While the Lady Vols might have been the first dynasty of women’s college football, the UConn Huskies women’s basketball program perfected the model.
Under head coach Geno Auriemma, the Huskies have become the most successful program in the nation, winning 11 national titles, including four in a row from 2013 to 2016. They’ve played in every NCAA Tournament since 1989 and appeared in 14-straight Fours between 2008 and 2022.
Their dynasty has also produced some of the best players to have ever played the game and helped spark interest in the sport that only continues to grow to this day.
We want to pay tribute to the women who helped build one of the greatest dynasties in sports history. Here is our list of the 10 best UConn Huskies women’s basketball players of all time.
10. Tina Charles
Tina Charles has been one of the most dominant players in WNBA history and it all started at UConn. Charles is a two-time national champion, played in three Final Fours, was named 2010 Big East Player of the Year, AP Player of the Year, and Wooden Award winner. She finished her career as the Huskies’ all-time leading scorer and rebounder as well as the third-best shot blocker of all time. She finished her UConn career averaging 15.4 points per game and scoring 2,346 points total.
9. Swin Cash
Like Charles, Swin Cash is a two-time national champion, being part of the 2000 and 2002 squads, leading the team to an undefeated season in 2002 as well. Other accolades include Most Outstanding Player at the Final Four and All-American, not to mention a two-time Olympic gold medalist. She ended her college career with over 1,500 points and averaging nearly 12 points per game.
8. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis’s career got going in a hurry. As a freshman, she was named Big East Freshman of the Year, and Sixth Man of the Year, and became the second Husky freshman to win Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player. She would go on to be part of three national championship squads at UConn and holds the Division I records for made three-point attempts, finishing her senior season with 398 three-pointers. Drafted third overall by the Seattle Storm, she won a WNBA championship with them in 2018.
7. Jen Rizzotti
Jen Rizzotti was one of UConn’s first stars, playing for the squad between 1992 and 1996. A starting point guard for the 1995 undefeated national title team, she garnered the Honda-Broderick Cup and was named 1996 Associated Press Player of the Year. During the 1995–96 season, she set school records for assists (212) and steals (112). One of the first women to be inducted into the “Huskies of Honor” recognition program, Rozzoti went on to have a successful career as a head coach with Hartford and then George Washington. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
6. Sue Bird
Sue Bird almost didn’t make it to UConn. The Huskies were her top choice but when two other prominent point guards committed, she had second thoughts. However, she eventually committed and ended up making an impact. She is a two-time national champion, three-time Nancy Lieberman Award winner, All-American, AP Player of the Year, and Big East Player of the Year, not to mention many other awards. She ranks number one in three-point field goal percentage (45.9) and free throw percentage (89.2) in school history. Bird went on to have a Hall of Fame career in the WNBA, recently retiring to much fanfare.
5. Moriah Jefferson
In Moriah Jefferon’s four-year career with UConn, she only lost five games, winning 151. Jefferson is a four-time national champion, two-time Nancy Lieberman Award winner, and two-time All-American. She finished her career in 22nd place on the UConn scoring list with 1,532, is the all-time leader in assists with 659, and finished second in steals with 353.
4. Rebecca Lobo
If there is one name that comes up when you talk about UConn women’s basketball, it’s Rebecca Lobo. Lobo became synonymous with Huskies basketball in the 1990s when the team was establishing itself as a powerhouse. Lobo led the Huskies to the 1995 national championship and, in her senior year, was the unanimous national player of the year, winning the 1995 Naismith College Player of the Year award, Wade Trophy, AP Player of the Year, USBWA Player of the Year, Honda Sports Award for basketball, and the WBCA Player of the Year. Lobo was the first player in the Big East Conference ever to earn first-team All-American honors for both basketball and academics. She also was named Sportsman of the Year in 1995. Lobo is a true women’s basketball icon.
3. Diana Taurasi
The most prolific point guard in Huskies history has to be Diana Taurasi. Taurasi is a three-time NCAA champion, two-time Final Four Most Outstanding Player, two Big East Player of the Year, and won several player of the year awards. She is also a four-time USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. During her college career, she averaged 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in her collegiate career while becoming a basketball icon.
2. Maya Moore
In Maya Moore’s freshman year, she was named a unanimous Big East Freshman of the Year and became the first freshman, male or female, to be named the Big East Player of the Year, leading the Huskies to a 36-2 record that season. Her sophomore season netted the same results. Another Big East Player of the Year Award and Moore helped lead her team to an undefeated 39–0 season and national title. Moore won the AP Player of the Year (the first sophomore to win the award) and was honored with four more player of the year awards that season. She was a unanimous first-team All-American for a second-straight season, earning first-team recognition from the AP and USBWA. As a junior, she won her second national championship. In her senior year, Moore became the first player in school history to reach 3,000 points and was named Big East Player of the Year for a third time. She is also the only women’s basketball player in Division I history to record 2,500 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists, 250 steals and 150 blocks.
1. Breanna Stewart
Breanna Stewart was probably the most decorated player in Connecticut Huskies history. She is a four-time NCAA champion, three-time All-American, three-time AAC Player of the Year, three-time national Player of the Year, four-time Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, and three-time USA Basketball Player of the Year. Stewart finished her career second on UConn’s all-time scoring list with 2,676 career points, fourth with 1,179 career rebounds, and first in blocks (414).
