4x WNBA champ Sue Bird lays bare reasons why 18yo freshman would be best to pair with Paige Bueckers

Sue Bird watched her alma mater, UConn, losing to Notre Dame 79-68 on Dec. 12. In her podcast with Megan Rapinoe, she noted how Paige Bueckers finished the game with 25 points, but the superstar point guard’s impact was “quiet.”

The four-time WNBA champion is convinced the Huskies could be better, particularly if they could develop a new wrinkle in their offense.

Bird continued her assessment of the Huskies’ performance:

(7:20) “Sarah Strong was a big reason why when I saw them last week, why I was so impressed. She had a great game. Didn’t have the same output in this Notre Dame game, she’s a freshman figuring it out. She can score, she’s really nimble for her size.

"The thing that impresses me the most? Her passing. She’s a great passer. If I’m in the film room, I’d be stressing the two-man game between the two.”

Sue Bird wants to see her former coach Geno Auriemma install more two-man plays involving Sarah Strong and Paige Bueckers. Strong had 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in the loss to Notre Dame.

The 2024 Naismith High School Player of the Year bounced back on Tuesday against Iowa State. Strong finished with 29 points, nine rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal. The 18-year-old emerging star also showed off her range, going 5-for-9 from deep.

Bird could already see how UConn could be more dynamic if the Huskies use more Bueckers-Strong pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop plays.

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Sue Bird announced her early pick for women’s College Player of the Year

Sue Bird often mentions how great Paige Bueckers has been, but Bird has an early frontrunner of the women’s College Player of the Year. Bird had this to say about who has been the best in women’s college basketball a few months into the season:

“If I had to put in an early vote, and I’m sure this is the clip that’s gonna go around. If I’m putting in the early vote for Player of the Year, it’s probably Hannah. How can it not be? The numbers she’s putting up, the way she’s helping her team, the big buckets she’s getting? Can’t say enough about her play.”

Hidalgo was the biggest reason the Huskies are no longer unbeaten. The Fighting Irish superstar is averaging 25.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 4.2 steals per game. She is shooting 48.0%, including 43.1% from deep.