The AP list of the 25 greatest women's college basketball players of the last 50 yrs

[PvP]

First of all, UCONN had 4 of the top 10 players of the past 50 years, which will surprise no one here. But I have to question the inclusion of Sue Bird, as much as we all love her, as one of the second team guards when, in my humble opinion, she was the third best guard in UCONN's history. I would put both Diana and Paige ahead of her.

Diana's domination, essentially alone, in her last 2 years speaks for itself but perhaps it would be useful to compare Paige and Sue statistically and in terms of honors achieved during their UCONN careers.

Incidentally, because of an injury in her freshman year, Sue and Paige played almost an identical number of games in their careers at UCONN so totals, for the most part, are adequate measures without the need to compare per game numbers.

Player Sue Paige

Points scored 1,378 1,439

Assists 585 561

Rebounds 330 573

Steals 243 216

Blocks 12 82

FG% 48.1 53,1

3 Pt % 45,9 51.9

FT % 89.2 85.0

Each was NPOY one time, Paige as the only Freshman ever to win that award and Sue as a Senior.

Paige was a First Team All American 3 times while Sue was a First Team All American once.

Paige was a National Champion once while Sue was a 2-time National Champion but I think it is only fair to point out that Sue played with 4 AP First Team All Americans while Paige played with none.

Sue was a great player but I think Paige was one of the top 3 players in UCONN history along with Diana and Maya and thus selecting Sue for the Second Team and leaving Paige out of the list altogether is indefensible.

And don't get me started on selecting Clark as one of the two best guards.....

 

[Bone Dog]

Didn’t Paige win NPoY a second time in her last year?

 

[MilfordHusky]

Birdie had 2 National Championships and lost only 4 games in 3+ seasons. She also had an undefeated season in 2002. She won the first 3 Lieberman Awards. But I don't disagree with Paige being top-10.

 

[darrell]

I think these lists tend to go off impact, rather performance. That being said, I will never agree with any list that omits Maya from the Top 5.

 

[PvP]

Didn’t Paige win NPoY a second time in her last year?

No, Juju Watkins won last year.

 

[Centerstream]

First of all, UCONN had 4 of the top 10 players of the past 50 years, which will surprise no one here. But I have to question the inclusion of Sue Bird, as much as we all love her, as one of the second team guards when, in my humble opinion, she was the third best guard in UCONN's history. I would put both Diana and Paige

Is there a link for the article?

 

[Sifaka]

Is there a link for the article?

The greatest women's college basketball players: Who made the list?

Cheryl Miller, Diana Taurasi and Candace Parker are among a select group named the best to ever play the game during the 50 years of the women's basketball poll.

apnews.com

 

[darrell]

No, Juju Watkins won last year.

Paige won the Wade Trophy (WBCA), the only award she didn’t win in 2021 as Freshmen aren’t eligible.

 

[bballnut90]

This list seems to lean heavily on pro careers. Looking at college only, Chamique Holdsclaw clearly had a better Tennessee career than Candace Parker by every metric but Parker got 1st team over Holdsclaw. I wouldn't have included Bird that high based on college career only. Leslie either.

Other names I'd add to the list for HM are Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Sabrina Ionescu, Seimone Augustus, Jackie Stiles, Bridgette Gordon and Courtney Paris. I'd also include Moriah Jefferson for her run, she's underrated historically due to her pro career not panning out but I still think of her as the best PG in UCONN history. (I'd put Paige/Diana over Moriah but both frequently played off ball at UCONN).

 

[Wally East]

but I think Paige was one of the top 3 players in UCONN history along with Diana and Maya and thus selecting Sue for the Second Team and leaving Paige out of the list altogether is indefensible.

Wait wait wait. You have Stewie 4th, at best?

 

[JSB60]

First of all, UCONN had 4 of the top 10 players of the past 50 years, which will surprise no one here. But I have to question the inclusion of Sue Bird, as much as we all love her, as one of the second team guards when, in my humble opinion, she was the third best guard in UCONN's history. I would put both Diana and Paige ahead of her.

