Just Saying….I had Stewie way back at 1

[Cuango]

Yes championships do matter, it matters when determining goat, Taurasi was in the same position Clark was in her jr and sr year and got it done. Yes Clark scored more but also shot it more and turned it over more. Doesn't discount Clark's greatness but if D turned it over as much she doesn't win it all in 2003 and 2004.

I’m guessing Dee had better players, certainly had better coaching, and also benefited from the UConn mystique and “expectation to win!” Not taking anything away from Dee. She deserves every accolade.

 

[ucmiami2]

I think as far as NCAA you have to give Stewart the prize, and I would put DT at 2. Maya and Catch probably follow.

As far as career to date:
DT at 1
Sue at 2

Both with incredibly long professional careers and success internationally as well as in the National Team, the W and in college.

Players like Wilson and Stewart are building their careers and have a ways to go - check back in a decade.

The older players didn't get the professional opportunities and the foreign players ended up second place because of the USA dominance internationally and the fact that the W wasn't as important to them - Jackson is an exception as are a few others who had long careers in the W.

Maya falls in there somewhere, but realistically she had a very short pro career, choosing to move in other directions. Brilliant while she lasted, but too short to be in the top 5 I think.

 

[Rowdy831]

If it’s just in NCAAW then Stewart should be #1 or at the very least top 3.

At UConn maybe since you will be playing with 4 other HS All Americans every season. But if you go to a regular school and you are the team then the NC isn't really a fair requirement. Basketball is a team game and great teams usually have great players not just a great player.

 

[Steelerone]

Let's see - size, coordination, high basketball IQ, four NCAA championships - not a bad formula for a number one.

 

[maple]

At UConn maybe since you will be playing with 4 other HS All Americans every season. But if you go to a regular school and you are the team then the NC isn't really a fair requirement. Basketball is a team game and great teams usually have great players not just a great player.

And yet I didn't say anything at all about how many championships she won.

Stewart was such a versatile player. She could truly do it all. I remember one AAC game where she sprinted from one end to the other to block a shot and not foul in the process. Or the way she just effortless would score 20 points on a seemingly "quiet" night. She wasn't always very flashy, but she always got it done. Especially in the way she completely locked in during the 2013 tournament and lead the team to a huge FF win over ND.

In many ways, Sarah Strong reminds me of her. The type of player who just gets it done and makes it look like she isn't even really trying (in the best way).

Sure she was surrounded by a terrific ensemble cast at UConn. But she could have gone anywhere at all and been the star there too. She may have won less championships at another school but she would still have been outstanding.

 

[KCD]

Caitlin also had many more rebounds and assists than DT in their respective NCAA Final Four games. It might be that, in spite of all the BY posts to the contrary, DT had better supporting casts, and also played lesser opponents.

I think that Caitlyn is a fantastic scorer and a great player, but you have to be a two way player to be considered for goat status in my opinion. Caitlyn is a liability on the defensive end. Her assist to turnover ratio is also way too low. Some games she has as many or more turnovers as assists. DT and the others in the goat debate are all complete players. She is a great scorer, but she is not a complete player. I'm not putting her down, I really like her as a player. I just think that she doesn't belong in this conversation. Give her credit for creating hype around the women's game, she deserves that. But putting her in this conversation is a different story. As far as the stats and lesser opponents talk??? Really? The fact is that DT won 3 National Championships. DT was one of the greatest all around players in the game. Caitlyn had a great college career and was exciting to watch. I don't know if her scoring records will ever be broken and she is one of the best players to play, but not to point of goat status.

 

[HuskyNan]

Maybe we need to set up a Caitlyn Clark sub forum.