No. 1 UConn's Sarah Strong named to preseason All-America team

Field Level Media|published: Tue 21st October, 13:52 2025

NCAA Womens Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Round-Arkansas St. at Connecticut

Mar 22, 2025; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) drives the ball against Arkansas State Red Wolves guard Wynter Rogers (2) in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Sarah Strong of No. 1 UConn, one of the nation's top freshmen last season, was named to the Associated Press All-America women's college basketball preseason team, announced Tuesday.

She joins an impressive group headlined by senior Lauren Betts of UCLA, junior Madison Booker of Texas and junior Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame -- all postseason first-team All-America selections last season.

Also making the team was senior Ta'Niya Latson, who will play her first season for South Carolina after three at Florida State.

The players were selected by votes from 31 members of the national media panel that selects the AP Top 25 each week. Betts and Hidalgo earned 29 votes each, Strong got 28, Booker 23 and Latson 14.

The 6-foot-7 Betts averaged 20.2 points and 9.5 rebounds as UCLA reached its first Final Four, losing to UConn in a national semifinal.

Hidalgo was named an All-American each of her first two seasons. In 2024-25, she averaged a Notre Dame-record 23.8 points along with 5.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.7 steals per game.

Strong was a key contributor on a team that won UConn's 12th national championship and averaged 16.4 points and 8.9 rebounds.

Latson was the top scorer in the nation for the Seminoles last season with 25.2 points per game.

--Field Level Media