Sarah Strong managed to grab 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists in the 99-50 win against Villanova on January 15. However, that's not the stat line that has put Strong in the same conversation as superstars Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers.

In 2025, the Huskies forward grabbed 39.6 PER, 1.7-win shares, a 142.8 offensive and 64.2 defensive rating, joining Bueckers and Reese on an exclusive list.

"Only seven players over the past two decades have ranked in the top 10 nationally in Player Efficiency Rating, Win Shares, Offensive Rating, and Defensive Rating in the same season," I talk hoops posted on X.

Reese earned 43.9 PER, 10 WS, 129.2 Offensive, and 71.9 Defensive rating during her time at LSU. For Paige, it was around 40.4 PER, 9.3 WS, 133.3 OFF and 75.1 DEFF RTG. Now, Strong is catching up.

She’s been averaging 18.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game so far in the season. "The foundation she's laid as a freshman is unreal," Paige Bueckers said.

"The fact that she's going to get better is extremely scary," the Dallas Wings star added. Naturally, Strong's standout stats have led fans and experts to ask one question.

Is Sarah Strong the Next Big WNBA Star?

After Bueckers’ smooth transition into the WNBA, UConn Coach Geno Auriemma wasted no time filling that spot with this future hotshot. But there is one thing Auriemma would like to see some improvement in.

“She’s just got to get rid of that, ‘If I miss, I’m hurting my team,'” Auriemma said, “No, if you pass it, you’re hurting our team … We watch on the film, and you can point out to somebody, why didn’t you shoot that? ‘Well, you know, I thought she was open.’ Well, everybody thinks you’re going to shoot, so shoot it.”

Auriemma wants to see more assertive selfishness from Strong, despite the excellent roster that can manage to score. “There are times when she gets the ball early and doesn’t force the issue, which I would like her to,” Auriemma said. 

He had given similar advice to Bueckers, and we saw what that did in Bueckers’ WNBA rookie season. How will it turn out for Strong when she goes pro?

Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi