In a recent interview, the UConn Huskies women's basketball player Sarah Strong revealed the Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers and rookie talent Azzi Fudd as the players she saw as her mentors, as "they held everything together."

Recently, Strong, who will play for the UConn team for the third straight year, was asked by CBS Sports journalist Isabel Gonzalez on June 24 whether there were any players or mentors in her life she looked up to. Strong replied with two names, Bueckers and Fudd, while also praising her seniors.

"I feel like Paige and Azzi. During my freshman year, they were pretty much like the leaders of the team," Strong said in a video segment posted on X by Gonzalez . "Everyone looked up to them. The way they held everything together just really impacted me and made me be better on the court and made me want to do more for the team, and just give my all, every time I was on the court."

Strong, Bueckers, and Fudd played together during the 2024-25 NCAA championship, which they won after defeating the legendary coach Dawn Staley's South Carolina team 82-59.

Fudd also won the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player award in that season. Fudd and Strong also played last year's NCAA championship but got lost to Carolina in the Final Four, 48-62.

Strong currently averages 17.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in her two-year college career. As for Fudd and Bueckers, they averaged 14.7 and 19.8 points, 2.3 and 4.7 rebounds, and 2.1 and 4.6 assists during their college careers, respectively.

But how are Strong's mentors performing in the WNBA this season? And are they leading their team there as well?

How Good Have Paige Bueckers And Azzi Fudd Been This Season For The Wings

The Rookie of the Year 2025 has been the star of the Wings, averaging 19.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game. She ranks first on the team for points and assists, as per ESPN.

Fudd, too, has been an impactful player for Dallas. The 2026 No. 1 overall pick is averaging 13.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. But her pivotal role comes when it comes to the defense. Fudd is averaging 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks per game and leads the charts for the same.

Due to their contributions, the Wings are currently on a two-game winning streak and hold a record of 11-6. They stand third on the Western Conference standings and fifth in the league standings.

Both Bueckers and Fudd will be seen on the court when the Wings play the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, June 25.

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Written by

Dhruv Singh

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi