Ashlynn Shade is an unsung hero for UConn women's basketball: 'She is the heart of this team'

[BRS24]

Gift link.

For as long as Geno Auriemma and Chris Dailey have been coaching the UConn women’s basketball team, statistics have always played a secondary role in determining a player’s value.​

​

Points scored, margins of victory and even wins themselves are often less important than how the game is played, because ultimately, a player’s approach to maximizing how to get the most of her ability for the good of the team is what matters most.​

​

“She is a starter on the No. 1 team in the country,” Dailey said. “Whatever we have asked Ash to do in the three years that she has been here, she is willing to do it and loves it. That is why she is playing the second-most minutes on the team. She never gets tired. She has a willingness to do whatever it is we ask her to do, whether it is offensive rebounding, defending, making shots.”​

 

[Next 12]

That Ashlynn is my favorite player is a given. Since she first came to Uconn as a freshman, I saw the video of her with her Father training and was amazed by it. Then Paige got hurt and Ashlynn started and did exceptional. Her freshman year she scored 419 points and was a dynamo on the floor. That cemented her as my favorite .I am patiently waiting for her to score her 1000th point which Ihope is tonight. There is no award that Ashlynn would earn that she didn't deserve and I believe she has had not her BEST YEAR yet. I believe her Senior year will be her best. Her future is going to be amazing. GO ASHLYNN!!!! GO HUSKIES!!!!!

 

[EricSD]

Ash deserves every good comment she gets. Really glowing praise from CD. As she said, Ash never gets tired. She has a motor that won't quit, and gives 100% literally every single second she's on the floor. She's a little bit of a streaky scorer at times but I totally get why she's on the floor so much. So glad we have her! Heart and soul of the team indeed!

 

[jcoton56]

At one time it was Nika. Now I want Ash in my foxhole. K-9 is a not too distant 2nd.

 

[huskyd]

I love Ash; she plays above her weight. BUT I wonder where her reliable mid-range jump-shot has gone.
She keeps shooting, which is fine (makes a bunch), I think, because she, too, is perplexed at the disappearance of her shot.

 

[Charliebball]

I love Ash; she plays above her weight. BUT I wonder where her reliable mid-range jump-shot has gone.
She keeps shooting, which is fine (makes a bunch), I think, because she, too, is perplexed at the disappearance of her shot.

Her hustle and solid all-around play are undeniable, and when she's shooting well, UConn rarely loses......

 

[Sargassoc]

Ashlyn has alway reminded me of Kelly Faris in temperament. Both of them tough as nails— and steely. That kind of kid is often the quiet backbone of a team.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Ash just brings a smile to my face and a good feeling in my chest. She's the essence of happiness. Miss 100%.

 

[JellyBean]

Ash just brings a smile to my face and a good feeling in my chest. She's the essence of happiness. Miss 100%.

Same here. Ash (and KK) just keeps the joy of the game the main thing. From her hustle plays to her smile after a big shot, pass that led to a score or a rebound, she just has a joy for the game and that is what this is all about in the end. Ashlynn understands that part of the game.

 

[Huskee11]

If Shade were a car, the dealer would be selling you on her pickup speed. I am sure it is due in no small part to her extensive training from a young age.

One of the things that makes a press work is the ability of defenders to sprint back on defense to cover open players when the press doesn't work. No one on the team does it better than she does, and plenty of them do it well.

The pickup speed feature of her game also shows up when it comes time to double team. I think her "press timing" is also the best on the team and once she hits go, she is there with a full on sprint before the ball handler has time to react.

From my perspective, the best thing about this team is the way they execute various full court presses, and Shade is a huge reason why that style of play is so successful and so entertaining (for the fans, not the opposition).

 

[MSGRET]

What's really weird about Kelly and Ash is that both of them came from Central Indiana. Kelly went to Heritage Christian in Indianapolis and Ash went to Noblesville High, through her Junior year then La Lumiere School her Senior year, a school situated between Michigan City and South Bend, IN.

Kelly helped Heritage Christian win 4 consecutive ISHAA Class 2A State Championships, and went 108-8, had a quadruple double in Nov 2007 scoring 14 pts, 10 boards, 10 assists and 10 steals. She was also the MVP of the 2008 State Tournament.

Ash played for Noblesville High School her first three years of high school, leading them to the ISHAA Class 4A State Championship and was named Indiana's Gatorade Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season and was named an McDonald's All American Feb 2023.

 

[NoSpamHere]

“When he says ‘You suck!’ I hear ‘I love you!’” was the best quote about how Ash feels being coached by Geno. Can’t help but be a big fan of hers.

 

[husky98]

You need all kinds of players to win. Shade absolutely outworks her opponents.

 

[Veteran]

Here's the little play that I think epitomizes Ash. With about three and a half minutes left in the Championship game rout of South Carolina, one of the S Carolina players Ash was guarding (I think it was Fulwilly) lost control of the ball and it rolled away about 10 feet toward the sideline. With victory assured, all the same Ash sprinted forward toward the player anyway. No one would have questioned if she had just stood there and waited for the opponent to retrieve the ball. But she was still fighting even then.

Ash is also my favorite player on this year's team.

 

[DocStressor]

One of the things that makes a press work is the ability of defenders to sprint back on defense to cover open players when the press doesn't work. No one on the team does it better than she does, and plenty of them do it well.

And that is why she gets all those minutes. The UCONN pressure defense looks different when she isn't on the floor.

 

[Doctor G]

Gift link.

