The BIG EAST Tournament starts Friday from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. All 11 teams qualify for the conference postseason, with the top five teams in the final regular-season standings — in order: UConn, Villanova, Seton Hall, Marquette, Creighton — receiving first-round byes.
In Friday’s first round, No. 8 seed Georgetown faces No. 9 seed Butler, No. 7 seed Providence plays No. 10 seed DePaul, and No. 6 seed St. John’s faces No. 11 seed Xavier.
Before the action begins, get caught up on the BIG EAST postseason awards.
Superlatives
Sarah Strong
Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year
UConn sophomore Sarah Strong is a frontrunner for national player of the year, so it’s no surprise that she was the unanimous selection for BIG EAST Player of the Year. A seven-time BIG EAST Player of the Week during the regular season, Strong averaged 18.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Her 2.4 assists/turnover ratio is good for third in the league, and she’s shooting an astonishing 59.5% from the field.
Strong was also named Defensive Player of the Year, recognition that she is an elite two-way player. The 6’2 forward had a league-leading 97 steals (3.2 per game) and placed second place overall with 47 blocks (1.6 per game). She leads the nation in defensive win shares (4.1) and defensive rating (56.5).
As Strong’s star soars, it’s hard to believe she’s just a sophomore. She’s building on her fantastic freshman season, and enters the postseason with valuable championship experience.
“Knowing what to expect, it feels different from last year,” Strong said last week. “I didn’t really know anything about playing in March, in the postseason. So this year, I have a year under my belt so I’m able to help my teammates that haven’t been here before. [Having] the experience comes with confidence.”
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Blanca Quiñonez
Freshman of the Year, Sixth Woman of the Year
UConn freshman Blanca Quiñonez isn’t a typical freshman. The first-ever Husky from Ecuador and South America, the 6’2 forward played professionally with Campobasso in Italy’s Serie A1 league before her college basketball career ever began. Her international experience also includes an appearance with the Ecuadorian senior national team at the 2022 South American Women’s Championship, averaging 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Despite missing seven games to injury this season, Quiñonez was the conference’s Freshman of the Week seven times, most recently the week of Jan. 26. She came off the bench in each of her 23 appearances, becoming UConn’s third-leading scorer (10.0 points per game) in the process. She proved she’s a two-way spark off the bench capable of single-handedly changing the pace of the game. In just her first season, her off-the-bench role earned her both Freshman of the Year and Sixth Woman of the Year.
Brynn McCurry
Most Improved Player
Villanova forward Brynn McCurry entered the program as a heralded high school player from New Jersey, named 2022 First Team All-State and 2022 NJAC Player of the Year before enrolling with the Wildcats. As a college freshman, she played a reserve role in 28 games, averaging 2.7 points per game and 1.8 rebounds per contest in 11.8 minutes per game. Following her debut season, McCurry was forced to miss her sophomore (2024-25) season due to a right ACL injury.
Now a junior, McCurry rejoined the rotation this season with a much-expanded role, starting in 25 of 29 games played, averaging 10.9 points per game, 3.1 assists per game and a team-leading 5.5 rebounds per game. She’s worked her way back from injury and transformed herself into a key contributor for Villanova, earning Most Improved Player and Second Team honors.
Other honors
BIG EAST Coach of the Year: Geno Auriemma, UConn
BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award: Meg Newman, DePaul, R-Sr., F
BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Azzi Fudd, UConn, Gr., G
First Team
- KK Arnold, UConn, Jr., G
- Azzi Fudd, UConn, Gr., G*
- Sarah Strong, UConn, So., F*
- Skylar Forbes, Marquette, Jr., F*
- Halle Vice, Marquette, Jr., G*
- Sabou Gueye, Providence, Gr., G*
- Ava Zediker, Creighton, Fr., G*
- Savannah Catalon, Seton Hall, Jr., G*
- Mariana Valenzuela, Seton Hall, Sr., F*
- Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova, So., G*
* Unanimous selection
Second Team^
- Blanca Quiñonez, UConn, Fr., F
- Kate Novik, DePaul, Jr., G
- Lee Volker, Marquette, Gr., G
- Brooke Moore, St. John’s, Jr., G
- Brynn McCurry, Villanova, Jr., F
- Mariyah Noel, Xavier, Jr., G
^ Due to a tie in voting, there are six players on the second-team
Honor Roll
- Ashlynn Shade, UConn, Jr., G
- Grace Boffeli, Creighton, Gr., F
- Sa’Mya Wyatt, St. John’s, So., F
All-Defensive Team
- KK Arnold, UConn, Jr., G
- Sarah Strong, UConn, So., F
- Skylar Forbes, Marquette, Jr., F
- Savannah Catalon, Seton Hall, Jr., G
- Kennedy Henry, Villanova, Fr., G
All-Freshman Team
- Blanca Quiñonez, UConn, Fr., F*
- Ava Zediker, Creighton, Fr., G*
- Neleigh Gessert, Creighton, Fr., G*
- Zahara Bishop, Seton Hall, Fr., G
- Kennedy Henry, Villanova, Fr., G*
* Unanimous selection
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