UConn said that Sarah Strong would not play in Saturday’s game against Butler to rest, and all of a sudden, a streak that no one was keeping track of came to an end. The sophomore who leads the Huskies in almost every stat has played in every game of her college career until now. What seemed like a normal day off turned into a quiet piece of UConn history breaking in Storrs.

Carl Adamec, a sports analyst, gave the streak more meaning by putting it in historical context. “With Sarah Strong (rest) out today for @UConnWBB vs. Butler, her streak of 64 games in the starting lineup to begin her career ends. Last #Huskies player to start every game #UConn played in her 4 years is 1996 NPOY @JenRizzotti (1992-96), who started 135 straight games (117-18),” Adamec posted on social media.

The comparison to Jen Rizzotti shows how rare this level of consistency has become at UConn. Strong had started every game since she got to Storrs, which shows how tough she is and how quickly she made a difference in one of college basketball’s toughest programs. She had been given a starting role from day one, and she never lost it because of an injury, bad performance, or coaching decision. Rizzotti’s 135-game streak is still the best, but Strong was making something special before the coaches decided that her long-term health was more important than the streak.

Without Strong on Saturday, it was clear how thin UConn’s roster has become. The top-ranked Huskies only had 10 players available to play against Butler. Strong was out with a shoulder injury, along with freshman Blanca Quiñonez, redshirt senior Caroline Ducharme (who had a migraine), redshirt junior Ice Brady (who had a knee injury), and sophomore Morgan Cheli (who had an ankle injury). Brady and Cheli have been out for most of the season, and Quiñonez and Ducharme have now missed four games in a row. This means that coach Geno Auriemma has to be careful with his players’ minutes as the postseason approaches.

Even though Strong’s rest ended her streak, it was smart to do it. UConn didn’t say how long she’ll be out after Saturday, when the Huskies play Creighton at home on Wednesday, February 11. There are only six regular-season games left before the Big East Tournament in early March. Fans didn’t know about the streak, so getting Strong healthy now is more important than keeping it going. She gets 19.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and leads the team in assists, steals, and blocks. These are numbers that UConn needs to be at full strength in March.

Sarah Strong rests as UConn continues dominant stretch

The Huskies machine keeps beating other teams even without their star sophomore. UConn beat DePaul 86-40, making their winning streak 40 games long over two seasons. They are now 24-0 overall and 13-0 in Big East play under Geno Auriemma’s leadership.

Being dominant means more than just winning. UConn has now won 19 straight games by 25 points or more. This is the kind of consistent greatness that sets championship programs apart from the rest. The Huskies have the most assists in the country and have won 60 straight Big East games. They are in complete control of the conference and don’t look like they will let go.

In the past, Butler never had a chance. UConn has never lost to the Bulldogs, and they beat them 94-47 in Indianapolis earlier this season. Butler came into Saturday’s game with a record of 9-14, led by Saniya Jackson and Mallory Miller, but they were up against a team that has mastered the art of blowouts.

The rest of the schedule includes home games against Creighton, road games against Marquette and Villanova, and then Providence and Georgetown coming to Storrs before the regular season ends at Madison Square Garden against St. John’s. With seven games left, UConn’s goal has changed from winning to staying healthy and sharp for March.