Diana's domination, essentially alone, in her last 2 years speaks for itself but perhaps it would be useful to compare Paige and Sue statistically and in terms of honors achieved during their UCONN careers.

Incidentally, because of an injury in her freshman year, Sue and Paige played almost an identical number of games in their careers at UCONN so totals, for the most part, are adequate measures without the need to compare per game numbers.

Player Sue Paige

Points scored 1,378 1,439

Assists 585 561

Rebounds 330 573

Steals 243 216

Blocks 12 82

FG% 48.1 53,1

3 Pt % 45,9 51.9

FT % 89.2 85.0

Each was NPOY one time, Paige as the only Freshman ever to win that award and Sue as a Senior.

Paige was a First Team All American 3 times while Sue was a First Team All American once.

Paige was a National Champion once while Sue was a 2-time National Champion but I think it is only fair to point out that Sue played with 4 AP First Team All Americans while Paige played with none.

Sue was a great player but I think Paige was one of the top 3 players in UCONN history along with Diana and Maya and thus selecting Sue for the Second Team and leaving Paige out of the list altogether is indefensible.

And don't get me started on selecting Clark as one of the two best guards.....

Sue is the greatest pure point guard of all time.

 

[PvP]

Wait wait wait. You have Stewie 4th, at best?

Mea culpa. The 4 best to me are Paige, Stewie, Maya and D in any order you prefer.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

This list seems to lean heavily on pro careers. Looking at college only, Chamique Holdsclaw clearly had a better Tennessee career than Candace Parker by every metric but Parker got 1st team over Holdsclaw. I wouldn't have included Bird that high based on college career only. Leslie either.

Other names I'd add to the list for HM are Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Sabrina Ionescu, Seimone Augustus, Jackie Stiles, Bridgette Gordon and Courtney Paris. I'd also include Moriah Jefferson for her run, she's underrated historically due to her pro career not panning out but I still think of her as the best PG in UCONN history. (I'd put Paige/Diana over Moriah but both frequently played off ball at UCONN).

Maybe it seems to lean heavily on pro, but if you read the text voters were told to consider only college.

The problem was stated by Lobo - that there were more great players than slots. That's what makes it difficult.

The text of the article also indicates that criteria - other than college career only - such as number of championships, impact, etc. were entirely up to the individual voters.

Ultimately, I have to say that I don't see most of your list making it - not because they were not excellent players - but I'm not sure they are comparable to the players chosen. Most didn't win national championships, which I'm sure was a criteria for some voters. Neither Stiles or Paris strike me as top 16 players (I'll admit of the ones chosen that I wasn't sure about Griner either).

 

[cancontent]

This list seems to lean heavily on pro careers. Looking at college only, Chamique Holdsclaw clearly had a better Tennessee career than Candace Parker by every metric but Parker got 1st team over Holdsclaw. I wouldn't have included Bird that high based on college career only. Leslie either.

Other names I'd add to the list for HM are Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Sabrina Ionescu, Seimone Augustus, Jackie Stiles, Bridgette Gordon and Courtney Paris. I'd also include Moriah Jefferson for her run, she's underrated historically due to her pro career not panning out but I still think of her as the best PG in UCONN history. (I'd put Paige/Diana over Moriah but both frequently played off ball at UCONN).

Per Feinberg's response to someone who questioned the logic, pro careers were not taken into consideration. Per the article:

"They were instructed to consider only the athletes’ college careers. Other factors, however, were up to their discretion, including championship pedigree, record-breaking statistics or simply their ability to will their teams to victory."

Below is the list of the voting panel as well for reference.

"The voting panel included former players Deb Antonelli, Nancy Lieberman, Rebecca Lobo, Ann Meyers Drysdale, Christy Winters-Scott; poll founder Mel Greenberg and current and former AP sportswriters Aaron Beard, Oscar Dixon, Doug Feinberg, Stephen Hawkins, Janie McCauley, Chuck Schoffner and Teresa Walker."

