Who is the GOAT UConn woman's basketball player? - Poll

[Sonny44]

Overall DT first.
WCBB only, Breanna hands down; came here to win four NCs and made it stand up.
OTOH, Maya was more talented than either of them.
So, in conclusion, I don't have a clue.

 

[hoophuskee]

Are you saying that Stewie didn't have this "more" of which you speak?

Huh?

I said my vote went to Stewie. And I just thought Stewie was "more." I just don't use 4 titles vs 3 vs 2 that much. If you want to get "deep" - maybe if she hadn't won 4 titles I would have picked on a flaw more and with 4 titles it is hard to pick on a flaw. Or appreciate her defense in the manner I do etc.

 

[GoUconn7961]

My enthusiasm for DT will never die (until I do). To me no one has ever surpassed her in any aspect of the game - especially swagger. She's a big time player and a game changer.

 

[bizarro aj]

No surprise the GOAT was the mop of the wnba allstar game!

 

[BroadwayVa]

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

I fully understand what the OP has asked. What I don't understand is your qualification for consideration.

When you go about considering GOAT of anything, UConn women's player, best women's player regardless of school affinity, best center at UConn, best NBA center, or anything else, you believe they must be "still great now"?

I'm not sure what current status has to do when examining a body of work in terms of all-time greatness. Could you explain the relation please?

George Washington--therefore cannot be considered for GOAT of founding fathers--or any of them??
Or Ruth, Gerhig, Robinson, Mantle, Mays ?
Then change the title to Greats of Now Times GONT

 

[CL82]

Thanks to everyone who voted. I'd like to revisit this in a few years and see if people's votes drift toward Maya or Stewie a bit more.

 

[intlzncster]

Thanks to everyone who voted. I'd like to revisit this in a few years and see if people voted drift toward Maya or Stewie a bit more.

If so, they're wrong.

 

[CL82]

If so, they're wrong.

I went with Stewie, reluctantly. I think you can make a good case for her based upon her 4 years success in Storrs.

If 5 years from now she is winning championships, getting MOPs and breaking records, I suspect that it will influence people to rethink her UConn years and her ranking. Likewise, Maya is on pace to past Diana. If she does it, I'd guess people will rank her CT years higher. I agree that should matter, but human nature being what it is, it likely will.

 

[intlzncster]

I went with Stewie, reluctantly. I think you can make a good case for her based upon her 4 years success in Storrs.

If 5 years from now she is winning championships, getting MOPs and breaking records, I suspect that it will influence people to rethink her UConn years and her ranking. Likewise, Maya is on pace to past Diana. If she does it, I'd guess people will rank her CT years higher. I agree that should matter, but human nature being what it is, it likely will.

Oh I know. I put an enormous weight on who DT won her last two Championships with. That was Herculean. And I don't think either of the other two girls would have brought home the hardware twice. Maybe once, but not twice.

And this is my overarching metric: if my life is on the line, and I need one player to have a huge game, or make a huge shot, who am I taking. DT 100 out of 100.

Same way if I need one drive in football. It's Brady every single time for me, no questions asked.

 

[j66kicker]

Diana dominated with 55% of the votes even though some voters were not fans when she played at UConn and didn't see her play in college. If we redo the poll enough years in the future, then everyone who did see Diana play will be dead. At that point Maya and Stewie may have a chance.

 

[CL82]

Oh I know. I put an enormous weight on who DT won her last two Championships with. That was Herculean. And I don't think either of the other two girls would have brought home the hardware twice. Maybe once, but not twice.

And this is my overarching metric: if my life is on the line, and I need one player to have a huge game, or make a huge shot, who am I taking. DT 100 out of 100.

Same way if I need one drive in football. It's Brady every single time for me, no questions asked.

I don't disagree with a word of this. Not a word. Still, I went with Stewie. Four natties and four MOPs is a winning hand.

 

[CL82]

Diana dominated with 55% of the votes even though some voters were not fans when she played at UConn and didn't see her play in college. If we redo the poll enough years in the future, then everyone who did see Diana play will be dead. At that point Maya and Stewie may have a chance.

Well I am planning to be around say 5 years from now and I hope the rest of you all are around to debate it with me!

 

[cbraarj]

This was a spot where D struggled terribly. Her first FF ended with her fouling out after shooting 1 for 15 and 0 for 13 from 3.

They dont get there without Diana! Imo Taurasi plays for Stewie or Maya team they still wins those NCs. But they dont win playing for her in 03 and 04.

