ESPN's Greatest 4 Year Runs in Women's College Basketball History

[CTtoSanDiego]

No surprise, this list is UConn dominant. Unfortunately, they don't rank them in order. But maybe that's something Boneyarder's can do to help pass the time stuck at home.

Top four-year runs in women's college basketball history

Schools like Tennessee, UConn, Stanford and South Carolina have become synonymous with women's college basketball, and many of the players who got them there are still alive in ESPN's Greatest of All Time bracket.

www.espn.com

 

[EricLA]

Sort of easy to rank - UCONN with Stewie clear #1 of all time. 4 NC's in 4 years. Then UCONN and Tennessee both had a stretch where they won 3 out of 4 NC's. Etc.

Still, a fun read.

 

[EasyEd]

They could have even included the last four years for UConn, they were 136-8. The only thing is during those four years UConn didn't win a championship.

 

[bluedevil]

They won 4 AAC championships.. not an easy feat

 

[MSGRET]

The should just give UConn the last 12 years, because they are the ONLY team to make it to the final four 12 years in a row. Winning 6 NC and making the FF 12 times kinda of makes you dominate.

 

[BostonBay]

I'd go with UConn - 2000-04, based on the tougher level of competition (tougher Big East conference, Tenn, ND, Stanford at their primes) as well as more star-laden talent from players 1 to 8.

 

[chrissaran]

How about the Huskies' outer conference schedule during the 2012-2016 years? UConn didn't choose to leave the Big East. UConn didn't choose to not get invited into the ACC because the other teams didn't want to play them.

 

[Plebe]

My immediate thoughts on the list:

Hopefully this list allays some of the ever-present concerns about ESPN's "dissing" of UConn.

I'm generally a sucker for the nostalgic looks at a bygone era ... but if we're going nostalgic, I don't see why the AIAW was excluded with no disclaimer to this effect.

I would include:

• Immaculata 1971-75: Under legendary coach Cathy Rush, the Mighy Macs won three consecutive AIAW championships (1972-74) and were also runners-up in 1975 and 1976. The Immaculata-Maryland game on Jan. 26, 1975, was the first nationally televised women's basketball game.
  
  
• Delta State 1973-77: Coach Margaret Wade (for whom the Wade Trophy is now named) led a newly resurrected program to an amazing four-year record of 109-6, which included 3 consecutive AIAW titles (1975-77) and a then-record 51-game winning streak.

 

[JonathanXIV]

Hopefully this list allays some of the ever-present concerns about ESPN's "dissing" of UConn.

Honestly, what choice did they have. And I'm not sure I would have included South Carolina on this list. Don't think of them as "dominate" over a four-year period.

 

[donalddoowop]

My immediate thoughts on the list:

Hopefully this list allays some of the ever-present concerns about ESPN's "dissing" of UConn.

I'm generally a sucker for the nostalgic looks at a bygone era ... but if we're going nostalgic, I don't see why the AIAW was excluded with no disclaimer to this effect.

I would include:

• Immaculata 1971-75: Under legendary coach Cathy Rush, the Mighy Macs won three consecutive AIAW championships (1972-74) and were also runners-up in 1975 and 1976. The Immaculata-Maryland game on Jan. 26, 1975, was the first nationally televised women's basketball game.
  
  
• Delta State 1973-77: Coach Margaret Wade (for whom the Wade Trophy is now named) led a newly resurrected program to an amazing four-year record of 109-6, which included 3 consecutive AIAW titles (1975-77) and a then-record 51-game winning streak.

The AIAW was the organization that got me first interested in WCBB. I remember reading about Immaculata winning so many championships in a row and then Delta State after that. Never saw a game but I used to read about them. It bothered me when the AIAW had to give way to the NCAA who seemed to ignore the AIAW until they started getting positive publicity. However, the lure of money and more exposure prevailed.

 

[Plebe]

And I'm not sure I would have included South Carolina on this list. Don't think of them as "dominate" over a four-year period.

Yeah that was a very generous inclusion — perhaps some recency bias? The 4-year period in question only included two Final Four appearances, and they were a 4-loss team in their lone championship year.

I would have certainly included Tennessee (pick a 4-year run from their stretch of 3 titles in 5 years 1987-91) ahead of South Carolina 2014-18.

 

[Puppy Love]

Baylor 2008-2012 is ridiculous. I get that it was the ’Griner Years’, but UConn was undefeated national champions during two of them.

 

[Orangutan]

Honestly, what choice did they have. And I'm not sure I would have included South Carolina on this list. Don't think of them as "dominate" over a four-year period.

They were no better than third most dominant team during their "dynasty".

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Yeah that was a very generous inclusion — perhaps some recency bias? The 4-year period in question only included two Final Four appearances, and they were a 4-loss team in their lone championship year.

ESPN knows better than to face the wrath of Dawn again.

 

[cbraarj]

The should just give UConn the last 12 years, because they are the ONLY team to make it to the final four 12 years in a row. Winning 6 NC and making the FF 12 times kinda of makes you dominate.

17 out of 20 years in FF since 2000!

 

[shiverz45]

They were no better than third most dominant team during their "dynasty".

SC did something during that 4 years that know other team including Tennessee had ever done in the SEC. We won 4 straight Tournament titles. In that 12 game stretch I think we won every game we played by double digits. During that 4 year period UConn was still the most dominant team in women basketball. However I am sure they wanted to add more variety to the list. As far as #2 I assume you are talking about Notre Dame. I am not sure what you accomplished during that stretch but I assume you have the numbers. Personally I am surprised they included SC. I am sure if they wanted to they could have found a stretch equivalent or better than SC.

 

[Orangutan]

SC did something during that 4 years that know other team including Tennessee had ever done in the SEC. We won 4 straight Tournament titles. In that 12 game stretch I think we won every game we played by double digits. During that 4 year period UConn was still the most dominant team in women basketball. However I am sure they wanted to add more variety to the list. As far as #2 I assume you are talking about Notre Dame. I am not sure what you accomplished during that stretch but I assume you have the numbers. Personally I am surprised they included SC. I am sure if they wanted to they could have found a stretch equivalent or better than SC.

 

[shiverz45]

I agree, Notre Dame should have been on that list if they were going to include SC.

 

[JonathanXIV]

SC did something during that 4 years that know other team including Tennessee had ever done in the SEC. We won 4 straight Tournament titles. In that 12 game stretch I think we won every game we played by double digits. During that 4 year period UConn was still the most dominant team in women basketball. However I am sure they wanted to add more variety to the list. As far as #2 I assume you are talking about Notre Dame. I am not sure what you accomplished during that stretch but I assume you have the numbers. Personally I am surprised they included SC. I am sure if they wanted to they could have found a stretch equivalent or better than SC.

When a team is dominant over a four year period, people are talking about the team as dominant during that period. Think of UConn during the Stewie years. People were talking about whether anyone could beat UConn and whether or not they were "good for the game." No one has spent the last four years talking about South Carolina's dominance of the game. They were one of a few teams considered at the top. But dominant? Nope.

 

[bballnut90]

The whole list is kind of lazy TBH unless they're looking to highlight the stars who played during that stretch.

USC should be 1982-1986. Record is 112-20 (compared to 104-19), 2 titles and 1 runner up (compared to 2 titles and an Elite 8)

UCONN 2000-2004 should really be 1999-2003. They won 3 titles, went 144-5 (compared to 139-8). You don't encapsulate all of DT's years but they chose to include the 2004 season over 2000, and there's no question by almost any measure that 2000 was the better team.

Baylor should be 2009-2013 or 2010-2014.
2009-2013 they went 135-15 (instead of 130-19 choosing 2008-2012), and have an added Elite 8 appearance and conference titles in place of a Sweet 16 appearance.
If you do 2010-2014, they went 140-10 but with just 1 Final Four.

Notre Dame should absolutely be on there over SC, too. Whether you take:

2015-2019 (136-13, 1 title, 1 runner up, 1 Elite 8, 1 Sweet 16, 4 conference titles, 3 tournament titles)
2012-2016 (141-8 record, 2 runner ups, 3 Final Fours, 4 regular season and 4 tournament titles)
2014-2018 (137-12 record, 1 title, 1 runner up, 1 Elite 8, 1 Sweet 16, 4 conf titles, 3 tournament titles)
2011-2015 (143-10 record, 3 runner ups, 1 Final Four, 4 conf titles, 3 tournament titles)

And South Carolina's best stretch arguably could be be 2013-2017. No it doesn't include all of Wilson's years, but they have a 129-15 record instead of 129-17, swap a tournament title for a regular season title and have 4 years as a #1 seed. They do lose an Elite 8 appearance in favor of a Sweet 16 finish. Pretty much a toss up, but I thought their 2014 squad was stronger than 2017.

Other notables that weren't included:
Tennessee 1987-1991, 123-16, two titles, a Final Four and a Sweet 16
Stanford 2007-2011, 137-12, two runner ups, two Final Fours OR
Stanford 2009-2013, 137-10, one runner up, two Final Fours, a Sweet 16
UCONN 2013-2017, 152-2, 3 titles, 1 Final Four...I know they did 2012-16, but Saniya Chong's W/L record will likely never be matched

 

[cbraarj]

I'd go with UConn - 2000-04, based on the tougher level of competition (tougher Big East conference, Tenn, ND, Stanford at their primes) as well as more star-laden talent from players 1 to 8.

03 & 04 UConn only had 1 star player.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Honestly, what choice did they have. And I'm not sure I would have included South Carolina on this list. Don't think of them as "dominate" over a four-year period.

two titles in four years?

(Ducks)

 

[Gamecockfan77]

SC did something during that 4 years that know other team including Tennessee had ever done in the SEC. We won 4 straight Tournament titles. In that 12 game stretch I think we won every game we played by double digits. During that 4 year period UConn was still the most dominant team in women basketball. However I am sure they wanted to add more variety to the list. As far as #2 I assume you are talking about Notre Dame. I am not sure what you accomplished during that stretch but I assume you have the numbers. Personally I am surprised they included SC. I am sure if they wanted to they could have found a stretch equivalent or better than SC.

Not sure winning four sec tournament titles is all that nationally significant.

I too am surprised to be listed.

 

[triaddukefan]

two titles in four years?

(Ducks)

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Not sure winning four sec tournament titles is all that nationally significant.

I too am surprised to be listed for 13-17. I think maybe they ran out of thoughts. We were good though. Two final fours in there.