UConn trio, led by Breanna Stewart, make up first three selections in 2016 WNBA Draft

Last week, the UConn women’s basketball team won its record fourth straight national championship, and 11th overall, while simultaneously finishing off at 38-0, its sixth undefeated season in program history.

A significant component of the last four championship teams has been the UConn “Big Three” of Breanna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson, and Morgan Tuck. The trio became the first class to win four straight titles, and the winningest class in NCAA history with 151 victories, including a streak of 75 straight at one point.

After completing their final season at UConn, it looked like their success as a trio might be over, but then the WNBA Draft came around. Thursday night, Stewart, Jefferson and Tuck became the first group of players from one school selected with the top three picks, in either the men’s or women’s draft.

Stewart went first overall, to nobody’s surprise, to the Seattle Storm. She’s a three-time first-team AP All-America selection. Stewart is the only three-time National Player of the Year and four-time Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four in NCAA History. She finished her Huskies career first in career blocks with 414 and second with 2,676 points at UConn.

.@RobinRoberts is always up for a challenge… like posting up #1 @WNBA draft pick @bre_stewart30. pic.twitter.com/3AfEi3qxDB

— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 15, 2016

Jefferson’s name was called second when the San Antonio Stars selected the three-time AP All-America selection. The point guard won the Nancy Lieberman Award twice, which is awarded to the nation’s top player at that position. Jefferson is UConn’s all-time assists leader with 659 and is second with 353 steals.

Third overall was Tuck, who was drafted by the nearby Connecticut Sun. She dealt with knee injuries during her career at UConn and still has one year of eligibility left. Tuck is a two-time AP All-American honoree, making it onto the second-team at the end of this season.

Once again, no school has had three players taken with the first three picks on the men’s or women’s side. But in three WNBA Drafts, two players have been selected within the top three picks.

1997: USC’s Tina Thompson and Pamela McGee, selected No. 1 and No. 2
2002: UConn’s Sue Bird and Swin Cash, No. 1 and No. 2
2009: Maryland’s Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver, picked No. 2 and No. 3

In the NBA, it’s happened five times.

1969: UCLA’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lucius Allen, drafted No. 1 and No. 3
2002: Duke’s Jay Williams and Mike Dunleavy Jr, selected No. 2 and No. 3
2004: UConn’s Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon, No. 2 and No. 3
2012: Kentucky’s Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, No. 1 and No. 2
2014: Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid, No. 1 and No. 3.