 

[cbraarj]

Really an impossible question because you could make a case for any one of five or so wonderful players. I chose DT, reluctantly, but could have easily chosen any of the other breakthrough players -- Maya, Stewie or Lobo. To me, if you want to be chosen as greatest, you not only have to be spectacular and put up great numbes, y0ou have to be a breakthrough type. Lobo was, I believe, the first of her kind, as were Diana, Maya and Breanna. I loved Rizottti and Bird, and they were spectacular at their positions, but at the end of the day, they were superlative guards, not breakthrough players.

She didnt win a NC but as a 6ft 1in post she dominated as the first iconic Uconn player!

 

[cbraarj]

Oh I know. I put an enormous weight on who DT won her last two Championships with. That was Herculean. And I don't think either of the other two girls would have brought home the hardware twice. Maybe once, but not twice.

And this is my overarching metric: if my life is on the line, and I need one player to have a huge game, or make a huge shot, who am I taking. DT 100 out of 100.

Same way if I need one drive in football. It's Brady every single time for me, no questions asked.

After DT it would be Kerry Bascom before Moore or Stewart.

 

[hoophuskee]

Oh I know. I put an enormous weight on who DT won her last two Championships with. That was Herculean. And I don't think either of the other two girls would have brought home the hardware twice. Maybe once, but not twice.

And this is my overarching metric: if my life is on the line, and I need one player to have a huge game, or make a huge shot, who am I taking. DT 100 out of 100.

Same way if I need one drive in football. It's Brady every single time for me, no questions asked.

I'm not arguing. All three are super choices. I went with Stewie. Sooo-- suppose I'm Geno and my team needs a stop? Who would you want in there? Stewie and Maya might be in there, but DT wouldn't, right?

Suppose I needed a basket and the opposing team wasn't very tall? I can remember Stewie being "automatic" late in the big game two years ago vs Md. UCONN just lobbed the ball inside.

 

[cbraarj]

I'm not arguing. All three are super choices. I went with Stewie. Sooo-- suppose I'm Geno and my team needs a stop? Who would you want in there? Stewie and Maya might be in there, but DT wouldn't, right?

Suppose I needed a basket and the opposing team wasn't very tall? I can remember Stewie being "automatic" late in the big game two years ago vs Md. UCONN just lobbed the ball inside.

Down 9 versus Texas in the FF with Time running out. Who did bring Uconn back to win the game by 2 pts? They call her Taurasi! That is how Legends are made!

 

[geneticrex]

Of all the greats, only DT brought home the gold surrounded by a host of solid players, but still less than an allstar cast and she did it not once, but twice. In her other championship season, she was the go-to player in the crunchiest of crunch times as a soph, when she WAS surrounded by an allstar cast.

 

[Wally East]

They dont get there without Diana! Imo Taurasi plays for Stewie or Maya team they still wins those NCs. But they dont win playing for her in 03 and 04.

Are you really saying that juniors Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Tamika Williams, and Ashja Jones wouldn't have made it to the Final Four w/o freshman DT?

Seriously?

 

[cbraarj]

Are you really saying that juniors Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Tamika Williams, and Ashja Jones wouldn't have made it to the Final Four w/o freshman DT?

Seriously?

Repeated what Geno said to her. So really!

 

[hoophuskee]

Down 9 versus Texas in the FF with Time running out. Who did bring Uconn back to win the game by 2 pts? They call her Taurasi! That is how Legends are made!

With STewart how many times was there a need for a 2pt game? When she was a jr and sr hwow often did she allow her team to be down by 9? She should get an "atta boy" for being down by so much?

I'm just havin' fun with ya! I love Dt I love Maya I love STewie.

 

[hoophuskee]

Of all the greats, only DT brought home the gold surrounded by a host of solid players, but still less than an allstar cast and she did it not once, but twice. In her other championship season, she was the go-to player in the crunchiest of crunch times as a soph, when she WAS surrounded by an allstar cast.

With that said what super teams did DT beat as a jr and sr?

Now with Stewie- in her frosh year she beat a ND team which imo far superior to Dt's opponents. While Stewie did have superior teammates; the all-americans of KML, Stef and Bria were unable to take down the Giant that was ND until they stepped aside and UCONN built their offense around their super-freshman. Stewie dominated so much that there was never even a need for a close game. It was the all-americans that just stepped aside.

 

[hoophuskee]

Repeated what Geno said to her. So really!

hmmm-- so that means you think Lobo and Wolters were the worst posts in America because Geno said it? Or that Collier can't guard a chair?

 

[dbmill]

Kerry Bascomb. Without a doubt. She was the first at everything at UConn.

I think of Bascomb like I think of Chris Smith on the men's side. Their decision to play at Connecticut set the table for all the good that happened afterward. That's probably a different question though, which player had the biggest impact on UConn's success.

