Geno Auriemma reveals one trait that allowed 18-year-old Sarah Strong to take the star leap in her UConn freshman year itself

UConn coach Geno Auriemma has been actively trying to return championship glory to his program that last won it in 2016. The Huskies' trajectory could be headed towards that as they just won their third consecutive Big East Conference game of the 2024-2025 season on Wednesday, Jan. 1, against the Marquette Golden Eagles, 77-45.

As it's been the case this whole season, the usual standouts in senior veterans Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd were one of the key contributors for the victory. The same can be said for up-and-coming freshman Sarah Strong, who posted yet another outstanding statline of 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals — keeping up her consistent showing in the campaign.

Strong has become one of the best rookies in the nation this year, bagging a number of Big East Conference Player and Rookie of the Week nods already. During Auriemma's media availability earlier Saturday, he detailed one significant trait that his 18-year-old stalwart utilizes to stay at a consistently high level of play.

"It's got everything to do with how Sarah is put together. Mentally and physically, she's very mature. That's a lesson that a lot of other kids on our team and elsewhere can take to heart. She's very mature," he shared. (8:20)

"She takes care of her business. She comes and gives you the same thing every single day. She's one of the most consistent players we have. We know exactly what we're going to get. That more than anything has been is what's allowed her to have the success she's had," Auriemma then explained.

There's no doubt that Strong has been consistently producing at a upper standard even for a powerhouse program in the UConn Huskies. She is already up to par with the kind of contributions fourth-year sensation Bueckers makes as Strong is currently averaging 17.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks a game this year.

The Huskies will continue with conference play on Sunday, Jan. 5, against the 7-7 overall Villanova Wildcats as Auriemma and the rest of the team hope for more of the same outstanding outings from their first-year big.

Geno Auriemma reveals that Sarah Strong believes in herself all the way

Later on in the pre-game press conference, Auriemma talked about how Strong uses her maturity and outlook on the game to constantly stay confident in her abilities. This is how she stays afloat of the competition according to the 11-time national champion coach, as he said:

"She's confident because she works at it every day, and she knows that she performs every day in practice, and that carries over into games. That's who she is as a person, and obviously, the rest of the country has caught on to that." (9:04)

Already looking mature for her young age, Strong is poised to lead the next generation of UConn Huskies, with players such as Bueckers and Fudd being anticipated to declare for the WNBA Draft soon.