Achievement, drive and passion.
Those are the main pillars behind the storied UConn women’s basketball program, led by head coach Geno Auriemma and associate head coach Chris Dailey.
This season, Auriemma and Dailey celebrate nearly four decades together behind the bench in Storrs since arriving at UConn ahead of the 1985-1986 season.
During their tenure together, they have accomplished 11 National Championship wins, brought their teams to 23 Final Four appearances, 59 conference championships and six perfect seasons.
With so much history, it’s hard to narrow down the best moments from Auriemma and Dailey’s careers, but today, I’m going to list my top three moments.
3. 2007-10: Signing Maya Moore + winning first back-to-back National Championships
Maya Moore is one of the best players in women’s basketball history, and she etched her legacy in WNBA and UConn basketball history.
Over her years as a Husky, she led her team to a 150-4 record, aiding them in the program’s second back-to-back championships in 2009-10.
She is the fourth-leading scorer in NCAA history with 3,036 points and was the Big East Player of the Year four times during her four-year tenure.
“I’m always torn by when they name a player of the year. Is it the most outstanding player? If it is, then there are things that Maya Moore does that nobody else does,” said Auriemma in a pre-game statement on March 30, 2009. “I don’t know if there is anybody out there that in the two years that she has been in college basketball who has impacted a team more than she has.”
2. 2014: Winning the program’s ninth National Championship + an undefeated season
Brenna Stewart might be the best player in UConn basketball history, like Moore mentioned above.
2014 was a special year for UConn basketball, as both teams won their respective national championships.
However, the women’s basketball team attained another undefeated season, with Stewart at the forefront of the team in her sophomore season.
To set the scene for you, the National Championship game was in Nashville, Tennessee. Stewart looked to notch the second National Championship of her career as they faced the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Although the Huskies had struggles facing the Irish in the regular season, they had no problem in the National Championship.
They maintained a steady lead throughout the game and Stewart led the team with 21 points.
The Huskies took the title to Storrs with a 78-59, double-digit margin win.
This win continued Auriemma’s streak of never losing a National Championship game.
“Flattered and grateful and all the things that come with this kind of accomplishment.” said Auriemma to ESPN after the win, “I’m more proud of the legacy that exists and what Connecticut basketball is as opposed to the number of championships.”
1. 1995: Winning the program’s first National Championship
The first one is always the best one.
Just a decade after becoming coaches for the team, Auriemma and Dailey notched a 35-0 undefeated season and their fourth Big East Championship. UConn plowed through March Madness, bringing them to the National Championship against Pat Summitt and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers.
Connecticut trailed at the intermission mark, 28-25, and senior Rebecca Lobo and fellow All-American teammate Jennifer Rizzotti were in foul trouble.
In the second half, Auriemma had to start his shortest players on the roster, the tallest on the court being six-foot-tall Jamelle Elliot.
With two minutes left in the game, Elliot tied the game at 64 points.
Now comes the moment that still gives fans chills.
Rizzotti sealed the deal for the Huskies with a length of the court drive, resulting in a cross-over dribble into a left-handed layup.
Even with notching various free-throws, Tennessee would not be able to catch back up.
I’m more proud of the legacy that exists and what Connecticut basketball is as opposed to the number of championships.
Geno Auriemma, Head Coach of UConn Women’s Basketball
Videos of Kara Wolters on the bench as the clock ticked down and Lobo running down to the court to give her teammates a warm embrace, after they notched the program’s first undefeated season and National Championship, highlight why this is the most iconic moment for Auriemma and Dailey.
This National Championship was also a pivotal moment in women’s sports and UConn basketball history, and it was the start of deeming Storrs the “Basketball Capital of the World.”
People across the nation tuned in to see the UConn women’s basketball team, making them one of the first women’s athletic teams to get such coverage and viewership.
Husky fans are in for a treat this season, as No. 1 recruit of the incoming 2024 class, Sarah Strong makes her collegiate debut. Paige Bueckers is back for her graduate season and the roster is stacked with healthy players.
The Huskies will be looking to return to the Final Four again this year, hungry for number 12.
This is a milestone year you won’t want to miss.
The program’s first back to back championships were in 2002 and 2003. Not 2009 and 2010.