my vote for Maya as best player in UConn history (so far)

[Buzzyboy]

I won't opine as to whether Diana, Maya or Stewie is UConn's GOAT. But I will offer this observation. Of all of our players, indeed, of all WCBB players, Maya stands alone in this respect; she is almost otherworldly. She came to UConn almost fully formed; no early struggles, no midseason slumps, an AA from day 1. And while a wonderful teammate, she carried herself differently. Tina captures some of this in her SI article. Mature, composed, focused; as if she was designed to be the best player in the game and she knew it.

In contrast, Diana is fully, sometimes embarrassingly, human; and she had her well-documented lapse in the Final Four her freshman year. And Stewie had her slump during her freshman year, barely playing against Baylor, and having to beat through it to emerge at the end of the season.

But not Maya. It's as if she was built in a lab or came from an alien planet, like Superman, and graced us with her excellence. And we are better for it. She is truly one of a kind.

I wish I could give you 1000 likes because you encapsulate Maya so much better than I ever could .... there was Maya playing at A/A level from the first game of her UConn career .... there was never a time where she didn't play at a superior level or played out of control .... she always played within herself and was never flamboyant or seemed to play over the top .... she's always played with supreme grace and class and with an eloquence like no other Huskie ... absolutely no showboating or in your face and no awkwardness or clumsy .... the epitome of class and dignity and without diminishing any of the other elite players compared to her, in my mind she stands alone ...

 

[JonathanXIV]

I wish I could give you 1000 likes because you encapsulate Maya so much better than I ever could .... there was Maya playing at A/A level from the first game of her UConn career .... there was never a time where she didn't play at a superior level or played out of control .... she always played within herself and was never flamboyant or seemed to play over the top .... she's always played with supreme grace and class and with an eloquence like no other Huskie ... absolutely no showboating or in your face and no awkwardness or clumsy .... the epitome of class and dignity and without diminishing any of the other elite players compared to her, in my mind she stands alone ...

I think you did a pretty good job capturing Maya.

 

[Buzzyboy]

Bottom line is if Stewart or Moore played in Taurasis place in 03 & 04. UConn does not win either NC. Maya already proved she didn't make players better in 2011. She played a great game but noone else did. Maya and Stewie only one because they had other AAs on the team in NCs years. Anybody saying anything different is downplaying Diana's achievement.

If you think the quality of the teams that Diana and the Huskies played against in 2002 and 2003 were anywhere near as talented as the teams that Maya and Stewie played against in their respective years, then you are sadly mistaken ..... the Tennessee Vols were a really good team but nowhere near the quality of the teams that Stewie and Maya played in their respective times .... the talent level of their opponents wasn't even close and Maria Conlon who was solid but not very athletic was a key reason in both seasons as to why the Huskies won ... I know that if it hadn't been for Willnett Crockett (not Diana), they never would have beaten Texas and gotten to the championship game ... you make it sound like Ashley Battle, Willnett, Jessice Moore, Ann Strother and Barbara Turner were nothing and that's so far from the truth .... I think Geno would laugh in your face if you tried to tell them that they weren't essential to that championship in 2002-2003 .... obviously Diana was a big part, as well but to diminish these ladies and to also not bring up the quality of their opposition, is disingenuous ...

 

[UConner]

Stewie came in and said I'm here to win 4 She did. DT and Maya didn't I was in St Louis for the 2nd half collapse in 2001

 

[Buzzyboy]

IMO you nailed it when you said Taurasi and a guard because the majority of time that's who does it. Now people are talking about who she played. All UConns NCs were won by double figures except 4 were by double figures. Mayas team blewout a weak Louisville team by 23. Then beat a team by 5 pts after beating them by double figures 2 years in a row. Stanford was tough but still not in Cts. league. Stewies team won 4 NCs by a total of 92 points an average of 23 pts a game. Was this because of crappy competition or in those 6 years the Huskies were loaded with AAs. I say loaded with AAs is why!

