UConn: A WNBA Feeder Program

The University of Connecticut is a dynasty program in women’s college basketball. The Huskies have 11 championships under their belt with a three-peat from 2002 to 2004 and a four-peat from 2013 to 2016. Geno Auriemma took the helm of the program in 1985 and brought them to the program’s first NCAA tournament appearance in his fourth season. Auriemma has not stopped winning since. He is responsible for coaching all 11 NCAA championships, 22 Final Fours and 57 conference titles.

UConn and Auriemma have been the stepping stone for loads of players to have successful careers in the WNBA. Forty-five UConn women’s basketball players have been selected in the WNBA draft all under Coach Auriemma. (The WNBA was created after Auriemma’s tenure began at UConn). Two players were allocated into teams during the creation of the WNBA bringing the total to forty-seven players.

In addition to being drafted, no program has produced more number-one picks than UConn at five: Sue Bird (2002, Seattle Storm), Diana Taurasi (2004, Phoenix Mercury), Tina Charles (2010, Connecticut Sun), Maya Moore (2011, Minnesota Lynx) and Breanna Stewart (2016, Seattle Storm). And no school has more first-round draft picks than UConn at twenty-six. The next closest is Tennessee at twenty and Stanford at fourteen.

UConn players are not only drafted but are dominant. They make their mark in the WNBA. Six players were named WNBA Rookie of the Year: Taurasi, Charles, Moore, Stewart, Napheesa Collier and Crystal Dangerfield. Taurasi, Charles, Moore and Stewart have all garnered WNBA MVP accolades. Sue Bird is the all-time assists leader and Taurasi is the all-time scoring leader. And UConn players constantly show up on All-WNBA teams and in All-Star games.

Alumni in the league have noted that there is a familiarity and familial bond when playing other UConn players in the WNBA.

” ‘Once you go to UConn, since there’s so many of us in the league, we’re always a family no matter how often we get to see each other,” said Tuck, who started alongside Nurse for two years in college. “When we get to play against each other, I think that’s kind of like our little mini-reunions. We get to hang out.’ ” per Bonjour, 2018.

Coach Auriemma and associate head coach, Chris Dailey, are preparing the women in a way that increases their draft value and sets them up for success the league. Chris Dailey joined Coach Auriemma in 1985 and is an integral part of the Huskies program.

Plainly put: Storrs produces stars. Although UConn is on a championship drought they are still molding these young women into stars. The championships will come as great programs are bound to have ebbs and flows but the individual growth that these players gain coming out of UConn is tremendous and evident as they continue their careers in the W.

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