs Sarah's 12.40.

I was only comparing to other all Americans, so Jana not included. However, you are right about Jana, her per 40 numbers were impressive. Will she get more minutes next year?

 

[bigfive]

I’m surprised Maya Moore is not in the top 3…

She is 4th at 33.43. 5th is Kara Wolters at 32.93, without ever taking a three point shot!

 

[meyers7]

Sarah Strong was one of only two players who started all 40 games for UConn last season. (The other was Kaitlyn Chen.) Her total playing time of 1,145 minutes was only 4 minutes shy of Paige's team leading 1,149 minutes. Here are several fun facts about the terrific season by freshman Sarah in 2024-25.

1. Sarah's 356 total rebounds was the 5th highest, for a season, in UConn history.
2. Her 92 steals was the highest total in a season since Gabby Williams' 100 in 2016-17. The team total of 455 steals was the highest in decades.
3. In her first 3 games in a UConn uniform, Sarah score 44 points, grabbed 24 rebounds and shot 51.3% from the floor. That is a 14.6 average in points and 8 rebounds per game.
4. As a freshman, Strong had 142 assists and only 62 turnovers. That is an assist to turnover ratio of 2.29 !!
5. Sarah's 66 blocked shots were 40% of the team total and the highest number since the 2019-20 season.
6. The 657 points scored by Sarah was 160 points better than Stewie's freshman total of 497.
7. In the final three games of the season, in the NCAA tournament, Sarah scored 68 points (22.6 avg.), grabbed 40 rebounds (13.3 avg) and shot 67% from 3 pt range (10-15). Double-double when it counted..!

Sarah saved the best for last..!! Congrats on a fine season and can't wait for 2025-26 season to start.
Go Huskies.!!

1. Puts her #1 for a FR beating Charles by a wide margin (356 to 294)
2. Puts her #2 for FR behind Sales
4. Puts her #2 in Assists for a FR behind Bueckers
5. Puts her #4 in blocks for a FR behind Charles, Wolters and Stewart
6. Puts her #2 in points for a FR behind Moore (ahead of Bueckers KLM and Stewart)

Agreed, let's see what she has in store for her SOPH season.

 

[cwh20]

A (mostly) forward with that assist to turnover ratio? Unbelievable! She does not have a weakness. She’s already the best current women’s college player and UConn gets three more years of her.