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Trio of UConn women’s basketball stars named to Naismith Award watch list
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- Trio of UConn women’s basketball stars named to Naismith Award watch list
Reigning Naismith Trophy winner Sarah Strong was one of three UConn women's basketball players to be named to the watch list for the 2026-27 award on Thursday. Senior guard KK Arnold and sophomore forward Blanca Quiñonez were the others.
Strong won the Wooden Award, Wade Trophy, AP Player of the Year and USBWA Player of the Year in addition to winning the Naismith last season. She was also a consensus All-American, the Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, and led the Huskies in points, rebounds, blocks and steals.
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Arnold led the Huskies with 4.6 assists per game while averaging 6.9 points and 2.8 steals per game last season. She earned All-Big East First Team, Big East All-Defensive Team and Big East All-Tournament Team honors.
Meet the Huskies: Inside the 2026-27 UConn women's basketball roster
Coming into this season, she was unanimously named Preseason All-Big East and was selected to the Nancy Lieberman Award watch list.
Quiñonez had a breakout freshman season with the Huskies as she was named the Big East Freshman and Sixth Woman of the Year. She averaged 10.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game last season. Quiñonez was also unanimously named Preseason All-Big East and to the Cheryl Miller Award watch list.
No. 2-ranked UConn officially opens the 2026-27 season vs. Cornell in PeoplesBank Arena on Monday, Nov. 2, at 5 p.m. The game will air on Peacock/NBC Sports Network.
