ESPN unveiled its ranking of the top 25 women's March Madness players for 2026, with UConn's Sarah Strong holding the No. 1 spot. Strong, a 6-foot-2 sophomore forward, has been ESPN's top-ranked player all season and enters the NCAA tournament averaging 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.

South Carolina leads all teams with four players on the list, while LSU, Oklahoma and UCLA each have multiple representatives. Ohio State's Jaloni Cambridge made the biggest jump, moving up 15 spots from midseason rankings to crack the top 25. Ten underclassmen made the list, including two freshmen who continue to make an impact.

Strong's dominance stems from her complete skill set - she shoots 42.7% from three-point range, ranks among the nation's best defensive players by advanced metrics, and has shown she can deliver in big moments. The undefeated Huskies, seeded No. 1 overall, will open tournament play Friday at 11:30 a.m. ET on ESPN2.