Particle.news
Download on the App Store
7 ARTICLES
·
17h ago

Unbeaten UConn Sweeps Big East Honors as Strong Takes Player and Defensive Awards

An undefeated regular season positions UConn as the Big East Tournament favorite.

Sarah Strong #21 of the Connecticut Huskies poses with head coach Geno Auriemma to mark 1,000 career points before an NCAA women’s basketball game against the Xavier Musketeers at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on January 28, 2026 in Storrs, Connecticut.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 20: Head coach Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies walks on the court before the 2025 Women's Champions Classic game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the UConn Huskies at Barclays Center on December 20, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
UConn super sophomore Sarah Strong was named both Big East Player of the Year and the top defender as the conference announced its postseason awards on Thursday. (Associated Press)

Overview

  • Big East postseason awards announced Thursday saw UConn claim five of seven major honors following a 31–0 regular season.
  • Sarah Strong was a unanimous choice for Player of the Year and also won Defensive Player of the Year, becoming just the third in conference history to secure both in the same season.
  • Geno Auriemma earned Big East Coach of the Year for the 14th time, while Azzi Fudd and KK Arnold made the All-Big East First Team and Blanca Quiñonez won both Freshman and Sixth Woman of the Year.
  • Fudd landed on the Big East All-Defensive Second Team rather than the first team, a decision that drew online criticism from fans.
  • UConn, the defending national champion, opens tournament play in Saturday’s quarterfinal at Mohegan Sun Arena against the Georgetown–Butler winner after recording 30 double-digit victories, positioning the Huskies as a leading candidate for the NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 overall seed.