TAMPA — Paige Bueckers wore the net that UConn players cut down following their national championship win like a necklace, an elusive crown jewel made of nylon that no one can take away.
The Huskies’ 82-59 victory over South Carolina had been more of a coronation than a competition and wasn’t in doubt after the third quarter.
“This was one of the more emotional Final Fours and emotional national championships that I’ve ever been a part of since that very first time,” said Huskies coach Geno Auriemma, who won his 12th NCAA title but UConn’s first since 2016.
Bueckers could take her place in history next to Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Rebecca Lobo, Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird as UConn legends, now with the hardware to validate an already remarkable career.
But the Huskies don’t have to look too far down the lineup to find their next superstar, one who may eclipse them all.
Sarah Strong, who made UConn’s first basket Sunday and finished tied with Azzi Fudd as the team’s leading scorer with 24 points, is only a freshman. And according to South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, she may go down as the greatest of them all.
“In the next three years, she might be the best player to come out of UConn,” Staley said.
Think about that for a minute. In fact, just take a closer look at Sunday’s game and you know Staley isn’t handing out hyperbolic praise.
Of course, Staley knew about Strong long before she chose UConn.
Allison Feaster, Strong’s mother, is a friend and former Charlotte Sting teammate of Staley’s. The coach saw her play when the Gamecocks lost to the Huskies in February.
Not only did Strong average a double double during the NCAA Tournament with 18 points and 11 rebounds, her 657 points are second most by a freshman since Moore had 678 in 2008.
On Sunday, the Huskies looked for Strong early and often. She added a game-high 15 rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots.
“We lost to a very, very good basketball team,” Staley said. “They beat our ass, but they didn’t make us like it.
“You know, I think they had the better team this year. You don’t always win when you have the better team but they had the better team this year and they won. That’s what you’re supposed to do.”
South Carolina will lose Bree Hall and Sania Feagin to the WNBA draft. They have some good young players and could make another run at the Final Four. But they will have to deal with Strong.
She is mature beyond her years but doesn’t like talking about herself.
“I take my confidence from my teammates and the preparation that we’ve had,” Strong said. “From the days at practice that were tough, we always get prepared for these moments.”
Last week, Bueckers made it clear that Strong will continue to be a force for UConn.
“The foundation she’s laid as a freshman is unreal,” Bueckers said. “The fact that she’s going to get better is extremely scary.”
Staley agrees. She watched Strong grow up, even tried to recruit her but by then the Huskies had all but sold her.
“The (basketball) IQ is off the charts,” Staley said the day before the final. “The skill-set, off the charts. Big play after big play after big play.”
Does Strong see herself as the next superstar? “I haven’t really thought that far, yet,” she said. ”I’m really just soaking all this in."
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