UConn's Sarah Strong named AP women's Player of the Year

UConn sophomore Sarah Strong has been named The Associated Press women’s basketball Player of the Year.

AP announced the award Thursday, and UConn quickly confirmed the honor on its official athletics site. Strong helped lead the Huskies through an undefeated season and into the Final Four.

The award puts Strong in rare company. AP and ESPN both reported that she became only the fifth sophomore ever to win the honor.

Strong’s rise has been one of the defining stories of UConn’s season, and the award adds another major individual accolade to the team’s run. The honor also reinforces how central she has been to the Huskies’ success.

With the Final Four still ahead, Strong’s AP award gives UConn another headline entering the closing stretch of the season.