I’ve been a massive NCAA Women’s Basketball fan from a very young age. I grew up in Connecticut, my parents are UConn graduates, and I am a recent UConn alumnus, so I’ve had a first-hand account of the best dynasty in women’s basketball history.
This list was not easy to compile because there have been so many amazing players over the years in women’s college basketball. However, these athletes stand above the rest in my mind.
Here is my all-time starting five for NCAA Women’s Basketball.
All-Time Starting Five – Guard | Sabrina Ionescu University of Oregon (2016-2020)
Sabrina Ionescu put the Oregon Women’s Basketball program on the map in her four years in Eugene. Ionescu was dominant throughout her career against opponents in every Power Five Conference. Ionescu left her mark in multiple ways at the University of Oregon.
Ionescu was a three-time Pac 12 Player of the Year, a two-time Wade Trophy recipient, and the 2020 AP Player of the Year. The point guard is the only female athlete in NCAA history to put up 2,000 points, 1,000 assists, and 1,000 rebounds in her college career.
Ionescu did it all for her team which isn’t something that you see out of most point guards. She was a phenom and one of the easiest choices I was faced with when creating this lineup.
All-Time Starting Five – Guard | Diana Taurasi University of Connecticut (2000-2004)
Diana Taurasi was one of many women that helped turn UConn Basketball into a dynasty under Geno Auriemma. Taurasi has had a tremendous professional career in her time after college, but she was a standout for the Huskies.
Taurasi led UConn to three consecutive National Championship victories. The team was 139-8 with Taurasi on the court. She was a three-time first-team AP All-America selection. Like Ionescu, she was a do-all athlete for her team.
Taurasi posted over 2,000 points, 600 assists, and 600 rebounds in her time on campus in Storrs, Connecticut. She’s fifth on UConn’s all-time scoring list. Taurasi’s championship pedigree solidified her spot on my all-time list.
Forward | Maya Moore University of Connecticut (2007-2011)
Maya Moore could be the best woman to ever play basketball at the University of Connecticut. Moore was as dynamic of an athlete as one could be on the floor in her time with the Huskies. Moore scored 3,036 points in 154 games at UConn. In those 154 games, UConn went 150-4.
Moore led the Huskies to four Final Fours appearances and two National Championships. She was the AP Player of the Year, Naismith Trophy winner, and USAWB Player of the Year in 2009 and 2011.
She is one of only two players all-time to be named a first-team AP All-American in each of her four collegiate seasons. Maya Moore defined excellence at UConn, and she was an easy choice to take the first forward spot in my all-time starting five.
Forward | Candace Parker University of Tennessee (2004-2008)
The second forward spot on my list was a tough decision. It came down to Candace Parker or Breanna Stewart. Both are very deserving, but I gave Parker the nod. Parker played under legendary coach Pat Summit at Tennessee from 2004 until 2008. She redshirted her first season because of a knee injury.
Parker led the Lady Vols to back-to-back National Championship victories in 2007 and 2008. She had phenomenal statistics throughout Tennessee’s two title runs. In those two seasons, Parker scored a combined 1,115 points. She averaged over 20 points per game in 2007 and 2008 which propelled the Lady Vols to success in the NCAA tournament.
Parker is a two-time recipient of the John R. Wooden Award which is given to the most outstanding player in college basketball. She was the AP Female Athlete of the Year in 2008.
Another interesting note about Parker is that she was the first-ever woman to dunk in the NCAA Tournament. Parker epitomized Tennessee Women’s Basketball in her years on campus in Knoxville.
Center | Brittney Griner Baylor University (2009-2013)
Brittney Griner defined toughness in women’s college basketball from 2009 to 2013. Griner made a huge impact at Baylor and her presence was felt throughout the entire country. Griner could obviously score, but she played with grit.
Griner won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year four times and was a three-time recipient of the Big 12 Player of the Year Award. She won the Wade Trophy in her junior and senior seasons at Baylor.
Griner led the Bears to a National Championship in 2012. She was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2012 Final Four. In her time at Baylor, Griner scored 3,283 points, pulled down 1,305 rebounds, and blocked 748 shots. Griner is by far the most dominant center of all time in women’s college hoops.
All-Time Coach | Geno Auriemma University of Connecticut (1985-Present)
Geno Auriemma has been one of the pioneers in the women’s college basketball game throughout the 21st century. Nobody has been better in the game of basketball as a head coach than the UConn leader. Auriemma has won 11 National Championships at the University of Connecticut. He has won the AP Coach of the Year nine times and posted a 1097-142 record as the head coach of the Huskies.
Auriemma was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. There will never be a more successful collegiate head coach than this UConn legend.
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