US EditionUConn’s Sarah Strong, KK Arnold land on Naismith Defensive Player of the Year midseason watchlist
Sophomore Sarah Strong and junior KK Arnold lead UConn's top-ranked defense, with Strong leading advanced defensive metrics and Arnold ranking nationally in steals.
- On Tuesday, the Naismith midseason watchlist named Sarah Strong, UConn sophomore, and KK Arnold, UConn junior point guard, as two of the 25 players, making UConn one of two programs with multiple selections.
- Against the backdrop of dominant defense, UConn Huskies women's basketball team allows just 51 points per game and ranks top 10 nationally in forced turnovers and opponent field goal percentage.
- Supporting their selections, Strong leads UConn with 18.9 points and ranks in the top 10 nationally in defensive rating, while Arnold averages more than 7 steals per game this year.
- If the season holds, Sarah Strong could become the youngest Defensive Player of the Year and second to win both honors alongside Aliyah Boston, boosting UConn Huskies women's basketball program chances.
- Past finalists show UCLA center Lauren Betts won Naismith Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 over Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo and finalists JuJu Watkins and JJ Quinerly.
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Hartford Courant
The SaratogianUConn’s Sarah Strong, KK Arnold land on Naismith Defensive Player of the Year midseason watchlist
The UConn women's basketball team has two representatives on the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year midseason watchlist released Tuesday.
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