One who stayed was our very own Nadine Domond....Bridgeport Central....in the same class as Nykesha Sales. IMO....Nadine was as talented a combo guard as Nykesha was a small forward.
I saw her play once in her junior year....she had about 40....wildly talented and just 'wild' at some points.
I went to the state final game in her senior year. She was having a very efficient and buttoned-down game in a nail-biter late. I was sitting with the Central crowd and several fans were shouting to her 'take over...dominate'. I swear that on at least one occasion Nadine looked over and responded with a smile and a gesture that indicated 'I got this'. And she did.
Late in her Iowa career they came to Gampel to play a coming-home game for Nadine. UConn won pretty easily with Domond playing pretty well. I remember Nadine going to the Husky logo right after the game and staring up at the final score....obviously 'down'. Geno walked out and they said a few words to each other...a hug...and walked off the court. I was in an end zone seat and couldn't hear what they said but a guess might be:
Geno: good game Nadine...if you had come here we would have won 2 rings during your career not
just the one in 1995.
Nadine: Thanks coach....I've been thinking about that myself.
IMO: we lost to Dreaded LadyVol in the 1996 semis in OT. Our guard corps was basically Jen and Nykesha....Rita Williams was on the team but had not yet developed into a very solid performer....not even close. Having Nadine with Jen and Kesha would have won that game....and would have led to a win over Georgia in the finals.