UConn women’s basketball is the team to win it all this year, but they are also the team that has the most to lose.
If they win the 2015 NCAA championship title, the Huskies will bring home their third straight title, which would tie head coach Geno Auriemma with UCLA men’s coach John Wooden for most all-time.
It is hard to see any team defeating UConn, especially since they have been winning games by an average of 42 points this season, have what some consider as the easiest region and have players such as 6-4 junior Breanna Stewart, the 2014 Player of the Year, and 5-11 senior Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, who’s three-point shooting percentage is 51%.
Coach Auriemma and UConn’s run for the third straight title is something special, and one that four-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie thinks is amazing.
“Geno has created a dynasty at UConn, having some of the best high school athletes attend his school and he’s taking their game to a whole new level,” Leslie said, “He’s been able to create that type of tradition where the players that choose to play at UConn for the women’s basketball team know they have high expectations and know they have to be ready to work because that is what he demands. I think it would be an amazing accomplishment.”
But, as a result, some may opt-out of watching the women’s NCAA tournament, discouraged from what they say is a lack of parity. But, this is basketball; you never know what can happen come tournament time.
“I think that’s the beauty of basketball, that any given team can lose on any given night. That’s the unknown,” Leslie said.
The Huskies may be great, but they aren’t untouchable, as was witnessed during their overtime loss to Stanford back in November, ending the team’s 47-game winning streak. If Stanford meets back up with them, this could be another great battle, but there are two other teams to keep in mind too: Notre Dame and South Carolina.
Leslie thinks that if any team can upset UConn, it will be South Carolina.
“Did I pick UConn to win the championship? I did but, if I think UConn can be upset, I would pick South Carolina as the team that can do that. If they come ready to play, focused, and with their game plan of doing all of the little things; is it possible for (UConn) to lose? Absolutely
If UConn wins, not only will they have their third straight title, but it would push the university toward the top for the Capital Cup, which Leslie is a part of as an Advisory Board member.
“Capital One Cup brings attention to the Division I programs and their top athletic programs, combining the scores from the top fall, winter, spring sports for both men and women, certainly in their own categories,” Leslie said, “If they win the capital one cup, their athletic program will get $200,000 in student-athlete scholarships, which could help further student education. UConn, they are no. 12 and they can win 60 points if they win the national championship, which can move them up to the top spot, but we haven’t played spring sports yet.”
Well, it will be a big shock to see UConn be defeated at the hands of any team during the NCAA tournament, but if it does happen, it will be a great game to watch.
Speaking of watching, here are some players that Lisa Leslie said viewers should keep a lookout for during the tournament.
Brianna Stewart (UConn)
Jewell Loyd (Notre Dame)
Tiffany Mitchell (South Carolina)
Reshanda Gray ( Cal)
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (UConn)
Imani McGee-Stafford (Texas)