 

[my2cents]

First of all, UCONN had 4 of the top 10 players of the past 50 years, which will surprise no one here. But I have to question the inclusion of Sue Bird, as much as we all love her, as one of the second team guards when, in my humble opinion, she was the third best guard in UCONN's history. I would put both Diana and Paige ahead of her.

Diana's domination, essentially alone, in her last 2 years speaks for itself but perhaps it would be useful to compare Paige and Sue statistically and in terms of honors achieved during their UCONN careers.

Incidentally, because of an injury in her freshman year, Sue and Paige played almost an identical number of games in their careers at UCONN so totals, for the most part, are adequate measures without the need to compare per game numbers.

Player Sue Paige

Points scored 1,378 1,439

Assists 585 561

Rebounds 330 573

Steals 243 216

Blocks 12 82

FG% 48.1 53,1

3 Pt % 45,9 51.9

FT % 89.2 85.0

Each was NPOY one time, Paige as the only Freshman ever to win that award and Sue as a Senior.

Paige was a First Team All American 3 times while Sue was a First Team All American once.

Paige was a National Champion once while Sue was a 2-time National Champion but I think it is only fair to point out that Sue played with 4 AP First Team All Americans while Paige played with none.

Sue was a great player but I think Paige was one of the top 3 players in UCONN history along with Diana and Maya and thus selecting Sue for the Second Team and leaving Paige out of the list altogether is indefensible.

And don't get me started on selecting Clark as one of the two best guards.....idn;

100% agree. Plus Paige is 3rd in Total Points in NCAA tournament history behind Holdsclaw and Clark. That Clark was first team and Paige didn't get honorable mention is a joke. I think when all the careers are over Bueckers will surpass Clark as the best player.

 

[NoSpamHere]

100% agree. Plus Paige is 3rd in Total Points in NCAA tournament history behind Holdsclaw and Clark. That Clark was first team and Paige didn't get honorable mention is a joke. I think when all the careers are over Bueckers will surpass Clark as the best player.

If it’s judged on an all around game, and not a popularity contest, I believe Paige was better than Clark in college and it isn’t particularly close.

 

[fomalhaut]

No, Juju Watkins won last year.

Last year Paige won the Wade Trophy she was denied as a freshman.

 

[fomalhaut]

3 Pt % 45,9 51.9

That should be 42.3% for Bueckers.

 

[fomalhaut]

100% agree. Plus Paige is 3rd in Total Points in NCAA tournament history behind Holdsclaw and Clark. That Clark was first team and Paige didn't get honorable mention is a joke. I think when all the careers are over Bueckers will surpass Clark as the best player.

Not at all what they were considering, which was college career only. Clark is #1 in scoring and #3 in assists, and led a somewhat underpowered team to back-to-back national championship games.

 

[Skeets]

Mea culpa. The 4 best to me are Paige, Stewie, Maya and D in any order you prefer.

That's my Mt. Rushmore until Sarah kicks one of them off. If that comes to pass, the BY will be a very entertaining place.

 

[my2cents]

Not at all what they were considering, which was college career only. Clark is #1 in scoring and #3 in assists, and led a somewhat underpowered team to back-to-back national championship games.

UConn players are not just judged on scoring points. Bueckers has a National Championship which Clark does not. No team was more undermanned than UConn in '24. in a Championship game.

 

[1974yankees]

First of all, UCONN had 4 of the top 10 players of the past 50 years, which will surprise no one here. But I have to question the inclusion of Sue Bird, as much as we all love her, as one of the second team guards when, in my humble opinion, she was the third best guard in UCONN's history. I would put both Diana and Paige ahead of her.

Diana's domination, essentially alone, in her last 2 years speaks for itself but perhaps it would be useful to compare Paige and Sue statistically and in terms of honors achieved during their UCONN careers.

Incidentally, because of an injury in her freshman year, Sue and Paige played almost an identical number of games in their careers at UCONN so totals, for the most part, are adequate measures without the need to compare per game numbers.

