Sarah Strong and Joyce Edwards have a history that dates back to middle school, competing against each other in AAU basketball. Both were among the top girls’ basketball prospects in the country and have since carved out impressive careers. They shared co-MVP honors at the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Girls Game and later crossed paths on the USA Basketball Under-19 team.
Now, as freshmen at powerhouse programs, they’ll face each other once again—this time in the NCAA national championship game. Strong’s University of Connecticut Huskies, the No. 2 seed, will take on top-seeded South Carolina, led by Edwards, in Tampa, Florida on Sunday.
Edwards, a standout at Camden High School in South Carolina, was named the 2024 Gatorade National Player of the Year. Strong, who played at Grace Christian School in North Carolina, earned the 2024 Naismith High School Player of the Year honor.
Strong recalls their AAU rivalry vividly. “They had a great team. They beat us,” she said. “It is what it is.”
Both players have made an immediate impact as freshmen. Strong, ranked as the top player in her recruiting class, is averaging 16.2 points per game—second only to Paige Bueckers’ 20—and leads UConn with 8.7 rebounds. She’s already etched her name into UConn history, ranking in the top 10 among freshmen for points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots. Remarkably, she’s the first Division I freshman since Candace Parker to achieve at least 500 points, 250 rebounds, 100 assists, 50 steals, and 50 blocked shots in a season.
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley praised Strong’s potential: “In the next three years, she might be the best player to come out of UConn. Those are strong words. I know Breanna Stewart won four national titles, but Sarah’s IQ, skill set, and ability to perform in clutch moments are off the charts.”
Strong’s connection with Staley goes back even further. Strong’s mother, Allison Feaster, played alongside Staley in the WNBA with the Charlotte Sting, and their friendship has endured beyond their playing days. Feaster has kept Staley informed about Strong’s development, even as Staley’s Gamecocks tried to recruit her.
Despite South Carolina’s efforts, Strong chose UConn, with Staley noting, “We probably came in a little late on Sarah. UConn had been recruiting her earlier in the process.”
Meanwhile, Edwards has had her own journey in the tournament. Though she struggled in the earlier rounds, including being held to under six points per game, she delivered a standout performance in the national semifinal—posting 13 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and a steal. It was her fourth career double-double and the most rebounds she’s recorded this season, helping South Carolina improve to 4-0 when she records a double-double.
Staley expressed her pride in Edwards’ resilience: “She really works at it. She watches film, obsessively works out, and you want young people like that to enjoy the fruits of their labor.”
Edwards credited her teammates for supporting her through the slump, allowing her to stay confident and trust that her breakout game was imminent. “I feel I was more definitive, more open-minded. I just gave the game what it gave me, without overthinking,” she said.
Now, the stage is set for one final showdown between these two rising stars.
