The UConn–South Carolina women’s basketball rivalry is set to reach new heights next season, with standout freshmen Sarah Strong (UConn) and Joyce Edwards (South Carolina) at the center of the action. Their matchup is already being billed as one of the marquee showdowns in college basketball.
Background: Lifelong Rivals
Sarah Strong and Joyce Edwards have faced each other since eighth grade, competing as AAU opponents, sharing co-MVP honors at the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game, and playing together on the USA Basketball U19 team.
Strong, the 2024 Naismith High School Player of the Year, chose UConn, while Edwards, the 2024 Gatorade National Player of the Year, committed to South Carolina.
Freshman Impact
Sarah Strong: Averaged 16.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, ranking second in scoring for UConn behind Paige Bueckers. She entered the NCAA tournament as one of only two UConn freshmen (alongside Maya Moore) to rank in the top 10 all-time for points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. She’s also the first Division I freshman since Candace Parker to post at least 500 points, 250 rebounds, 100 assists, 50 steals, and 50 blocks in a season.
Joyce Edwards: Led South Carolina with 12.7 points per game and notched a career-high 28 points against Florida. Though she had a quiet start in the NCAA tournament, she broke out in the national semifinal with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists, marking her fourth career double-double.
Coaches’ Praise and Connections
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley called Strong “the piece that puts it all together” for UConn, even suggesting she could become the best player to come out of the program—a bold statement given UConn’s storied history.
Staley and Strong’s mother, Allison Feaster, were WNBA teammates, adding another layer to the rivalry.
Looking Ahead
With both players returning for their sophomore seasons, their head-to-head battles will be must-watch events, fueling an already intense rivalry between two powerhouse programs.
Fans and analysts are already debating which star will have the bigger impact, with both expected to be among the nation’s elite next season.
The Edwards vs. Strong matchup is poised to define the next chapter of UConn–South Carolina, promising high stakes and elite-level basketball.
