UConn Huskies small forward, Sarah Strong, won the 2026 Naismith Trophy on Wednesday. The trophy is given to the best women’s basketball player in the country. Winning this trophy shows the impact she has made on an unbeaten 38-0 team.
Strong comes from a family that has seen basketball greatness in the past. Her mother, Allison Feaster, is a college basketball and WNBA legend. She played for Harvard from 1994 to 1998 and had a decade-long WNBA career.
Now, it’s her daughter’s moment to shine, and Feaster couldn’t be prouder. She has posted multiple stories on Instagram since Strong was declared the winner of the 2026 Naismith Trophy.
She reposted the graphic made by UConnWBB on her story and wrote “Go Huskies!” with face holding back tears emojis. Feaster also reposted a video of Strong accepting the trophy and giving a speech.
Feaster had a legendary run with Harvard. She was an Ivy League Rookie of the Year, 3× Ivy League Player of the Year, 4× First-team All-Ivy League, 2× NCAA season scoring leader, and the 1997 NCAA season rebounding leader.
She still holds the team’s all-time scoring record with 2312 points, rebounds with 1157, and steals with 290. Strong has said that her mother inspired her to take up basketball and chase her dreams on the court.
“We would play in the morning, and they would have a game at night, and [I remember] just being there the whole day and watching them practice and trying to do the drills they were doing,” Strong said.
While Feaster’s legacy will continue to live on and inspire others to chase their dreams, Strong is carving her own path, and at the age of 20, she has accomplished a lot.
Geno Auriemma Heaped Praise on Sarah Strong
Being praised by Geno Auriemma is one of the greatest honors a college basketball player can have. Sarah Strong must have developed a habit of it because she has impressed Coach Geno several times over the years.
During a conversation with USA Today Sports in February, Auriemma detailed what makes Strong different from most players.
“Sarah’s one of those high-level players who looks you right in the eye every time you’re talking to her and gets every single word you’re saying,” he said. “And if she has a question, she’s not afraid to ask it because to her, ‘I don’t want to miss anything when I’m on the court.’”
Auriemma believes that Strong’s curious attitude toward everything in life makes her a better basketball player.
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