CLEVELAND – It doesn't stay bleak for long in Storrs, Connecticut.
The morning after UConn's heartbreaking Final Four loss to Iowa, it added a third No. 1 recruit to its 2024-25 roster. Sarah Strong, the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2024, announced her commitment to the Huskies on Saturday morning during the Chipotle Nationals' championship game.
The 6-foot-2 forward will join two other No. 1 recruits in Paige Bueckers (2020) and Azi Fudd (2021). Bueckers came to UConn with high expectations of four titles in four years similar to Breanna Stewart and he hasn't looked back. After a Final Four loss as a freshman, Fudd, a good friend, joined her, and expectations rose even higher. But injuries plagued both of them — an ACL that sidelined the Packers all last season and one to the FAD this season — and they barely played together. There are no titles yet.
“The standard at UConn is national championships, so it's always disappointing,” Bueckers said after the loss to Iowa on Friday night. “But I know we will think back and improve from here.”
Strong, the latest recruit in ESPN HoopGurlz Top 100 Commitment, it's a key piece. She said last month she was considering UConn, Duke and North Carolina and set the decision on Saturday. UConn loses All-American forward and Canadian National Team member Aaliyah Edwards, who is expected to be taken in the first round of next week's WNBA draft. Edwards has been the constant for UConn while dealing with an unfortunate slide of injuries.
Strong's extensive accolades include two U18 3×3 World Cup gold medals, a McDonald's All-American Player of the Year, Naismith High School Player of the Year and a Jordan Brand All-American. The North Carolina native won the Gatorade State Player of the Year award twice and played Miss North Carolina Basketball twice at Grace Christian High School. She averaged 23 points, 16 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 3.3 steals and 2.3 blocks per game over her three-year career. She led them to their second straight state championship title last season, scoring 30 points with 21 rebounds in the title game.
She is the 12th No. 1 recruit to join the 11-time national champions. UConn also received commitments from Allie Ziebell (No. 4) and Morgan Cheli (No. 18) as the Huskies seek their first championship since winning four in a row with Breanna Stewart from 2013-16. Expectations remain high for the program even as parity grows across the country.
“I just want them to win,” Stewart said on the alternate broadcast with fellow Huskies Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi. “They haven't won since I left, and I feel the pressure and I don't want to feel it anymore.”
UConn will also lose point guard Nika Muhl, who announced last month that she would not take her extra year of COVID-19 availability. But the backcourt should benefit from depth after freshmen KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade got nearly a year of starting time.
Jana Alfi, a redshirt freshman who tore her Achilles at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup in Spain, should be ready to go, as should forwards Ariana Patterson (knee), Ace Brady (missed last season) and Amare DeBerry (unavailable for this postseason ).
Strong grew up in a basketball family and was born in Europe while her parents played professionally. Allison Pfister, Strong's mother, placed fifth overall in the 1998 WNBA draft By Los Angeles Sparks. She played 10 years with the Sparks, the now-defunct Charlotte Sting, and played one final season with the Indiana Fever in 2008. She received votes in the Defensive Player of the Year race for three different seasons and finished second on the Most Improved Player list in 2008. 2001.
Feaster played collegiately at Harvard and led the nation in scoring average with 28.5 pages per gallon As a senior. She finished her collegiate career with 2,312 points and four First-Team Ivy League selections as well as three conference player of the year awards.
Strong's father, Danny Strong, played at NC State from 1995 to 1997, as well as professionally overseas.
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