Golden Girls: The Unstoppable Force of UConn Alumnae in Women’s Basketball
The 2024 Paris Olympics may be over, but the excitement is far from fading. Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the dynamic duo who led the U.S. women’s basketball team to gold, are now gearing up for another thrilling chapter – the 2024 WNBA Finals. Collier, the reigning WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, is determined to lead the Minnesota Lynx to their record-breaking fifth championship title. However, standing in her way is Stewart, a two-time WNBA champion and two-time league MVP, who’s hungry for victory with the New York Liberty.
A Legacy of Greatness: UConn’s Finest
These two basketball powerhouses share a common thread – their illustrious past at the University of Connecticut. Collier and Stewart won the national championship together in 2016 and are part of the elite 2,000 points/1,000 rebounds club, joining an impressive roster of UConn and WNBA legends.
Trailblazers of Women’s Basketball
Let’s take a closer look at the most iconic players who have left an indelible mark on women’s basketball, both at UConn and in the WNBA:
Sue Bird: The Pinnacle of Excellence
- Two-time national champion
- 2002 women’s college basketball player of the year
- No. 1 pick in the 2002 WNBA draft (Seattle Storm)
- 13-time WNBA All-Star (record)
- Four-time WNBA champion
- All-time assists leader in WNBA history
Swin Cash: A Dominant Force
- Two-time national champion
- 2002 NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player
- No. 32 retired at Connecticut
- No. 2 pick in the 2002 WNBA draft (Detroit Shock)
- Four-time WNBA All-Star
- Three-time WNBA champion
Tina Charles: A Rebounding Phenom
- Two-time national champion
- 2010 women’s college basketball player of the year
- No. 1 pick in the 2010 WNBA draft (Connecticut Sun)
- 2010 WNBA Rookie of the Year
- 2012 WNBA MVP
- All-time leading rebounder in WNBA history
Napheesa Collier: A Rising Star
- 2016 national champion
- Two-time first-team All-American
- No. 6 pick in the 2019 WNBA draft (Minnesota Lynx)
- 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year
- 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
- Four-time WNBA All-Star
Rebecca Lobo: A Pioneer
- 1995 national champion
- 1995 first-team All-American
- 1995 women’s college basketball player of the year
- No. 50 retired at Connecticut
- 1997 second-team All-WNBA
- 1999 WNBA All-Star
Maya Moore: A Dominant Force
- Two-time national champion
- Two-time women’s college basketball player of the year
- No. 1 pick in the 2011 WNBA draft (Minnesota Lynx)
- 2014 WNBA MVP
- Four-time WNBA champion
- No. 23 retired by Minnesota Lynx
Breanna Stewart: A Championship Machine
- Four-time national champion
- Four-time NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player
- No. 1 pick in the 2016 WNBA draft (Seattle Storm)
- Two-time WNBA MVP
- Two-time WNBA champion
- Two-time WNBA Finals MVP
Diana Taurasi: The G.O.A.T.
- Three-time national champion
- Two-time NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player
- No. 1 pick in the 2004 WNBA draft (Phoenix Mercury)
- 2009 WNBA MVP
- Three-time WNBA champion
- All-time leading scorer in WNBA history
Stay tuned for more women’s basketball coverage on ESPN’s women’s college basketball hub page and WNBA hub page!
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