UConn women’s basketball is firing on all cylinders, winning nine straight and hitting their stride at the perfect time. The biggest moment of this streak? Snapping South Carolina’s 71-game home winning streak in a statement victory. Leading the charge are Paige Bueckers, Sarah Strong, and Azzi Fudd—three of the conference’s top performers—who bring experience and firepower as March Madness looms.

But here’s the twist—Geno Auriemma’s latest comments suggest he sees things a little differently.

HC Geno Auriemma made his stance clear on how he sees both Paige and Sarah as he appeared before the media in the postgame conference. Giving Sarah Strong her flowers, Geno said, “I always like to think that we don’t want to play with both Sarah and Paige on the bench… That’s how important I think she is.” Not only that, but Geno also admitted that he is okay with Paige on the bench as long as he has Sarah on the court. Geno’s comments reflect how important the 19-year-old is for UConn.

A big shift for the Huskies.

Last season, Paige had a huge responsibility as she had to lead the team to the Final Four. The 23-year-old was also struggling with a torn ACL at that time. Following the injury, Paige’s three-point shooting dropped, and in some big games, she was not her usual self on the court. But this year, it’s a different story. UConn is ruling the Big East and is eyeing the No. 1 seed. On the other hand, HC Geno is kind of turning heads, making some unexpected choices.

Talking about Paige’s comeback, Coach Geno is still doubtful to some extent. “She’s kind of rounding the corner. There are still a couple of things we need to address,” said UConn’s HC. He also admitted that Paige is still weak against some top defenders. “She has to be precise. The best defenders always own her.” So, it’s not just about making a good play but being able to read the game and also making her teammates better at the same time.

Sure, the 23-year-old has improved, but there is always room for a little bit more improvement and growth, Geno feels.

But then Bueckers and the O-line were so smooth that they did not let Villanova make a single shot for over 16 minutes. Coach Geno said she is “improving” and making quicker decisions. The 23-year-old has always been good with the ball, and now the coach believes that she is getting better every day. Paige had a strong first half, putting up 21 of her 23 points. But even after that, the HC benched Bueckers in the second half of the game. 

Enter Sarah Strong, who then finished the rest of the game.

Geno Auriemma’s Freshman Sarah Strong’s Breakout Season

“You can count on Sarah for something—whether it’s rebounding, assists, or scoring points.” These are the words of UConn’s HC Geno about UConn’s forward Sarah Strong. And there is a reason the coach has so much faith in her. This season, the 19-year-old is averaging 15.9 points and 8.1 rebounds. Strong is a key weapon for UConn this season, as they are on the run for their fifth straight Big East title. “She just has a knack for where the ball is and how to impact every possession,” added Geno.

UConn has got a solid roster this season, and Sarah has delivered whenever needed the most. The 19-year-old is proving that she is not just another freshman but could be the missing puzzle UConn needs to win the championship this year. In the game against Villanova, Strong scored 20 points while grabbing 16 rebounds. She takes care of both offense and defense.

Geno had cut Sarah’s playing time earlier this season, which had many questioning her role on the team. Why was that? Was it part of Coach Geno’s strategy or a lineup adjustment? Only he could tell. But despite all these noises, Strong remained focused on the bigger picture. Well, managing a deep roster is a bit tricky at times, and UConn’s HC knows it well. So, even after cutting her playing time, Geno knew that Strong would deliver on the court whenever called.

Like in the game against Xavier, the 19-year-old had limited time on the court and did not put much on the board. But Geno said, “She’s a young kid playing a game she’s always played. She doesn’t let anything get in the way, she doesn’t clutter her mind with stuff, and so I don’t go up to her and clutter it.”

So, that speaks a lot about Geno’s trust in his young player. Now, UConn is doing great this season, and their chances of bringing another championship home are looking great as well. But there is more to the story this time. This season, it’s not only Paige Bueckers who is carrying the team, but Sarah Strong is also beside her. And the HC could not be more proud watching these youngsters gracing the court with their powerful plays.