Paige Bueckers Is Great But

UConn had a tremendous run to the NCAA Championship. Such things are debatable but I am not sure any team has ever been so dominate in the Final Four. UConn clearly was the best team in America!!

Paige Bueckers was the star of UConn and is one of the all-time most exciting college players. She will enter any debate on best all-time college players. And she is projected to be the #1 draft pick in the WNBA draft, which will be in on Monday, April 14. 

Bueckers is great but Sara Strong is the player that really impressed me. Strong is a 6’2” freshman. I am not saying Strong is better than Bueckers but it is a question to revisit in few years. 

As a freshman, Strong averaged 16.2ppg, 8.7rpg, and 3.5apg. She made 59 threes and combined for 158 steals/blocks. 

During the NCAA Tourney run, in the 6 games, she averaged 19.0ppg, 11.7rpg, 4.3apg. She made 13-26 threes for 50%. 

She had a great freshman year but at the end during the NCAA Tourney she stepped up even more. 

Here is how Sara Strong’s freshman year ranks compared to some of the great post players as freshmen:

Points Per Game as Freshman

1- Lisa Leslie 19.4

2- Brittany Griner 18.4

3- Maya Moore 17.8

4- Candace Parker 17.3

5- Sara Strong 16.2

6- Rebecca Lobo 14.3

7- Breanna Stewart 13.8

8- A’ja Wilson 13.1

9- Alayah Boston 12.5

10- Angel Reese 10.0

Rebounds Per Game As Freshmen

1- Lisa Leslie 10.0

2- Alayah Boston 9.4

3- Sara Strong 8.7

4- Brittany Griner 8.5

5- Candace Parker 8.3

6- Rebecca Lobo 7.9

7- Maya Moore 7.6

8- A’ja Wilson 6.6

9- Breanna Stewart 6.4

10- Angel Reese 6.0

Women’s college basketball gets a lot more coverage today than women’s basketball did ten years ago. But the coverage still pales compared to the coverage of men’s college basketball. 

I am just throwing out this about Sara Strong to make women’s and men’s basketball fans of a player who appears headed to become one of the elite stars in women’s basketball over the next 10-15 years. It will be fun for all of us to follow her growth as a player, and the journey into stardom. 

In the meantime, it will be exciting to watch Paige Bueckers rookie year in the WNBA.