UNCASVILLE — There is always a lot to like when the UConn women take the court. It’s Geno Auriemma’s job to find things to fix.
But as he looked out on the court during the Huskies’ 84-67 win over Boston College in the first exhibition game, one thing was taking care of itself.
Sarah Strong was taking charge.
“Pretty much every huddle she’s in, she’s the one doing the talking, and that would’ve never happened last season,” Auriemma said. “Today, during one break, I looked out there and there was a huddle and she was the only one speaking, and that’s what we needed to see. We needed to see one voice emerge.”
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The other day, Auriemma was marveling about Strong being on another level. She came to UConn billed as the next great Husky and was well on her way to fulfilling that destiny before her freshman season ended with a championship. A year ago, Auriemma described Strong as a player who could “change the trajectory” of the program, and it was easy to wonder what he meant. How could UConn’s trajectory point anywhere but upward?
Okay, so this is Sarah Strong, 2.0. The reboot drew only positive reviews. As Strong begins her second season, the first season of the post-Paige Bueckers era at UConn, it’s becoming apparent what this will look like. Strong scored 17 points in 22 minutes against the ACC opponent, hitting 8 of 11 from the floor, with five rebounds, five assists, two steals, making everything look almost effortless. Her matter-of-fact manner of speaking translates on the court, and right now it looks like next-level greatness, as a matter of fact.
“It’s not a loud voice, not a non-stop, in-your-face kind of voice,” Auriemma said. “It’s who’s saying it. She doesn’t ever say it in a way that makes you feel anything other than, ‘yeah, she’s right, I’ve got to do it that way,’ or ‘yeah, she’s right, we have to do it this way.’ No antagonism there, and even if she’s pissed at somebody, she’s not going to say it in a way that shows it. In practice, if she doesn’t like the way things are going, she just takes the ball and scores the next 10 points. That’s her way of saying, ‘I got this.’ … Not bad.”
Last season, the mysterious workings of past injuries, redshirting, extra eligibility all conspired to bless the Huskies with an unmatchable Big Three. Bueckers, in her fifth year, Azzi Fudd, healthy and in her fourth, and Strong coming in. Still, Strong was no wallflower on the stat sheet, averaging 16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds.
“You’d think it would be hard for her to make a big jump because she was already so good,” Fudd said. “But she really has. You can tell the difference in her confidence, and hearing her voice more, which goes along with the confidence, you see her directing people, lead, it’s great to see.”
Strong, 6 foot 2, has always let her elite skills and IQ do the talking. There’s so much Maya Moore to see in her, with elite passing skills. Her fire on the court is not a spontaneous combustion, but a consistently-burning, fueling component.
She’s surrounded by talent, which is always the case at UConn, and she is surrounded by older players, like Fudd. Everyone will be searching to find their voice with Paige gone, but as Strong rises to All-American status, into a best-player-in-the-country conversation, her words carry more and more power.
“I’d say (my voice) has changed in a very big way,” Strong said. “Last year, I would kind of sit back and let everyone else speak. I didn’t say much. I feel like this year, I’m feeling more comfortable. … I’m doing a better job of actually speaking in the moment.”
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Effective leaders, whether or not by design, lead with more than just words, or actions. Gestures, facial expressions, vibes during the course of a game, teammates will be drawing strength from these things. Strong can be the silent type and still lead, but well-timed words are weapons for a player with this kind of ability. Caroline Ducharme has been reminding her of this, that when Sarah Strong talks, everybody stops in their tracks and listens. … Why wouldn’t they?
“She’s making a concerted effort to use her voice,” Ducharme said. “It doesn’t matter what she says, because she has that voice, she has that presence.”
Strong dominated the first half, scoring from all three levels. Fudd heated up in the second half, as Auriemma looked at different combinations, which is what games like this are about. Now that secret scrimmages, and rules dictating only Division II or III opponents can be scheduled are lifted, we get to see the work of a season in progress, early in the process. On this Monday at Mohegan Sun, the expansive UConn fanbase got its first glimpse of Sarah Strong 2.0. If this was an indication, the updates will be fun to watch when the season begins Nov. 4.
It’s not a surprise when she looks like the best player on the court; now she acts and sounds like it.
“I’m just feeling more confident,” Strong said. “It was a lot of fun out there today.”