Geno must have decided not to recruit at a high level because he had Diana and no one else did and why bother, right??? I don't think Geno's recruiting was every anything but superb and there was an awful lot of talent on the Huskies in Diana's junior and senior year .... the fact is UConn had some really good talent on those two teams and their lineup was really nicely balanced though she was the only All-American .... Ann Strother and Maria Conlon and Ashley Battle and Willnett Crockett and Morgan Valley all were solid defenders and even without Dee would have made the Huskies a really tough out but obviously her presence made a difference ... You do remember that playing Texas, in the semi-finals, Willnett Crockett carried the Huskies to that victory, NOT DIANA .... Can you remember off the top of your head, who played on that Tennessee team that UConn beat??? It wasn't composed of a lot of super stars that ended up in the WNBA, was it????? There were a lot of good teams that season but assuredly there wasn't any really special teams that were dominant .... I don't want to diminish Diana or her contributions to those two championships but to use that to elevate her to the degree that you and others do is almost silly .... Maya, from day one played at a level that no other Huskie has played at, their entire career ..... Diana's semi final game against Notre Dame in her freshman year, was one of the worst performances by any player in Geno's years coaching the Huskies .... she has obviously redeemed herself many times over but in a critical game, when she was counted on, she threw nothing but brick after brick after brick .... that is a fact

 

[hoophuskee]

Bottom line is if Stewart or Moore played in Taurasis place in 03 & 04. UConn does not win either NC. Maya already proved she didn't make players better in 2011. She played a great game but noone else did. Maya and Stewie only one because they had other AAs on the team in NCs years. Anybody saying anything different is downplaying Diana's achievement.

Well as the poster jazz and I have mentioned a few times there has to be a consideration takes on quality of opponent along with how teams were built. IMO the teams UCONN went through in 02-03 and 03-04 weren't as good as what Maya and Stewart had to go through between ND and Stanford.

Secondly- ofc Maya and Stewart would struggle winning with DT's teams -- but that's because the DT team wouldn't have another quality offensive starting guard and DT;s team had the combo 3 power forwards/ centers in which you have 2 good players like Turner and Moore. So exhange these 2 along with adding a Crocket type for guards of comparable value - - yes I think they can win too. Turner and Moore went on to play in the WNBA. They weren't bums.

Third- I do have DT slightly ahead of Maya but I can understand the counterpoint to be made for Maya - in that unlike 02-03 and 03-04- Maya's 10-11 team didn't have backup players in the post (S. Walker left during the season). So once Dolson got into foul trouble - only played 24 minutes in game 4 - but in games 2 and 3 she played 34 and 40- UCONN was susceptible to losing because they didn't have a backup. They got wiped out on the glass.

The only reason why UCONN didn't have Dolson play more in game 1 vs ND was due to Walker still being on the team.

 

[Skeets]

It's been mentioned in the past on how many championships she's been a part of on the Boneyard but because I'm old and diminished, I'm not absolutely sure ... I believe she's got three Olympic medals but I'm not sure but she's also won multiple WNBA championships and of course, her two national championships with the Huskies .... there quite possibly are others .... I'm just saying that if there's any difference between her and DT, it's somewhat negligible and you do know that some of these gold medals and other championships have something to do with the rest of the team since there's four other players that contribute, right?????

Maya won 2 gold medals. DT (hopefully) will be going for #5. I don't see anyone ever getting 6. So that might be a record that could be tied, but never broken. (Yes, Sue will also be going for #5)

 

[hoophuskee]

Maya won 2 gold medals. DT (hopefully) will be going for #5. I don't see anyone ever getting 6. So that might be a record that could be tied, but never broken. (Yes, Sue will also be going for #5)

I take this thread for college.

 

[Tonyc]

Its hard to say who the best is when you compare different eras in UConn WBB. Diana in her last 3 years wasnt surrounded by players like some of the other top players. She was her freshman season but after that she led the team and took over when she had too. No other player had that. So to compare stats and awards imo is tuff because the 95 team is much different from the Stewie MoJeff Tuck team and the Maya Tina Renee team. If I were to start a team Diana would be my first pick . Diana had the ability to make everyone around her better and take over a game when UConn needed her to step up. She did the impossible in the most cructial moments. No other player did that. Paige is the first player Ive seen that can make everybody around her better and Paige has the skills ability and brains to blossom into the next Diana.

