Strong, Watkins Headline AP Preseason All-America Team

Sarah Strong was the leading vote-getter with 30 of 31 votes for the five-player Associated Press preseason All-America team after averaging 18.4 points and 7.7 rebounds and leading UConn to the Final Four. JuJu Watkins received 26 votes; she missed the 2025-26 season recovering from a torn ACL and had averaged 23.9 points per game before the injury. Madison Booker and Hannah Hidalgo each received 28 votes and were named to the preseason team for the third straight year, while Mikayla Blakes received 27 votes.