Duke's Cam Boozer and UConn's Sarah Strong win Wooden Award, wrapping up consensus National Player of the Year honors

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Duke's Cam Boozer and UConn's Sarah Strong win Wooden Award, wrapping up consensus National Player of the Year honors

Duke's Cam Boozer and UConn's Sarah Strong win Wooden Award, wrapping up consensus National Player of the Year honors

No men's program has more Wooden Awards than Duke. No women's program has more than UConn.

Duke's Cam Boozer and UConn's Sarah Strong win Wooden Award, wrapping up consensus National Player of the Year honors

No men's program has more Wooden Awards than Duke. No women's program has more than UConn.

The final verdict is in, and the 2026 college basketball season officially belongs to Duke's Cam Boozer and UConn's Sarah Strong. The duo cemented their legendary seasons by sweeping the major national player of the year awards, adding the prestigious John R. Wooden Award to their collections on Friday.

This clean sweep of the Wooden, Naismith, and AP Player of the Year honors confirms what fans witnessed all season: these two were simply in a class of their own. Their dominance was so complete that unanimous All-American selections were a mere formality.

For Duke and UConn, these awards are a testament to historic excellence. Boozer becomes the eighth Blue Devil to win the Wooden Award, extending Duke's record for the most by any men's program. On the women's side, Sarah Strong's win marks the seventh for UConn, tying the Huskies for the most all-time—a fitting addition for a program synonymous with greatness.

Boozer's achievement carries an extra layer of Duke lore, as he follows teammate Cooper Flagg to make it back-to-back Wooden Awards won by Blue Devil freshmen. This incredible youth movement highlights the program's ability to develop elite talent from day one.

Despite their individual brilliance, both stars saw their team's championship dreams fall just short in March. Duke's men suffered a heartbreaking Elite Eight collapse to the eventual champion UConn Huskies, while the UConn women's perfect season was halted by South Carolina in an epic Final Four showdown.

For Boozer, this award likely serves as the crowning achievement of a spectacular one-and-done college career. He is projected to be a top-two pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, poised to take his explosive game to the professional stage.

Sarah Strong's story, however, has another chapter. The superstar forward is set to return to Storrs for her junior season, where she will lead a Huskies squad with championship aspirations and a legacy to uphold. The pursuit of that elusive team title begins now.

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