 

[Huskybass]

Stewie won 4 National Championships and was Most Outstanding Player of all 4 Final Fours. You simply can't top that.

 

[Skeets]

I take this thread for college.

Then as I said, it becomes a much more difficult question. I don't know how anyone can say that DT or Maya had a better Uconn career than Stewie.

 

[Waquoit]

Stewie won 4 National Championships and was Most Outstanding Player of all 4 Final Fours. You simply can't top that.

Literally

 

[Waquoit]

If Stewie didn’t make players better, then why do people lump Morgan Tuck in with the other greats? Kelly Schumacher was the better player. She proved that with her success in the WNBA.

 

[Skeets]

Literally

Unless PB or Fudd gets a 5th year as a grad. Before you jump on me I know this is ridiculous

 

[MilfordHusky]

Stewie won 4 National Championships and was Most Outstanding Player of all 4 Final Fours. You simply can't top that.

Have you met "Paige '5 for 5' Bueckers"?

 

[hoophuskee]

Its hard to say who the best is when you compare different eras in UConn WBB. Diana in her last 3 years wasnt surrounded by players like some of the other top players. She was her freshman season but after that she led the team and took over when she had too. No other player had that. So to compare stats and awards imo is tuff because the 95 team is much different from the Stewie MoJeff Tuck team and the Maya Tina Renee team. If I were to start a team Diana would be my first pick . Diana had the ability to make everyone around her better and take over a game when UConn needed her to step up. She did the impossible in the most cructial moments. No other player did that. Paige is the first player Ive seen that can make everybody around her better and Paige has the skills ability and brains to blossom into the next Diana.

Huh?? The 1st part in bold - just a typo, right? You meant "two," obviously.

Stewart and Maya also made their teammates better and also took over games when they had to that led to championships. So yes Stewie and Maya did do that. Which is why the 3 are so hard to separate.

It's not only guards that can make your teammates better.

Anyway- Merry Christmas to everyone!!

 

[shiverz45]

From someone outside with no bias I would ranked them: #1 Maya, #2 Steward, #3 DT

 

[hoophuskee]

From someone outside with no bias I would ranked them: #1 Maya, #2 Steward, #3 DT

Why? And who is your team and when did you stat following wcbb? BTW, her last name is Stewart.

 

[UConner]

Have you met "Paige '5 for 5' Bueckers"?

Hopefully.....

 

[HopJim]

Maya also was the only 4-time All-American and had the best career record of the elite players, 150-4.

Some people point out her losses in 2 Final Fours as the reasons why they have her at #3.

I agree with you.

Some of these stats are interesting but as a UConn fan, all I want to discuss are NCAA Championships. Maya and others are some others are great players but give me 4 NCAA's and Stewie.

 

[JonathanXIV]

Some of these stats are interesting but as a UConn fan, all I want to discuss are NCAA Championships. Maya and others are some others are great players but give me 4 NCAA's and Stewie.

This is an argument that is made over and over on the BY. Certainly championships, and the role a player has in winning those championships, is a factor to consider when evaluating players and their all-time status. Stewie was the best player on four championship teams. But she wasn’t the only player; she didn’t win those championships by herself. Simply suggesting that we should consider additional factors when determining who is our GOAT.

 

[BostonBay]

DT is my choice. You can make an argument for all 3. But, DT is the only one that actually carried the team on her back to 2 Titles. The last one UConn had no business winning a Title, except for her. You can't say that for the other 2. You can come up with hypotheticals to argue Maya & Stewie could have done the same. But, they're just hypotheticals. DT actually did it and she was the first to do it at UConn.

 

[Dean Wormer]

Diana Taurasi is the best WBB player I’ve ever seen. My 2 cents.

 

[FanHam]

I call it a dead heat between Maya, Diana and Stewie. They all won multiple NCAA championships, they all were outstanding on both ends of the court, they all kicked butt in the WNBA.