Kerry Bascom. Sigh. certainly Geno's first great player at UConn, but how soon they forget how to spell her name right.

 

[browns]

DT no words needed

exactly

 

[geneticrex]

With that said what super teams did DT beat as a jr and sr?

Now with Stewie- in her frosh year she beat a ND team which imo far superior to Dt's opponents. While Stewie did have superior teammates; the all-americans of KML, Stef and Bria were unable to take down the Giant that was ND until they stepped aside and UCONN built their offense around their super-freshman. Stewie dominated so much that there was never even a need for a close game. It was the all-americans that just stepped aside.

The 'giant' that was ND??? The 'giant' that never won a single title??? The 'giant' that pulled out a handfull of miracle endings, including multiple OT games over a couple seasons against UCONN, some that were heavily influenced by the Flopping Irish ability to con officials, while others came down to last second prayers??? Real 'giants' win championships.

DT went two full seasons with a decent supporting cast, but nowhere near what surrounded Stewart for her entire career, yet still managed to hang the banner at the end of those years, while battling injuries, no less. Taking down that era's other 'giant' in the process. This included a title where the Huskies featured a grand total of ZERO seniors.

As great a player as Stewart and Maya were/are, nobody elevated the players that shared the court with her like Taurasi and that's what has made her the GOAT.

 

[hoophuskee]

The 'giant' that was ND??? The 'giant' that never won a single title??? The 'giant' that pulled out a handfull of miracle endings, including multiple OT games over a couple seasons against UCONN, some that were heavily influenced by the Flopping Irish ability to con officials, while others came down to last second prayers??? Real 'giants' win championships.

DT went two full seasons with a decent supporting cast, but nowhere near what surrounded Stewart for her entire career, yet still managed to hang the banner at the end of those years, while battling injuries, no less. Taking down that era's other 'giant' in the process. This included a title where the Huskies featured a grand total of ZERO seniors.

As great a player as Stewart and Maya were/are, nobody elevated the players that shared the court with her like Taurasi.

Yes ND was a Giant that year. Name any other team that beat UCONN three times in which UCONN had 3 other all-americans on the team? Was Geno that lousy of a coach that he gets beat three straight times (4 if you count the prior year)? How come his all-americans didn't step up? Not to mention ND that year 1st team all-amercian. Diggins went 3rd in the draft.. The next year 1st team all-american McBride went 3rd. The next year 1st team all-american Loyd went 1st. Within that they had their center go 9th. What team in 2003 or 2004 in the NCAA's had that type of firepower that DT beat? What super players did Tenn have? IMO Diggins, McBride and Loyd were all super. Not as great as UCONN's all-tiem great players but certainly ahead of what Tenn has during 2003 and 2004.

Further, imo you don't need to win a title to be considered a Giant. What you call "miracle" -- I call "wins" that they "consistently did vs UCONN. ANd while I agree they flopped -- they did what they had to to get wins. Which imo is why they won- competitive grit. "Do what it takes."

DT never had to compete anything near with what Stewart had to go against in her jr and sr years. The other Giant you speak- Tenn - their best player imo couldn't hold a candle to Diggins, or McBride or Loyd.

As I mentioned before I love Dt - I lvoe Maya. I love Stewie. But as we heard Muffett say being interviewed during the finals vs UCONN when Stewie picked up a couple of quick fouls she said d"Now we can go inside." I love Dt -- but no team would ever say they when she was on the court. Rather at times they would try to expose her. OFC that wasn't going to work. But still Muffett's comment said it all.

 

[hoophuskee]

With that said-- DT is the most gifted physical guard I've ever seen. Her power along with her amazing vision -- I don't think anyone sees the floor like her. I'm sure there are some pg's that are natural but because DT is such an offensive weapon - you can't play her to pass or shoot.

gifted. relentless. fearless. powerful. skilled.

Even in Hartford, she took it upon herself for a stretch to guard Alana Beard. I'l never forget the Texas game, the Tennessee game in Htfd, and her freshman swagger rumbling through / up to the final four.

Her ability to defensive rebound as a 2guard was just awesome.

 

[cbraarj]

With STewart how many times was there a need for a 2pt game? When she was a jr and sr hwow often did she allow her team to be down by 9? She should get an "atta boy" for being down by so much?

I'm just havin' fun with ya! I love Dt I love Maya I love STewie.

Stewie played with AAs every year. Dee didnt the last 2 years.

 

[cbraarj]

hmmm-- so that means you think Lobo and Wolters were the worst posts in America because Geno said it? Or that Collier can't guard a chair?

Wasnt she Regional MOP as a Freshmen.