UConn Huskies coach Geno Auriemma recently revealed to the media what his star in Sarah Strong’s plans are for the current offseason ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. On Monday, May 4, Auriemma met with the media for the first time since the 2025-26 season in which he had an offseason media availability with them wherein he was asked about the future of his team for next year.
At one point, Auriemma was asked all about his incoming junior in Strong, who will be tasked with a bigger role since the Connecticut-based program will no longer have recently graduated guard Azzi Fudd in the mix next season. In the process, Auriemma then detailed that Strong is actually dealing with some sort of leg inflammation that she is focused on recovering from, as pointed out in a report by college hoops reporter Daniel Connolly.
“Geno also said Sarah Strong participated in no more than three practices during the month of March as she dealt with leg inflammation. She’ll prioritize rest and recovery this offseason and will turned down all opportunities with USA Basketball,” Connolly wrote.
Strong and Auriemma are coming off of the recently concluded 2025-26 season with the Huskies, in which they finished with an overall record of 38-1 (20-0 Big East), and they once again dominated the 2026 Big East conference with their championship victories. But, their efforts went for naught when their 2025 NCAA title defense was thwarted by the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four with a 62-48 defeat.
Geno Auriemma Also Gave An Idea On How Sarah Strong Dealt With The 2026 NCAA Final Four Loss
During his lengthy offseason media availability posted on The UConn Daily’s YouTube channel, coach Geno Auriemma was asked about how he thinks Sarah Strong felt with their NCAA Final Four loss this year. Auriemma then went on to explain how her feelings should probably come from her, but did discuss how hard she was on herself right after the loss. Furthermore, Auriemma claims that the loss hit her the hardest in the last two years.
“I mean you’d have to ask her ultimately. But, I think it was, it was a game that, first game I’ve seen on her end where she got a little frustrated with the way the game was going. I think the pressures on her to have to have a big game in games like that, and the pressure that she puts on herself to make sure that she, you know, performs at a really high level. And, I think that bothered her that she wasn’t able to play at the level that she expects from herself,” Auriemma shared. (1:49)
“And that we needed from her. So, of all the times that she’s been here, there’s only been what? Four losses, I think in her college career. I think that one probably hit her the hardest,” he continued.
Read More: Why Did Sarah Strong Rip Her Jersey? UConn Star’s Emotional Moment Explained
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