For as long as Geno Auriemma and Chris Dailey have been coaching the UConn women’s basketball team, statistics have always played a secondary role in determining a player’s value.​

​

Points scored, margins of victory and even wins themselves are often less important than how the game is played, because ultimately, a player’s approach to maximizing how to get the most of her ability for the good of the team is what matters most.​

​

“She is a starter on the No. 1 team in the country,” Dailey said. “Whatever we have asked Ash to do in the three years that she has been here, she is willing to do it and loves it. That is why she is playing the second-most minutes on the team. She never gets tired. She has a willingness to do whatever it is we ask her to do, whether it is offensive rebounding, defending, making shots.”​

Excellent article. Thank you for the great share.

 

[Bigboote]

If Shade were a car, the dealer would be selling you on her pickup speed. I am sure it is due in no small part to her extensive training from a young age.

One of the things that makes a press work is the ability of defenders to sprint back on defense to cover open players when the press doesn't work. No one on the team does it better than she does, and plenty of them do it well.

The pickup speed feature of her game also shows up when it comes time to double team. I think her "press timing" is also the best on the team and once she hits go, she is there with a full on sprint before the ball handler has time to react.

From my perspective, the best thing about this team is the way they execute various full court presses, and Shade is a huge reason why that style of play is so successful and so entertaining (for the fans, not the opposition).

Well said. I've also noticed how fast she is getting to her spot, whether it's to the trap or recovering from the trap to her mark.

I've noticed that when she's in the open court she strides differently from most basketball players, VERY long strides. I noticed this in Napheesa, too. I know Napheesa ran track at least some in high school, I think long sprints and long jump? I have a vague recollection that Ashlynn did, too, but can't find it at the moment. If she didn't, she sure looks like she did.

 

[Longtime fan]

That Ashlynn is my favorite player is a given. Since she first came to Uconn as a freshman, I saw the video of her with her Father training and was amazed by it. Then Paige got hurt and Ashlynn started and did exceptional. Her freshman year she scored 419 points and was a dynamo on the floor. That cemented her as my favorite .I am patiently waiting for her to score her 1000th point which Ihope is tonight. There is no award that Ashlynn would earn that she didn't deserve and I believe she has had not her BEST YEAR yet. I believe her Senior year will be her best. Her future is going to be amazing. GO ASHLYNN!!!! GO HUSKIES!!!!!

I first saw ASH in the Noblesville final for high school AAAA championship game in Indiana. She did it all and I was thrilled that she had committed to UCONN. She is a gem in every respect. A favorite of mine also.

 

[AmeriConn]

Hustle & Grit = Pride

 

[Bone Dog]

Ash committed early to UConn, probably before many other coaches had an opportunity to pursue her. But even if she hadn’t, I wonder how many would have recognized what sort of player she is. Maybe Flanery and Bluder saw it.

 

[victor64]

Ash committed early to UConn, probably before many other coaches had an opportunity to pursue her. But even if she hadn’t, I wonder how many would have recognized what sort of player she is. Maybe Flanery and Bluder saw it.

Ivey and Noren had to see it. At the time, Shade and Patterson were arguably the top players in Indiana.

 

[Stagnant]

Neither KK or Shade are going up on the wall. Either of them could throw on a Wisconsin uniform or Indiana uniform and they wouldn’t look out of place in my opinion.

But they are two incredibly important signings that occurred in the last few years. UConn was devastated by injuries. Every single player they signed was missing time. And then UConn signed these two and they gave UConn exactly what they needed. Two reliable and more importantly durable players that UConn could plug in for every single game. KK and Shade have been incredibly durable and are always available. They are not the superstars of this team. They are not the ones that deserve the lion’s share of the credit. But they are unsung heroes that all UConn fans should appreciate.

 

[BobbyJ]

Ash committed early to UConn, probably before many other coaches had an opportunity to pursue her. But even if she hadn’t, I wonder how many would have recognized what sort of player she is. Maybe Flanery and Bluder saw it.

Her commitment wasn't particularly early, midway through her junior year. And it was after Arnold's which was 2 months earlier. Seven of her top eight schools (Indiana, L'ville, NC, ND, Stanford, Tenn., and Vanderbilt) had seen plenty of her and had recruited her for awhile.

 

[sno-cat]

I wonder if all the boneyarders who kept saying that Ash couldn’t and wouldn’t be a starter will even read this great thread. GO ASH!

 

[AmeriConn]

 

[ThisJustIn]

It was interesting that post-game CD had a special shout out for "the media, or one person in the media, who questioned her role on this team."

 

[Bone Dog]

Her commitment wasn't particularly early, midway through her junior year. And it was after Arnold's which was 2 months earlier. Seven of her top eight schools (Indiana, L'ville, NC, ND, Stanford, Tenn., and Vanderbilt) had seen plenty of her and had recruited her for awhile.

That’s fair. I was mainly thinking she said she wanted to come to UConn for at least a year before that. Not a technical commitment to be sure. And the fact she had a list of top schools means she was at least considering them.

 

[Skeets]

At one time it was Nika. Now I want Ash in my foxhole. K-9 is a not too distant 2nd.

I wouldn't want either of them to get mad at me and meet me in a dark alley.

 

[meyers7]

Ash committed early to UConn, probably before many other coaches had an opportunity to pursue her. But even if she hadn’t, I wonder how many would have recognized what sort of player she is. Maybe Flanery and Bluder saw it.

Shade was ranked in the top 10 (ahead of Hildago and Fulwiley) and a McD AA. I think she was pretty recognized.

 

[BRS24]

Shade was ranked in the top 10 (ahead of Hildago and Fulwiley) and a McD AA. I think she was pretty recognized.

ESPN's final rankings, unless you are referencing another ranking service? (and yes, my brain has already put this topic on a list for off season discussions 😁 )