Having coached the Huskies since 1985, Geno Auriemma rarely pauses to celebrate small wins. But this time, he didn’t stay quiet.

This Tuesday, UConn guards Sarah Strong and KK Arnold were named to the 25-player watchlist for the 2026 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award. After this big win, the Huskies head coach was asked about the recognition.

Auriemma labeled Strong and Arnold the most "disruptive" and expressed his pleasure, stating, "It's good to be in a position to have [these] kids on that list... So it’s kind of nice that people look at us and think we have a couple of defensive players that are pretty good. Those are two good ones. Those are two good ones."

The 71-year-old also mentioned that UConn has a history of producing high-caliber guards, highlighting the names of alumni like Stefanie Dolson and Gabby Williams, who previously earned the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award.

However, with Strong and Arnold on the list together, UConn became one of just three programs with multiple players named. That’s huge, especially since no Husky has won the award since 2018. Still, both players have clearly earned their spots.

How This Defensive Duo Is Making UConn Unstoppable?

It starts with Sarah Strong. Her length and agility make her one of the most disruptive defenders in the country. She leads UConn in nearly every major statistical category. Be it her 18.9 points on 59.6% shooting or 8.2 rebounds per game. Not just that, she’s got 34 blocks and 76 steals, too. 

And that ranks her fifth in total steals and ninth in steals per game at 3.62. KK Arnold, on the other hand, is just as impactful. She’s taken a noticeable leap this season, especially on defense. 

She’s second on the team with 54 steals and ranks third nationally with a 4.45 assist-to-turnover ratio. She leads UConn’s press and is one of the team’s best on-ball pressure defenders.

And together, UConn’s defensive duo anchors an elite Huskies defense. Notably, the program currently ranks No. 2 in scoring defense, allowing just 51 points per game.

They’re No. 4 in steals per game at 15.7. No. 5 in field-goal percentage defense at 33.5%. No. 7 in turnovers forced per game at 25. And all those stats add to their 21-game winning streak. But can they keep it going?

Written by

Yashika Dutta

Edited by

Souvik Roy