For those of you who cannot wait until Midnight Madness tips off this fall, you can still see some of the best college basketball players this summer at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup. USA Basketball announced its rosters last week, and the Women’s National Team includes Morgan Maly/Sarah Strong/Mikaylah Williams/Sahara Williams. When it comes to winning it is hard to find a stronger candidate than Strong: 3 straight state titles in high school, 3 straight gold medals at the FIBA 3×3 U18 Women’s World Cup, and an NCAA title last April as a freshman at UConn. Strong is with Team USA in Mongolia as she tries to win yet another gold medal, but HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with her about choosing UConn for college and winning an NCAA title.
You were born in Madrid: how did you 1st get into basketball? I grew up watching my mom play for her club team and I have just always been around basketball. When she would practice, I would always be shooting and watching her.
In the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game you had 11 PTS/12 REB be for the East in a win over the West en route to being named co-MVP: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (Mikayla Blakes/Joyce Edwards/Syla Swords/other)? Joyce: she did very well and then had a great season during her freshman year at South Carolina.
You won 41 straight games to finish your high school career at Grace Christian School and were named the Naismith High School Player of the Year: what made you choose UConn for college? It was always my dream school, and I wanted to be coached by Coach Geno Auriemma and his staff. I knew they would set me up to go to the WNBA and become a pro.
Last season you averaged 16.4 PPG/8.9 RPG/3.6 APG/2.3 SPG/1.7 BPG and were named WBCA Freshman of the Year: how do you balance all the different aspects of your game? I really go out there and play. I try not to focus too much on a certain type of stat: I just play basketball and have fun.
In the 2025 NCAA title game you had 24 PTS/10-15 FG/15 REB in a win over South Carolina: what did it mean to you to win a title? It was an amazing feeling. It was so much fun having played with my teammates and for the seniors it meant a lot so I am very proud.
Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said you might become the best player to ever come out of UConn: what was your reaction after hearing such powerful praise? Thank you for the compliment…but I am not going to let that get to me. I want to stay level and focus on what is in front of me.
Coach Auriemma now has the most wins (1250)/championships (12) of any men’s or women’s coach ever: what makes him arguably the greatest coach in the history of the sport? He is going to set his players up for success. He has very high expectations for us and pushes us hard to be the best that we can be.
Your father Danny played basketball at NC State and your mother Allison played in the WNBA for a decade: who is the best athlete in the family? I would say me: it’s me, it’s me.
You won the FIBA 3×3 U18 Women’s World Cup in each of the past 3 years and last summer you won the FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup: what does it mean to you to represent your country, and where do you keep all those gold medals?! Representing my country is a great honor. I love to do it and am thankful for it. My medals are on a wall in my house, so I get to look at them often.
Last week you were named to the USA Basketball roster for the 2025 FIBA 3×3 World Cup: any predictions for Mongolia? My goals are to get better every game and get closer to my teammates. I want us to be confident in ourselves and hopefully win gold.
