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Mechelle VoepelESPN.com
What’s it like to be the next big thing on the UConn women’s basketball team? Freshman guard Paige Bueckers is about to find out.
She’s the No. 1 recruit for the 11-time NCAA champion Huskies, the highest-profile program in women’s basketball, who are scheduled to open their 2020-21 season Saturday against UMass Lowell.
It’s a dream position to be in for Bueckers, but there is also the weight of expectation. Coach Geno Auriemma and his staff have the highest standards, and you don’t get a break from those because you are a rookie. Just ask those who have come before Bueckers.
“It’s not an easy road she picked,” said the Phoenix Mercury’s Diana Taurasi, who won three consecutive NCAA titles at UConn. “I don’t think she expects it to be easy. If I know anything about Coach, it’s that he’s going to see greatness in her, and he’s going to want it every single day.”
Even the most-prepared players have some difficult times getting used to UConn practices, especially in the first season.
“There are going to be days when it’s going to be tough. It’s going to be unfair. It’s going to be hard,” Taurasi said. “And you’re going to want to say that ‘I should have just stayed home’ and been in the place where you’re comfortable. Those are going to be the days that are going to make her really, really good.”
Here’s a look at 10 of the best freshman seasons in UConn history, a list that Bueckers — one of six rookies on UConn’s 2020-21 roster — will look to crack.
1. Maya Moore, forward
Few players have come to college basketball as ready to make an impact as Moore did. She immediately took the responsibility put on her shoulders. She’s the program’s all-time leading scorer (3,036) and also scored over 100 points more her first season (678) than any other UConn freshman has. UConn didn’t win the NCAA title in 2008, falling to Stanford in the national semifinals, but the Huskies then had two consecutive perfect seasons. If Bueckers earns favorable comparisons to Moore as freshman, she will have reached the highest bar.
2. Breanna Stewart, forward
It’s a dim memory, but Stewart had a few rough moments as a freshman. The Huskies lost three times to Notre Dame that season, including in the Big East tournament final. But like a classic movie script, Stewart fully stepped into her leading role in the NCAA tournament. UConn won the first of four consecutive titles — which included a national semifinal victory over Notre Dame — while Stewart was the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player each year. If Moore is the measuring stick for having a seamless transition to the college game, Stewart is that for national championships.
3. Diana Taurasi, guard
Fair to say the 2000-01 UConn team, prior to the season-ending injuries to Svetlana Abrosimova and Shea Ralph, was the greatest collection of talent in one season in Storrs. That’s what Taurasi stepped into as a freshman, and part of why she started only 14 games. But it was clear she was going to be a star, and she won most outstanding player honors for the East Regional and Big East tournament. Her 1-of-15 shooting performance in a national semifinal loss to Notre Dame was simply fuel for her winning the next three NCAA titles. She has set the standard for being a great scorer and playmaker, something Bueckers would love to emulate.
4. Tina Charles, center
A primary building block for what would be UConn’s perfect teams in her junior and senior seasons, Charles achieved a lot and learned a lot as a freshman. Including in a tough Elite Eight matchup with then-junior center Sylvia Fowles of LSU that served to motivate Charles. She pulled down more rebounds than any other UConn freshman (296) on her way to becoming the program’s career leader (1,367). And Charles’ 81 blocked shots is also the most of any UConn freshman.
5. Svetlana Abrosimova, forward
The delightful Russian was a fan favorite right away, even if — as she readily admits — she could drive Auriemma crazy with her somewhat carefree style of play. Far from home, she quickly made herself at home in Storrs, and affecting games in multiple ways, helping lead the Huskies to a 34-3 record and the Elite Eight as a freshman. Later, she was a key part of the 2000 national championship team.
6. Rebecca Lobo, center
The Huskies went to their first Final Four the season before Lobo arrived, but she was the type of recruit who made it seem the Huskies had joined the elite. With a perfect season and championship in 1994-95, her senior year, they officially did, and have stayed there. But it started strong for Lobo, too; she’s in the top 10 among UConn freshmen in points, rebounds and blocked shots.
7. Nykesha Sales, forward
She mostly came off the bench during the Huskies’ first national championship season, but what a force she was. Sales had a freshman-record 102 steals on the way to her career-record 447, and she shot 54.1% from the field (43.2 from 3-point range).
8. Ann Strother, guard/forward
The year after the great senior class of 2002 graduated, we think of Taurasi leading the Huskies to another national championship on her own. But that shortchanges the rest of the team, especially Strother, who as a freshman started all 38 games and led the Huskies in minutes played (31.5 per game). She had 17 points in the 2003 NCAA final against Tennessee.
9. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, forward
The program’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals (398) quickly established that as a strength, with her 93 as UConn’s freshman record. She also scored the second-most points of any Huskies freshmen at 569, trailing only Moore. UConn lost in the national semifinals to Notre Dame her rookie season, but then Mosqueda-Lewis was part of three consecutive NCAA title teams.
10. Tamika Williams, forward
The last spot came down to Williams and Shea Ralph. Williams’ superstar recruiting class included Sue Bird, Swin Cash and Asjha Jones. Bird missed most of her freshman season with an ACL injury. Cash (9.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG) and Jones (9.8, 5.0) had good performances, but Williams statistically was the top rookie that season, and shot 65.8% from the field. The Huskies were upset by Iowa State in the Sweet 16 but would win a national championship the next season.
