UConn freshman Sarah Strong lit the court on fire and stole the spotlight in the final four game. While most expected college basketball phenom Paige Bueckers to lead the charge once again, it was the 19-year-old rising star who turned heads and lit up UCLA.
Her big-game performance drew plenty of praise, but one short post from WNBA superstar Angel Reese said it all. Just two words on X and suddenly, Sarah Strong had the entire women’s basketball world buzzing.
Reese Hypes Sarah Strong After UConn Routs UCLA
Moments after UConn’s commanding 85-51 win over UCLA in the women’s Final Four, Angel Reese jumped into the conversation with a heartwarming post on X:
“Sarah Strong so tough!,” she wrote.
Sarah Strong so tough!
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) April 5, 2025
Strong had just led UConn into its 13th national championship appearance with a 22-point, 8-rebound, 2-assist performance, completely owning the moment. The LSU star and 2023 NCAA champion didn’t need more than that to recognize greatness.
Bueckers, who’s been carrying the Huskies throughout March Madness and came in averaging 29 points in the tournament, didn’t have to take over this time. She added a solid 16 points, but it was Strong and Azzi Fudd (19 points—all in the first half) who took control early and never looked back.
With the win, UConn is now one step away from ending its longest title drought in decades. The Huskies haven’t lifted the NCAA trophy since 2016, when Breanna Stewart led them to four straight from 2013 to 2016. On Sunday, April 6, they’ll get a shot at No. 12 against defending champion South Carolina.
Strong Shines on Biggest Stage as Huskies Eye History
Strong, a standout freshman and the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 class is already playing like a pro. She entered Friday night averaging 16.1 points on 58% shooting, along with 8.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.6 blocks over 38 starts.
Her dominance against UCLA couldn’t have come at a better time. With Bueckers playing more of a supporting role, Strong stepped up and proved why she’s being viewed as UConn’s next great. And she’s just 19, meaning she’s not even eligible for this year’s WNBA Draft. But surely, she will be a force to be reckoned with in the professional league.
Meanwhile, legendary coach Geno Auriemma now has the Huskies back in the national title game for the 13th time. He’ll face off against Dawn Staley and South Carolina Gamecocks in a rematch of the 2022 championship, his only loss in a title game.
Tipoff is set for Sunday, 3 p.m. ET. All eyes are now on Bueckers and Strong.