University of Connecticut’s Sarah Strong (21) practices at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. on Thursday, April 3, 2025. Tracy Glantz [email protected]
TAMPA, FLA.
On its face, it felt like a perfect match.
Sarah Strong was the No. 1 overall women’s basketball recruit, and she was Carolinas through and through. Her mother and her father played high school ball in South Carolina. Her mom was WNBA teammates with Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley in Charlotte. Strong herself was dominating the competition in Sanford, North Carolina, putting up monster numbers three hours from USC’s campus.
When a player has that sort of track record and that sort of background, Staley and her national championship-winning South Carolina program usually don’t miss.
About that …
After a recruiting process that lasted well into the spring, Strong committed to play for UConn and coach Geno Auriemma instead of South Carolina and other major schools last April. She’s been an instant star and picked up awards galore.
Now, she’s in Tampa along with the No. 2 Huskies — and the No. 1 Gamecocks, who could be in for a Sunday national championship date with UConn if both teams win their semifinal games Friday (South Carolina vs. Texas, UConn vs. UCLA).
But if you ask Strong, her recruitment wasn’t that close.
“I mean, South Carolina was big in my recruiting process,” Strong said from the Huskies’ locker room on Thursday. “But I was more focused on UConn.”
Was it always going to be UConn?
“Yeah,” Strong said. “I’d say UConn was always the leader.”
Mar 9, 2025; Uncasville, CT, USA; UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) drives the ball against Villanova Wildcats guard Maddie Burke (23) in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena. David Butler II Imagn Images
How did USC miss? Staley wonders
Staley’s had some fun with the situation. Before South Carolina hosted UConn in February, she was discussing the Huskies’ star freshman forward and her relationship with Strong’s mother, Allison Feaster, and admitted, both joking and earnest: “I don’t know how we get Sarah Strong, right? I don’t.”
“But they did a great job recruiting her,” she said. “Think she felt comfortable there. It seems like a really good fit for her and her being able to utilize all of her skill set.”
Then, deadpanning: “And I haven’t talked to Allison since. I’m kidding! I’m kidding!”
To be clear, Strong’s decision has worked out quite well for all parties involved.
The 6-foot-2 freshman is No. 2 UConn’s second-leading scorer, only trailing star Paige Bueckers. She leads the Huskies in rebounds, blocks and steals per game. Earlier in the tournament, she put up a stat line (20-15-5-5) that had not been seen in 25 years.
Strong’s mother, Feaster, is also a 90-minute drive away from Storrs, Connecticut in Boston, where she works as vice president of team operations and organizational growth for the NBA’s reigning champion Boston Celtics.
And South Carolina’s gotten excellent production out of its own frontcourt. Freshman forward Joyce Edwards was a First Team All-SEC pick and leads the team in scoring off the bench. Sania Feagin and Chloe Kitts have made their own strides.
Consider, though:
- Staley had a longstanding relationship with Feaster
- Strong had natural ties to both Carolinas
- South Carolina’s entire staff (plus a number of USC players, including guard MiLaysia Fulwiley) watched Strong and Grace Christian School play Edwards and Camden High School in the Chick-fil-A Classic in Columbia their senior year
- Staley and the rest of USC’s staff later attended Strong’s senior night
- Staley was actively resharing scores from Strong’s high school games on her X (formerly Twitter) feed as Strong entered the final months of her recruitment
- Edwards, who committed in November 2023, was on board with Strong joining her in Columbia and admitted to giving her friend a “little nudge” toward USC
- UConn, before Strong, had signed three total players from NC and SC in its history
- Strong was in attendance at Colonial Life Arena for South Carolina’s 18-point home win over UConn, a sellout in which the crowd could be heard chanting, “We want Sarah! We want Sarah!” on the national ESPN broadcast of the game
After that 2024 game, Staley hinted at Strong’s attendance — and more — ahead of her postgame news conference. As she walked up to the podium, she joked to the media: “Thought I was gonna have a ‘Welcome Home,’ but we didn’t get it done yet.”
“Welcome Home” is the phrase used by Staley and other South Carolina coaches (most notably Shane Beamer) when they land a verbal commitment from a recruit.
University of Connecticut’s Sarah Strong (21) practices at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. on Thursday, April 3, 2025. Tracy Glantz [email protected]
A Strong start at UConn
That was a lot of momentum and effort and good vibes surrounding a potential Gamecock — and the sort of recruiting battle Staley has won time and time again.
Strong, though, said she’d long considered UConn “one of my dream schools.” Auriemma’s Huskies are an annual championship contender and remain the sport’s best dynasty, with a record 11 national championships and 24 Final Fours.
“Most of my favorite players went here and I wanted to be coached by the coaching staff,” she said. “And it was closer to my mom, but just the great history that they had here drew me here.”
Strong reportedly eliminated South Carolina from consideration in March 2024 and got down to UConn, UNC and Duke before committing to the Huskies last April.
One year later, she’s the national freshman of the year and someone who’s shooting 58% from the field and 37% on 3-pointers and putting up Candace Parker-level stats.
“There’s nothing on the court that she can’t do,” Auriemma said earlier this year.
She’s the one that got away from South Carolina … sort of.
And ahead of the Final Four, she’s loving her decision.
“Time has really flown,” Strong said. “But it’s been a lot of fun.”
2025 Women’s Final Four games
Friday, April 4 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.
- No. 1 South Carolina (34-3) vs. No. 1 Texas (35-3), 7 p.m. (ESPN)
- No. 1 UCLA (34-2) vs. No. 2 UConn (35-3), 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
This story was originally published April 4, 2025 at 8:00 AM.
