Vanderbilt's Shea Ralph, UConn's Sarah Strong Honored with AP Basketball Awards

Coaches and players celebrate prestigious accolades surrounded by their college communities.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:27am

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A cubist-style painting featuring fragmented geometric shapes in bright team colors, representing the energy and community of a college basketball awards ceremony.The AP's top women's basketball honors bring together proud college communities to celebrate their teams' success.Today in Nashville

Vanderbilt women's basketball head coach Shea Ralph was named the AP Coach of the Year, while UConn star player Sarah Strong received the AP Player of the Year award. Both were surrounded by their teams, families, and school administrators as they accepted the prestigious honors.

Why it matters

These annual AP awards recognize the top individual achievements in college basketball, celebrating the hard work and leadership of the sport's most impactful figures. Winning these awards is a major career milestone that brings national attention to the recipients' programs.

The details

At the awards ceremony, Ralph was joined by her Vanderbilt coaching staff, school administrators, as well as her husband and young daughter. Strong was accompanied by her UConn teammates and coaches, who have helped guide her to becoming one of the nation's elite players.

  • The awards were presented on April 3, 2026.

The players

Shea Ralph

The head coach of the Vanderbilt women's basketball team and the recipient of the AP Coach of the Year award.

Sarah Strong

The star player for the UConn women's basketball team and the recipient of the AP Player of the Year award.

Vanderbilt

The university where Shea Ralph is the head coach of the women's basketball team.

UConn

The university where Sarah Strong plays for the women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“Seeing all the people who have supported me and my team throughout the season was truly special. This award is a testament to the hard work of our entire program.”

— Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt Women's Basketball Head Coach

“I'm so grateful to my coaches and teammates for pushing me to be my best. This award means a lot, but our ultimate goal is to win a national championship for UConn.”

— Sarah Strong, UConn Women's Basketball Player

The takeaway

These prestigious AP awards highlight the continued excellence of women's college basketball programs like Vanderbilt and UConn, which have built strong cultures of success through dedicated coaching, elite player development, and tight-knit team bonds.