UConn women’s basketball alumna Azzi Fudd was named the 2025-26 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Team Member of the Year on Apr. 15. Fudd and sophomore Sarah Strong were both selected as CSC Academic First Team All-Americans for their achievements in academics and athletics.
The recognition highlights the balance that student-athletes can achieve between sports and education. These honors are significant for UConn, showing its continued tradition of excellence both on the court and in the classroom.
Fudd, who was recently chosen as the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Wings in this year’s WNBA draft, is only the sixth player to earn both CSC Academic All-America Team Member of the Year and be selected first overall in a draft year. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in business administration with a 3.57 grade-point average after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in communications last year with a 3.58 GPA.
During her collegiate career, Fudd achieved numerous accolades including being named National Champion and NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player for 2025. She earned multiple All-America honors from organizations such as WBCA, AP, and USBWA; she was also recognized as BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year and made several all-tournament teams this season. Statistically, she finished her UConn career ranked fifth all-time in three-pointers made (292), seventh in three-point percentage (42.2%), first in free throw percentage (92.5%), and fourth for single-season three-pointers made (117). In her final season she started all games while averaging a career-high 17.7 points per game on personal-best shooting percentages (.489/.455/.955).
Sarah Strong received consensus National Player of the Year awards including Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award, Wade Trophy, AP Player of the Year, USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year, as well as Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year honors for her performance during this season. Holding a GPA of 3.61 as an undeclared major, Strong led UConn statistically across points per game (18.4), rebounds per game (7.7), blocks per game (1.6), steals per game (3.4) while maintaining high efficiency (.582/.404/.833 shooting split). She was also named BIG EAST Player of the Year—both unanimously—and Defensive Player of The Year along with other conference distinctions.
This marks only the fifth time that a UConn player has been awarded Academic All-America Team Member of The Year; previous honorees include Rebecca Lobo (1995), Jennifer Rizzotti (1996), Maya Moore (2010 & ’11), before Fudd’s selection this year.
