UConn women’s hoops is certainly different. For most basketball players, NCAA championships are a life-altering goal. For UConn players, it’s a starting place. The Huskies are the most accomplished program in women’s basketball, and that status isn’t even a close contest. UConn’s players have managed to amass many titles, including three who are members of a unique club.
Here are six of them with the most NCAA Championships.
6 UConn Alumnae with the most NCAA Championships
1.Brianna Stewart (4 championships)
A three-time AP All-American, Stewart was an intense 6-foot-4 forward who ruled college basketball. She won the Naismith Award as the top player in college basketball in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Meanwhle, UConn, which lost four games en route to the title, lost just one game in those final three seasons.
The Huskies were unbeaten in both 2014 and 2016. Stewart finished her UConn career with 2,676 points, 1,179 rebounds and 414 blocked shots. She is in the top five on UConn’s record list in all three categories, and is still the school’s blocked shot leader.
Now in her eighth season in the WNBA, Stewart has won two more titles there. She is currently averaging 20.8 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game for her career. She has already been chosen five times as an All-Star.
2. Moriah Jefferson (4)
Jefferson was part of the same freshman class as Stewart. The five-foot-seven point guard also managed to win four NCAA championships in her UConn career. Jefferson came off the bench as a freshman, but then was a three-year starter and a two-time All-American.
Jefferson finished her UConn career with 1,532 points, 659 assists and 353 steals. She was a 42% 3-point shooter at UConn. Jefferson is still second in UConn history in steals and assists.
Jefferson is also in her eighth season in the WNBA. She was second in Rookie of the Year voting in 2016 to Breanna Stewart. Jefferson is averaging 9.4 ppg and 3.6 assists per game in the WNBA.
3. Morgan Tuck (4)
Tuck, a 6-foot-2 forward, was part of the same UConn recruiting class. Unfortunately, she was injured for most of the 2014 season and only played in eight games. But she was part of all four NCAA championships from 2013 to 2016 and started for the last two teams.
Tuck earned All-American honors once and totaled 1,298 points and 544 rebounds in her UConn career. Tuck played five seasons in the WNBA, averaging 5.1 ppg before injuries endered her career. She’s now the Director of Franchise Development for the WNBA.
4. Diana Taurasi (3)
To be fair, there are many UConn players associated with three titles. But Taurasi is one of the most accomplished players in women’s basetball. In her freshman season, 2001, UConn lost in the Final Four to Notre Dame. Taurasi then won NCAA championships in her next three seasons. That included an unbeaten 2002 season and a one-loss 2003 campaign.
Taurasi, who was a four-year starter and a three-time All-American, was a 6-foot dynamo at UConn. She scored 2,156 points, grabbed 628 boards and dished 648 assists at UConn. She remains third on the UConn assist list and ninth on the scoring list.
After two decades in the WNBA, Taurasi is still active. A ten-time All-Star, the 2009 MVP and a three-time champion, Taurasi is averaging 19.1 ppg and 4.3 apg for her career. She is the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer and is fifth on the career assist list.
5. Kiah Stokes (3)
Stokes was a year ahead of the 4-for-4 class of 2013. Accordingly, she won NCAA championships as a sophomore, junior and senior. Stokes played off the bench at UConn, using her six-foot-three frame to total 4.1 ppg and 5.6 rpg for the Huskies.
She’s still active in the WNBA. Now in her ninth season, Stokes is averaging 4.0 ppg and 5.8 rpg. Stokes was second in Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2015.
6. Saniya Chong (3)
Chong won NCAA championships in each of her first three seasons at UConn, from 2014 to 2016. In 2017, it looked like Chong was headed for another title. UConn was having a perfect season before the Huskies were upset in the national semifinal against Mississippi State.
Chong, a five-foot-eight guard, was a starter only as a senior. She averaged 5.6 ppg in her UConn career. Chong played for two seasons in the WNBA, averaging 2.5 ppg in 38 career games.
Will South Carolina have a player who can reach three or four NCAA championships in her college career? Weigh in below with your thoughts in the comments section!