Player Sue Paige

Points scored 1,378 1,439

Assists 585 561

Rebounds 330 573

Steals 243 216

Blocks 12 82

FG% 48.1 53,1

3 Pt % 45,9 51.9

FT % 89.2 85.0

Each was NPOY one time, Paige as the only Freshman ever to win that award and Sue as a Senior.

Paige was a First Team All American 3 times while Sue was a First Team All American once.

Paige was a National Champion once while Sue was a 2-time National Champion but I think it is only fair to point out that Sue played with 4 AP First Team All Americans while Paige played with none.

Sue was a great player but I think Paige was one of the top 3 players in UCONN history along with Diana and Maya and thus selecting Sue for the Second Team and leaving Paige out of the list altogether is indefensible.

And don't get me started on selecting Clark as one of the two best guards.....

And Maya Moore is only second team? Lol..But Clark makes first team...

Never mind the top 50..I would put Maya probably number 1 overall or at the very least the second best player behind Stewart.

It's really neck and neck between those two.

 

[cancontent]

UConn players are not just judged on scoring points. Bueckers has a National Championship which Clark does not. No team was more undermanned than UConn in '24. in a Championship game.

The 2023-2024 team? I'm sorry but how exactly was that roster undermanned?

 

[cancontent]

And Maya Moore is only second team? Lol..But Clark makes first team...

Never mind the top 50..I would put Maya probably number 1 overall or at the very least the second best player behind Stewart.

It's really neck and neck between those two.

Take it up with the voters. I posted the list earlier in the thread.

 

[1974yankees]

What exactly has Clark done besides score a ton of points on a team where she was fed the ball 75% of the time.

Any championships?

Maya, Stewart, Diana and probably a dozen other Huskies could have easily scored 40 + points a game if Geno let them.

Instead he took them all out of the games after 2-3 quarters and when we were up by 50 points.

In fact Geno has 12 National Championships and by my math Stewart, Diana and Maya accounted for 9 of these Championships. These 3 Probably could/should have had at least 1-2 more.

 

[FanSince17]

The 2023-2024 team? I'm sorry but how exactly was that roster undermanned?

Come on now. 2023-2024 suited 7, right, including Q and Ice. I love that team. There's a clip on Youtube of the last 4 minutes in the Final Four game vs. Iowa. We were down 7 with 4 minutes to go and 6 with 1 minute to go. Clutch plays! There was a row of UConn players in dark blue sweat suits on the bench, including Azzi, Carol, Yanna.
2022-2023 ended with a loss to Ohio State. McMahon and Sheldon had big games. We were missing #5. Ouch 2021-2022 was a loss to SC in the final game, with Azzi throwing up in the locker room among other issues. Paige's 2nd year.
Injuries and maladies have been the theme throughout.
Please clarify!

 

[cancontent]

Come on now. 2023-2024 suited 7, right, including Q and Ice. I love that team. There's a clip on Youtube of the last 4 minutes in the Final Four game vs. Iowa. We were down 7 with 4 minutes to go and 6 with 1 minute to go. Clutch plays! There was a row of UConn players in dark blue sweat suits on the bench, including Azzi, Carol, Yanna.
2022-2023 ended with a loss to Ohio State. McMahon and Sheldon had big games. We were missing #5. Ouch 2021-2022 was a loss to SC in the final game, with Azzi throwing up in the locker room among other issues. Paige's 2nd year.
Injuries and maladies have been the theme throughout.
Please clarify!

That's why I wanted to understand the undermanned question. I initially thought you were referring to the 2022-2023 roster. Yes, the 2023-2024 roster was shorter, but with who they still had including Edwards and Muhl, they were more than capable of challenging anyone and made the Final Four.

If Iowa didn't have Clark due to injuries could you see those rosters making a Final Four? I highly doubt it. Heck, I'm not sure how far they would have made it to or through a tournament in general without Clark on their roster during her entire career there.

