Most Satisfying/Important National Championship

[BfromCT]

If the stars align, a big if, and if UConn records victories over USC, UCLA, and almost certainly South Carolina, then a twelfth national championship will certainly be a memorable one, but how might it rate in the pantheon of previous championships?

As we all know, the Huskies have won eleven national championships - 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. Thinking about this season has led me to think contemplate UConn’s past ones and to try to rank them as the most significant and satisfying. I picked three that stand out after thirty years.

First and foremost, 35-0 in 1995. Enough said.

Second, the 2000 team that destroyed Tennessee in the finals 71-52. It showed that UConn was not a one hit wonder.

Third, 2013. The Huskies lost three times previously to Notre Dame, but destroyed the Irish 83-65 in the national semi-finals. The finals victory over Louisville was anti-climactic.

Honorable mention: 2003 with Diana Taurasi supported by an inexperienced cast and 2009 the team of Maya Moore, Tina Charles, and Renee Montgomery.

My own view is that if the team triumphs this season that it will rank second behind only 1995.

Thoughts?

 

[maple]

To me the most important NC behind 1995 was when Stewart/Tuck/MoJeff won their 4th a row in 2016. It capped off such an incredible unprecedented legacy and it's hard to imagine even any one player being able to do that again in the future. Plus it was the start of the iconic 111 wins in a row. It was just so massively impactful to really cementing UConn as a dynasty.

 

[GoingPostal]

I think the Diana Taurasi lead 2003 team is my choice for the runner up to 1995. My feeling is that it was the most unexpected. That team had one superstar who through her extraordinary talent and grit willed her teammates to the national championship.

 

[Bone Dog]

I think the Diana Taurasi lead 2003 team is my choice for the runner up to 1995. My feeling is that it was the most unexpected. That team had one superstar who through her extraordinary talent and grit willed her teammates to the national championship.

Yup. And this team most resembles that one in character and grit.

 

[HuskyinWRNY]

The most important will always be the next one

 

[Puppy Love]

Second, the 2000 team that destroyed Tennessee in the finals 71-52. It showed that UConn was not a one hit wonder.

That will always be my favorite because I was there. However, I always felt it was a little ‘less than’ because the Vols starting point guard (Kristin ‘Ace’ Clement) sprained her ankle at shoot around and couldn’t play. Geno has always maintained that UConn was so good that year they would have beat an all star team, and he generally knows his stuff.

As for my ‘next most important’, I’ll go with Stewie and company’s fourth in a row. It’s part of the UConn legend.

 

[Centerstream]

Just like children and grandchildren, there is no favorite

 

[Rowdy831]

The most important would be the first one. To me winning 4 in a row was an amazing accomplishment but they had a team that was loaded with future professional stars. Since they have so many I would say 1995 then all the others are tied for second.

 

[fomalhaut]

Breaking the longest drought would put it number two in my opinion.

 

[Woof 101]

The next one as the women's game has more wide spread talent overall. Of course that first one was very special. I still have my SI magazine and Courant copies.

 

[Inthepaint]

Never saw a UCONN NC so the one on April 6th 2025 would be the best
If all goes as it should.
Started following in 2018
Have only seen injuries & heartbreak but haven’t given up on my Huskies
Want to wear a “2024-25 National Championship “ tee shirt

 

[Inthepaint]

Oh, yeah…

 

[Inthepaint]

!!

 

[VA Huskie]

My favorite was a “personal” one. 2009 vs Louisville, in St. Louis. We’d gone to the 2008 FF in Tampa, when we lost in the semifinals to Stanford. It was our first in person FF. The pain of defeat was so great that we said we’d never go again.

But we recovered and went in 2009. The joy of seeing a win, in person, was indescribable! We then went on a run where we went to 5 more FF’s (not in consecutive years), each of which UConn won. We started thinking we were some sort of good luck charm. Alas, we then lost the next 2 we went to and haven’t been back since 2019.

GO HUSKIES!!!

 

[Skeets]

I want to say the most important and satisfying is the one right in front of you, but I'll go along with the 1995 and 2003 teams.

 

[chj001]

If they go all the way, they might beat three no. 1's in a row. Has thay ever been done before?

 

[Kat]

Earlier this season, Geno said, offhandedly, that this current team was not one of the five most athletic teams that have played at UConn. I wondered about that, but afterwards watched a replay of the 2000 championship game, and saw what he meant. I can't pick a favorite championship team out of all those great squads that you listed, but it's fun to compare their qualities.

 

[Suebird10fan]

Most satisfying for me was 2000, Kelly Schumacher’s block party. Tennessee was still king of the hill, so to win in such dominating fashion, with shot after shot rejected by one of my all time favorite Huskies? That was mega satisfying!

 

[Blue Huskie]

I’ve never experienced an unsatisfying one

 

[Steelerone]

I'm not sure I've really got a favorite. As long as we win or give a good fight it's all worthwhile.

 

[Cuango]

If they go all the way, they might beat three no. 1's in a row. Has thay ever been done before?

Not sure in the women’s but Arizona men did it in 1997 when they won their Chip.

 

[David54]

Not sure about most satisfying but strangest 2010. Second consecutive undefeated season. Tina Charles so good Maya didn’t get POY.
12 points in first half of title game!

 

[uconnfan68]

If they go all the way, they might beat three no. 1's in a row. Has thay ever been done before?

We’re usually a #1, so it’s impossible to beat the other 3.

 

[bballnut90]

One thing that’s consistent with Geno’s title teams is they’ve never really been an underdog in any tournament game. The lone exceptions might be 1995 and 2003 vs Tennessee, but his teams have always been favored to win in all 6 tournament games. This year despite being a 2 seed, it would still follow suit as UCONN is the clear betting favorite entering the Final Four as an 8.5 point favorite over #1 overall seed UCLA. That said, this year winning a title feels like less of a sure thing compared to most UCONN title teams where they’ve often been the overwhelming favorite to win it all.

I’m not a UCONN fan but I’d imagine pulling out a title this year would be up there among the most satisfying of wins considering the uncertainty of winning a title, the 9 year title drought and that it’d be a storybook ending to Paige’s career after all she’s been through.

 

[BfromCT]

A week ago I started this thread and this seems an appropriate time for an update. I wrote at that time that if the Huskies earned their twelfth national championship this season that it would rank second after 1995 in the list of achievements. Yes, in my opinion it is.

I was doubtful about the team’s ability to defeat UCLA and South Carolina. Re UCLA, I remember back to 1995 and the semi-final against Stanford when the Cardinals had no answer to our big Kara Wolters who scored 31 points in UConn’s decisive victory. I was concerned that Lauren Betts presented the same problem. But history did not repeat itself. Betts was effective but the Huskies shut down everyone else in an 85-51 victory. Re South Carolina, the Gamecocks had depth and superb athletes who were long and quick and I thought that they might be too much for UConn. Obviously, my doubts were misplaced as the defensive intensity of the Huskies together with the heroics of the big three dominated last year’s national championship team.

Nothing can ever top 1995. I was working at UConn at the time and attended virtually all the home games, plus the Big East tournament, the first two NCAA games, and the regionals finals that were held at Storrs. What a wonderful group of athletes whose talents complimented one another. Some may disagree but I still think that player for player it was the best team UConn ever fielded, one that featured two players of the year, four present or future All-Americans, and the two toughest players imaginable - Jennifer Rizzotti and Jamelle Elliott.

As for this year’s team, a win after nine years and eight straight tournament disappointments with two on last second shots, what can one say. The gods would not allow one of the transcendent players in UConn history to leave campus without a national championship. The big three together with necessary important contributions from the remaining players simply overwhelmed all opposition. This was, perhaps, the most dominating NCAA tournament run in history, although it is possible that one of the 2013-16 teams was equally overwhelming.

In any case, let’s celebrate and honor our unsurpassed coach and the roster of players that have brought us such joy. Bring on the parade!