Azzi getting her mind and body ready to lead

[The deacon]

I assume she is already the best guard in the country

Lots of good points here, Bone Dog... however, best guard in the country might be a stretch. If she's better than Caitlin Clark, the Huskies would indeed be a serious threat to win it all. We can hope.

 

[CocoHusky]

After Geno recruited Elena Delle Donne, he said something to the effect that EDD wasn't the toughest kid on the block or something like that. I think one of his goals would have been to toughen her up a little. Other than injuries, EDD is having a phenomenal career. Only a few players have been 2x MVPs.

Brings up and interesting former post of yours that I want to challenge. If I remembered correctly you were projecting that EDD was a Naismith HoF player. Is EDD a HoF? IMO she is not quite there yet and it would take another olympics Gold , WNBA MVP, or WNBA championship to seal the deal. One of the things that hurts her chances is that unlike the vast majority of WNBA players, EDD has not played much professionally overseas except for a short stint in China.

 

[JordyG]

Brings up and interesting former post of yours that I want to challenge. If I remembered correctly you were projecting that EDD was a Naismith HoF player. Is EDD a HoF? IMO she is not quite there yet and it would take another olympics Gold , WNBA MVP, or WNBA championship to seal the deal. One of the things that hurts her chances is that unlike the vast majority of WNBA players, EDD has not played much professionally overseas except for a short stint in China.

Look. We all love Rebecca Lobo. What would the UConn program be without her? Every time I see her or hear her voice I feel that moment of victory in 1995 with her crying and running around the court like a mad woman. Rebecca is in the HOF. EDD's professional achievements are far better than Rebecca's. Delle Donne has won two WNBA Most Valuable Player Awards (2015, 2019), been selected to six All-Star teams, and was the first WNBA player to join the 50–40–90 club. She has one WNBA championship ring. She was named to The W25, the league's list of the top 25 players of its first 25 years, in 2021. To me that is far and above the necessary requirements for the HOF.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Brings up and interesting former post of yours that I want to challenge. If I remembered correctly you were projecting that EDD was a Naismith HoF player. Is EDD a HoF? IMO she is not quite there yet and it would take another olympics Gold , WNBA MVP, or WNBA championship to seal the deal. One of the things that hurts her chances is that unlike the vast majority of WNBA players, EDD has not played much professionally overseas except for a short stint in China.

I'm not sure if EDD is in Springfield yet or not, but a couple more years of scoring 18+ ppg should get her there. I don't know if she'll be on Team USA, but it's possible. WNBA champion or MVP is certainly possible, though Wilson and Stewart stand in the way.

Here's the list of multiple-time WNBA MVPs:

3 times: Swoopes, Leslie, Jackson

2 times: Cooper, Parker, Delle Donne, Wilson

It's a very, very elite group. Note that Jackson's career was limited by injuries. EDD is 3rd in career ppg in the WNBA, at 19.8. Only Cooper and Stewart are higher.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I was lucky enough to have a front row seat for the EDD experience starting when she was 12 and winning National AAU championships with Caroline Doty. Front row seat was because I had daughters in the same AAU program that used to practice before and after EDD's and Caroline's team at Chestnut Hill College. It was a phenomenal experience but I still feel cheated in the sense that for just one season I would have like to have seen a UCONN front court of Maya, Tina Charles and EDD. That would have been epic but UCONN didn't seem to miss EDD much those first two years had she stayed at UCONN. All the team did was go 39 and 0 in back to back seasons. But UCONN sure could have used her when Maya was a senior.

If EDD had come to UConn, she--not Stewie--could have been the first player to win 4 consecutive NCAA championships. We had the 2 best players in the nation in 2010--Maya and Tina, in some order. We would have had the 3 best, which would have been unprecedented.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Look. We all love Rebecca Lobo. What would the UConn program be without her? Every time I see her or hear her voice I feel that moment of victory in 1995 with her crying and running around the court like a mad woman. Rebecca is in the HOF. EDD's professional achievements are far better than Rebecca's. Delle Donne has won two WNBA Most Valuable Player Awards (2015, 2019), been selected to six All-Star teams, and was the first WNBA player to join the 50–40–90 club. She has one WNBA championship ring. She was named to The W25, the league's list of the top 25 players of its first 25 years, in 2021. To me that is far and above the necessary requirements for the HOF.

I agree about Elena's accomplishments, but Rebecca is not a fair comparison. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Contributor, not a Player.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think that Milford Husky is right. Azzi is a little like Sue Bird. I hope she has Bird's will to win. Bird's will brought
a lot of gold.

Azzi seems to lack the external intensity of her parents, especially Katie. But I think she has the same inner drive. Steph Curry probably agrees.

 

[JordyG]

I agree about Elena's accomplishments, but Rebecca is not a fair comparison. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Contributor, not a Player.

Fair enough. You're correct, and I was perhaps a bit off point. I would also however put her career up against Yolanda Griffith. The problem really for me is the criteria for men to get into the HOF is well watered down, whereas women seemly have to meet a far higher standard. Just sayin'.

 

[Bone Dog]

When I think of Rebecca's accomplishments, it's primarily that she lent instant credibility to the league by joining it. Her career was shortened by injury, so it's hard to judge her on stats.

 

[CocoHusky]

Look. We all love Rebecca Lobo. What would the UConn program be without her? Every time I see her or hear her voice I feel that moment of victory in 1995 with her crying and running around the court like a mad woman. Rebecca is in the HOF. EDD's professional achievements are far better than Rebecca's. Delle Donne has won two WNBA Most Valuable Player Awards (2015, 2019), been selected to six All-Star teams, and was the first WNBA player to join the 50–40–90 club. She has one WNBA championship ring. She was named to The W25, the league's list of the top 25 players of its first 25 years, in 2021. To me that is far and above the necessary requirements for the HOF.

You make a good case that EDD professional achievements but let’s consider impact for a second. Rebecca is the “birth” of a UCONN dynasty as well as one of the faces responsible for the birth of the WNBA. Rebecca has also stayed close to the game with broadcasting and is one of the most influential voices of the women’s game.

 

[JordyG]

You make a good case that EDD professional achievements but let’s consider impact for a second. Rebecca is the “birth” of a UCONN dynasty as well as one of the faces responsible for the birth of the WNBA. Rebecca has also stayed close to the game with broadcasting and is one of the most influential voices of the women’s game.

I agree completely. Rebecca is deserving of a plaque in the HOF. My argument is that EDD is deserving as well. And again, men inductees have a far lower threshold of admission than women.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I agree completely. Rebecca is deserving of a plaque in the HOF. My argument is that EDD is deserving as well. And again, men inductees have a far lower threshold of admission than women.

As I think I said, EDD has done enough to get to Springfield, in my opinion. The next few years may get her a first class ticket.