If USC Legends & UConn Legends Could Square Off “My Money Is On UConn,” Says Breanna Stewart
The University of Southern California and the University of Connecticut have had some of the most decorated women the game of basketball has ever seen. USC has developed players such as Hall of Famers, Cheryl Miller, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Lisa Leslie, Tina Thompson, Women’s Hall of Famer Pamela McGee and Paula McGee.
Meanwhile, the University of Connecticut has had a pipeline of legends that have come through Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Players such as Hall of Famer, Rebecca Lobo, Women’s basketball Hall of Famers, Kara Wolters, Jennifer Rizzotti, Swin Cash, Future Hall of Famers, Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Tina Charles, and Maya Moore to name a few.
Many basketball enthusiast have raised the question, if both schools could roll out their top five players at each position, who would win and what would those lineups look like.
I recently spoke with Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie,who is currently coaching in Ice Cube’s Big 3 League. Leslie named her squad for USC, which consisted of Lisa Leslie, Pam McGee, Tina Thompson, Cheryl Miller and Cynthia Cooper-Dyke.
“Oh, so we are going to ball out. At the center position, we would have me, at the one I would Cooper, so we are really loaded. I would Cheryl Miller at the two and Tina Thompson at the three, and we might be in trouble defensively though… But then I am going to bring in Pam McGee at the four positions just in case things get physical. I’ll let Pam handle it, but we might be in trouble on defense though, I know Tina can’t guard [Diana] Taurasi. We might have to have Coop guard [Diana] Taurasi, but we would have to figure out who the rest of their five would be… That’s a good question, though!”
U Conn’s lineup could look like Rebecca Lobo at the center, Breanna Stewart at the power forward position, Diana Taursi at the three, Maya Moore at the two, and Sue Bird running point.
Before the Seattle Storm took on the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday, I spoke with Storm’s forward Breanna Stewart and asked her if a match between both schools could happen. What would that match up look like. Stewart has her money is on UConn.
“It something the really make you think. Obviously, looking at USC and the legends that have been created from that program, and the same with UConn. If that was able to happen, my money is on UConn,” said Stewart. “I got gotta stay with the home team, but it is something that makes you really think about [in terms] of women’s basketball and reall y the all-time [players] from USC and UConn.”
The Seattle Storm would go to beat the Sparks 81 to 75 and improving their record to 3-1, while the Sparks are 2-2. The Storm play the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, August 4th, while the Sparks play the Indiana Fever on Wednesday.
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