 

[FanSince17]

That's why I wanted to understand the undermanned question. I initially thought you were referring to the 2022-2023 roster. Yes, the 2023-2024 roster was shorter, but with who they still had including Edwards and Muhl, they were more than capable of challenging anyone and made the Final Four.

If Iowa didn't have Clark due to injuries could you see those rosters making a Final Four? I highly doubt it. Heck, I'm not sure how far they would have made it to or through a tournament in general without Clark on their roster during her entire career there.

I would like to give you my Youtube password, so you can rewatch some games from the 2023-2024 season. (just kidding, you don't need a password)
I even initiated a thread imploring people to watch the Elite 8 game with USC in 2023-2024. (nobody was moved enough to rewatch it) How he pulled that team together IMO was incredible. Edwards was their post. 6'3". USC had a healthy JuJu. If anyone is remotely worried about Ash or KK, watch those games. They were ridiculously solid, almost impeccable. For those Nika naysayers, watch these 2 games. She was a rock. With 2 or 3 subs, he could have pressed.
Again, rewatch Iowa vs. UConn and SC in 2023-2024. That Iowa team was stacked. Best team they ever had. (ever will have?) There's a clip on youtube: last 4 minutes UConn vs Iowa. Clark was invisible. Hey Nika, what flavor was she? spearmint. She missed a FT, might have been on purpose. Kate Martin's exploits won that game. Period. End of story. People have seen her validate that performance in the W.
One more point: 2023-2024 UConn led to 2024-2025. That lockdown, connected defense started there. I told a friend, in February or so, that the only way UConn could go deep in March was to get hot shooting. I was wrong. They ended up standing toe-toe with anyone they faced because of that defense, that toughness. Like Sugar Ray Leonard standing in the center of the ring with Marvin Hagler. I'm not running around the ring. Let's box and punch and see who is left standing.

 

[cancontent]

I would like to give you my Youtube password, so you can rewatch some games from the 2023-2024 season. (just kidding, you don't need a password)
I even initiated a thread imploring people to watch the Elite 8 game with USC in 2023-2024. (nobody was moved enough to rewatch it) How he pulled that team together IMO was incredible. Edwards was their post. 6'3". USC had a healthy JuJu. If anyone is remotely worried about Ash or KK, watch those games. They were ridiculously solid, almost impeccable. For those Nika naysayers, watch these 2 games. She was a rock. With 2 or 3 subs, he could have pressed.
Again, rewatch Iowa vs. UConn and SC in 2023-2024. That Iowa team was stacked. Best team they ever had. (ever will have?) There's a clip on youtube: last 4 minutes UConn vs Iowa. Clark was invisible. Hey Nika, what flavor was she? spearmint. She missed a FT, might have been on purpose. Kate Martin's exploits won that game. Period. End of story. People have seen her validate that performance in the W.
One more point: 2023-2024 UConn led to 2024-2025. That lockdown, connected defense started there. I told a friend, in February or so, that the only way UConn could go deep in March was to get hot shooting. I was wrong. They ended up standing toe-toe with anyone they faced because of that defense, that toughness. Like Sugar Ray Leonard standing in the center of the ring with Marvin Hagler. I'm not running around the ring. Let's box and punch and see who is left standing.

Iowa team was stacked? Yes, they had solid players, but I wouldn't consider them stacked. With the exception of Stuelke, Iowa was a team that relied on their veterans. UConn was able to bring in Shade and Arnold to take over when they lost Fudd and others. Iowa would not have been if they lost theirs.

Guard play was key for Iowa to be successful. Who on that roster would have been their point guard without Clark? Davis was solid, but not enough for UConn to dedicate Muhl against for majority of the game. Could say the same for Martin as well. Marshall was a streaky shooter and you couldn't rely on her to be the ball handler. I just don't see Iowa being anything like they were those last two seasons without Clark.

 

[MSGRET]

Last year Paige won the Wade Trophy she was denied as a freshman.

The only reason why Paige didn't win the Wade Trophy was at the time Freshman were not eligible to win it. If I remember correctly they changed it the following year after all of the hoopla of her not getting it.