Top Women’s 2026 Final Four Players to Watch: Sarah Strong, Joyce Edwards

Phoenix will host a Final Four that revisits last season’s title game matchup. Among the Top Women’s 2026 Final Four Players to Watch: Sarah Strong, Joyce Edwards stand out.

Rivalry and roots

UConn and South Carolina open with a rematch of the national final. This is the third collegiate meeting between the two teams.

The matchup doubles as a personal rivalry. Strong and Edwards are both post players and top sophomores.

Sarah Strong was the top recruit in the 2024 class. Joyce Edwards was ranked No. 3, according to ESPN.

They first met at a middle school camp. Later they faced each other in AAU and prep circuits.

Previous meetings and championship numbers

UConn won the first two collegiate games between them. One of those wins came in last season’s championship.

In that title game, Strong recorded 24 points and 10 rebounds. Edwards finished with 10 points and five rebounds.

Impact of the 2024 class

The 2024 recruiting class has delivered many high-level sophomores. Several have become tournament difference-makers.

Texas features two top-15 players from that class: Jordan Lee and Justice Charton. Michigan advanced to the Elite Eight behind four sophomores.

Mikayla Blakes leads the nation in scoring and is a sophomore. Jaloni Cambridge is an All-American at Ohio State and also a sophomore.

Sophomores Syla Swords and Olivia Olson are among Michigan’s top-20 talents. Joyce Edwards praised the class for elevating the sport.

Players to watch in the Final Four

UConn

• Blanca Quiñonez, freshman forward. She averaged 17 points across four NCAA Tournament wins.

  At 6-foot-2, she scores inside and from distance. In recent rounds she shot 54 percent overall and 39 percent from three.

• Azzi Fudd, senior guard. An All-America pick by The Athletic, she excels as a three-level scorer.

  Her season averages include about 46 percent shooting and 44 percent from three. A short shooting slump occurred in the regional games.

South Carolina

• Madina Okot, senior center. She has 22 double-doubles this season, tied for the most among Power Four players.

  Okot averages roughly 13 points and 10 rebounds. She also leads the team with 55 blocks.

• Ta’Niya Latson, senior guard. Last year she led the nation in scoring.

  This season she averages about 14 points and ranks second on the team in assists.

Texas

• Jordan Lee, sophomore guard. She is a strong perimeter defender and the Longhorns’ best long-range shooter.

  Lee shot 34 percent from three on the season. She struggled in the Fort Worth regional, but can change a game if she heats up.

• Rori Harmon, senior guard. At 5-foot-6, she directs Texas’ press and offense under coach Vic Schaefer.

  Texas enters the Final Four on a 12-game winning streak. Harmon averaged about 7.5 points and six assists during that run.

UCLA

• Lauren Betts, senior center. The Big Ten Player of the Year stands 6-foot-7 and impacts the glass.

  She averages approximately 8.6 rebounds and two blocks per game. Her defensive mobility has improved this season.

• Gianna Kneepkens, graduate guard. An efficient long-range threat, she made 42 percent on 191 three-point attempts.

  She is UCLA’s top shooter and will draw heavy attention from opposing defenses.

On Friday, two sophomores from the Carolinas will again try to steer their teams to the national title game. The matchup will test depth, coaching and star power.

This report is presented by Filmogaz.com.