The UConn Huskies might just have one hand on the NCAA championships already following their unbeaten start. More importantly, its starters hardly had to enter the fourth quarter to close the games. Key players making the ‘unthinkable’ possible were Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong.
Coach Geno Auriemma named the Michigan Wolverines as UConn’s toughest opponent, but the side proved him wrong, defeating the sixth-seeded team with ease. Fudd scored 31 points, while Strong dropped a 20-rebound and 16-point Double-double performance.
While this was just one of many impressive performances by the duo, they earned nominations for multiple prestigious awards, including the Naismith Player of the Year.
Azzi Fudd And Sarah Strong Compete For 2026 Naismith Player Of The Year
The 2025-26 season is entering its final phase, hinting at two important aspects: March Madness and Year-End Accolades. As for the Huskies, its superstar duo was the most consistent performers in the season, earning nominations for the Naismith Player of the Year award.
The program congratulated its star performers with a social media post that reads, “can’t have a watch list without Azzi and Sarah.”
can't have a watch list without Azzi and Sarah 🤩
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) February 17, 2026
Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong are on the 2026 Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Late-Season Team pic.twitter.com/M1FlcsDjSr
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The next step will be filtering the nominations to 10 candidates by March 13, then choosing the top four by March 25, and finally declaring the winner before the final four games. As for the Huskies, the program had seven winners in 45 editions.
While Sarah Strong could match Breanna Sewart and Maya Moore’s record of winning the accolade in her sophomore season, Fudd would look to finish off her college career on a high note.
Azzi Fudd And Sarah Strong Lead UConn To Historic Season
Statistically, both stars are having dominant seasons, with the forward leading the team in multiple categories and the versatile guard being the most efficient player and the clutch player of the season. Ahead of the 2026 WNBA draft, Fudd’s Courtside Scouting Report put her in a strong position for the top pick.
Azzi Fudd is the BIG EAST Player of the Week!
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) February 16, 2026
Azzi averaged 22.0 PPG while shooting 54.5% and 66.7% from three last week 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zDuboE5xR2
Both of the Huskies’ superstars are also in the top 20 for the Wooden Award. Position-wise, Fudd is in the top 10 for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, and Strong made the top 10 for the Katrina McClain Award.