Two standout players from the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team have earned spots on the Associated Press All-America First Team, announced Wednesday, as the Huskies head into March Madness with a perfect record.
Sophomore forward Sarah Strong received every vote from the selection panel, making her a unanimous choice for the prestigious honor. This recognition adds to Strong’s growing collection of accolades this season, including her Tuesday selection alongside teammate Azzi Fudd to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association First Team. Strong has also been recognized as National Player of the Year by both The Athletic and ESPN.
Rounding out the first team alongside the UConn pair are Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes, Lauren Betts from UCLA, and Texas player Madison Booker. Both Blakes and Betts earned recognition from 29 of the 31 voting panel members.
The schools represented on the first team reflect tournament strength, with UConn, UCLA, and Texas all earning No. 1 seeds for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, while Vanderbilt secured a second seed position.
This marks the seventh time two teammates from head coach Geno Auriemma’s program have both earned first-team recognition. They represent the 10th overall pair of teammates to achieve this distinction and the first duo since Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard accomplished the feat in 2020.
Strong’s statistical dominance becomes even more impressive considering her limited playing time. She posts 18.5 points per game despite averaging just 26.3 minutes on the court. With UConn’s commanding 38.4-point average margin of victory, Strong typically sits out fourth quarters.
Her shooting efficiency stands out with a 60.1% field goal percentage and 42.7% accuracy from beyond the three-point line. Strong paces the Huskies in scoring, rebounding, steals, and blocked shots while ranking second in assists. Her scoring consistency includes reaching double figures in 47 straight contests.
Graduate student Fudd has posted career-best numbers with 17.7 points per game across 28.2 minutes of action. Like her teammate, fourth-quarter minutes remain scarce for the guard due to the team’s dominant performances. Fudd leads the squad with 44.6% three-point shooting, ranking seventh nationally, while converting 95.1% of her free throw attempts.
Blakes becomes the first Vanderbilt player in more than two decades to earn AP All-America first-team status. The sophomore guard has collected five first-team All-American selections this season from various organizations, including The Athletic and ESPN.
Leading all Division I players with 27.0 points per game, Blakes has recorded 12 games with 30 or more points, tops in the nation. She stands as the only NCAA player averaging better than 4.0 assists, 2.9 steals, and 2.8 made three-pointers per contest while shooting 45.8% from the field.
Betts earns her second consecutive first-team selection, becoming UCLA’s first repeat honoree since the program’s initial first-team selection last season. The senior center contributes 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 56.2% from the field. Her 26.9-minute average reflects the Bruins’ 28.1-point average victory margin.
Booker also returns to the first team for the second straight year. The junior forward averages 18.9 points and 6.5 rebounds with 51.6% field goal shooting. She joined Strong and Betts as preseason AP All-Americans.
The second team includes Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge, Iowa State’s Audi Crooks, South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, and TCU’s Olivia Miles.
Third-team selections feature Duke’s Toby Fournier, LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson, South Carolina’s Raven Johnson, Michigan’s Olivia Olson, and UCLA’s Kiki Rice.
Honorable mention recognition went to Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers, Navy’s Zanai Barnett-Gay, USC’s Jazzy Davidson, Richmond’s Maggie Doogan, LSU’s MiLaysia Fulwiley, Texas’s Rori Harmon, Iowa’s Ava Heiden, UCLA’s Gianna Kneepkens, North Dakota State’s Avery Koenen, South Carolina’s Ta’Niya Latson, Florida’s Liv McGill, Ole Miss’s Cotie McMahon, South Dakota State’s Brooklyn Meyer, Maryland’s Oluchi Okanawa, North Carolina State’s Khamil Pierre, TCU’s Marta Suarez, Kentucky’s Clara Strack, Columbia’s Riley Weiss, and LSU’s Mikaylah Williams.
