UConn Huskies star Sarah Strong recently revealed how the team jokes with a new teammate by mentioning a moment former Huskies superstar Paige Bueckers had with her. On Monday, March 16, Strong was featured in her most recent media availability during a UConn practice session with coach Geno Auriemma and company, as they prepare for the 2026 national tournament.
A clip from the interview was then taken by @brwsports on Instagram, wherein one reporter asked Strong about the playful back-and-forth she has with transferee teammate Kayleigh Heckel, since it was recently reported that the Huskies sarcastically bring up beating Heckel in last year’s NCAA tourney. Strong doubled down on this by mentioning that they also bring up the fact that Heckel had to guard Bueckers.
“ I mean, yeah, it’s great, and she’s a good sport. I feel like she could take the jokes, so it’s not like we’re, as she’s getting upset at it. We always make fun of, like on the scout report, I think she was guarding Paige, and we were like picking on her ’cause she was like a freshman, and well, I was also, so I didn’t know why I was laughing; in the same class,” Strong shared (0:09).
“But I mean, the and-one that Paige got on her, and I was like looking at it. I was like, ‘And-one!’ and like we always bring that up, and I just think it’s really funny,” she continued.
“Kayleigh is a good sport about it 😂 But having to guard Paige in your first Elite Eight appearance as a freshman is tough 😅 (via @storrscentral),” @brwsports on Instagram captioned with a couple of emojis.
Guarding a scorer like Bueckers is no easy feat, especially for a player like Heckel, who was just in her first year last season, similarly to Strong. Nevertheless, the two second-year standouts have seemingly found a good working chemistry with each other as they have helped their Connecticut-based program to its current unblemished overall record of 34-0 (20-0 Big East), and the Huskies are the top seed heading into March Madness.
The UConn Huskies Defeated The USC Trojans In The 2025 March Madness By 14 Points
As mentioned earlier, Sarah Strong, Paige Bueckers, and the 2024-25 UConn Huskies defeated Kayleigh Heckel and the USC Trojans in last year’s March Madness in the Elite Eight by 14 points, 78-64.
In that game, Heckel was tasked by coach Lindsay Gottlieb to match up with Bueckers. Unfortunately for the young talent, though, Bueckers had a fantastic outing, dropping 31 points, three rebounds, six assists, four steals, and two blocks in 40 minutes.
Read More: Sarah Strong or Mikayla Blakes? Candace Parker And Aliyah Boston Pick Their National Player of the Year
Also Read: Analyst Reveals One Player That Will Take A Backseat As Geno Auriemma’s Transfer Recruits Serah Williams, Kayleigh Heckel Take Center Stage
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