 

[Zorro]

Comparisons are indeed odious. All three were superb and we are very fortunate to have had the pleasure of watching them play for our side. Bar injury, Paige and Azzi may join their select company.

 

[shiverz45]

Why? And who is your team and when did you stat following wcbb? BTW, her last name is Stewart.

Sorry, I didn't realize I typed "d" instead of "t". To me Maya had no holes in her game. She pretty much dominated as soon as she arrived. Numbers don't tell the whole picture but you can't dismiss the numbers she put up. There was no grace period for her. I started following women basket during the time when Old Dominion and La tech was considered elite.

 

[hoophuskee]

Sorry, I didn't realize I typed "d" instead of "t". To me Maya had no holes in her game. She pretty much dominated as soon as she arrived. Numbers don't tell the whole picture but you can't dismiss the numbers she put up. There was no grace period for her. I started following women basket during the time when Old Dominion and La tech was considered elite.

Okay I am not arguing. Nothing else to do here being stuck at home.

But what holes did you think DT and Stewart had?

I have to say what Maya did in the Stanford title game was just nuts-great. And in her sr year - she hits enormous shot which helps UCONN beat Baylor and even in the Final Four ND Game which UCONN lost- she was amazing.

for me- no doubt - day one Maya was fabulous, amazing and just all that and more.

But I'll say this in defense of the other 2-- DT - when she came in-- you knew she was a combo pg, sg,and could play sf. But there were 3 all-americans in front of her. IMO Geno would've done the same thing with Maya if there were 3 other all-americans in front of her at her positions. Matter-of-fact he did initially have Maya come off the bench. At that point - Maya would never have gotten the numbers she wound up having. But once Shea got hurt -- that was it-- they let DT go free just like they Maya go free from the start. Once they did- she got all-region MVP.

And while in the FF game- DT played poorly-- Maya got outplayed by Wiggins. Wiggins was a wing as was Maya. In the tournament nobody outplayed Stewart. What weaknesses did Stewart show by the end of the year?

Do you agree that Maya didn't have much of a low post game, didn't have the great of ball-handling and when she was wing, she wasn't going to shutdown a quick wing, right? With all that said-- I still have a vision in my mind of several players surrounding Maya and she just elevates so effortlessly with her jump shot. She was unstoppable. The only defense on her was "hope she misses." IMO the same with DT and Stewie.

 

[Urshurak]

For me: 1. DT. 2. Stewie 3. MM or SB.

 

[UConn990411]

It’s really difficult to argue that someone who led UConn to four national titles with four Final Four most outstanding player awards isn’t the best player in program history. And that’s before we mention the two undefeated seasons and the contributions to UConn’s 111-game winning streak.

There’s an argument to be made for Taurasi (who’s my favorite player ever), especially when you consider the teams she won with her junior and senior seasons. I wouldn’t make that argument, but it’s at least a worthwhile discussion. However, there really isn’t much of an argument to be made for Maya.

That’s not at all a criticism, either. For any other school except for maybe Tennessee, Maya would be the best player in program history by a wide margin (honorable mentions to Griner at Baylor and Miller at USC). But for UConn, she seems to be the clear third best player ever after Stewart and Taurasi.

 

[JonathanXIV]

It’s really difficult to argue that someone who led UConn to four national titles with four Final Four most outstanding player awards isn’t the best player in program history. And that’s before we mention the two undefeated seasons and the contributions to UConn’s 111-game winning streak.

There’s an argument to be made for Taurasi (who’s my favorite player ever), especially when you consider the teams she won with her junior and senior seasons. I wouldn’t make that argument, but it’s at least a worthwhile discussion. However, there really isn’t much of an argument to be made for Maya.

That’s not at all a criticism, either. For any other school except for maybe Tennessee, Maya would be the best player in program history by a wide margin (honorable mentions to Griner at Baylor and Miller at USC). But for UConn, she seems to be the clear third best player ever after Stewart and Taurasi.

Saying that there isn’t “much of an argument” for Maya being UConn’s best player ever is really rather unbelievable. Not saying that one can’t think it’s someone else, but one can make a heckuva argument that Maya was the best.