Through the course of its history, the UConn Huskies have established themselves as what is considered by many as the most influential program in women’s basketball. With a record 12 national championships, 24 NCAA Final Four appearances and countless Big East conference regular season titles and conference tournament championships, coach Geno Auriemma’s program has surely produced some of the best in the sport.
With a powerhouse roster of alumni who have donned the Huskies uniforms, let’s take a look at UConn’s most prized players who are considered to be the most influential in their own right.
UConn Women’s Basketball Top 8 Influential Alumni
#8 Napheesa Collier
View this post on Instagram
As a UConn Husky, Napheesa Collier was an NCAA champion in 2016, which was the last time the Huskies won it all before 2025. The now 28-year-old also won several AAC accolades, such as being a two-time conference Player of the Year, before establishing herself as a WNBA star who now has four All-Star team selections. Collier has also since founded the newly minted Unrivaled Basketball League with fellow alumna, Breanna Stewart.
#7 Rebecca Lobo
Considered by many as the first true Huskies legend from women’s basketball, Rebecca Lobo was a staple in the program in the 90s. She was one of the focal points when coach Auriemma’s squad won its first national title in 1995, and Lobo was named as the MOP. When she graduated in 1997, the WNBA was formed, and Lobo was a part of its inaugural season with the New York Liberty, becoming an All-Star in the process before retiring in 2012.
#6 Paige Bueckers
In most recent times, Paige Bueckers has been the face of the Huskies program, especially after she and the 2024-25 UConn roster broke the program’s nine-year national championship drought earlier this year. Before she went on to become a rookie with the Dallas Wings, Bueckers had a storied college basketball career with accomplishments such as a Naismith College Player of the Year award and three first-team All-American nods.
#5 Tina Charles
Tina Charles’ mix of size and skill made her a formidable force in college basketball and now in the WNBA. After winning two NCAA championships, one of which she won the MOP award, Charles established herself as one of the greatest centers in the women’s game. In the WNBA, Charles has won the WNBA regular season MVP award in 2012 and has become a four-time rebounding leader and two-time scoring champion in the league.
#4 Sue Bird
From the collegiate level to the WNBA and in the national team scene, Sue Bird brought winning ways to every stage of basketball she has played at. Before retiring from the game in 2022 to pursue a career in sports media, Bird was a two-time NCAA champion, four-time WNBA champion and has won five Olympic gold medals with Team USA in women’s basketball.
#3 Breanna Stewart
Breanna Stewart is hailed as one of the steadiest swingmen in women’s basketball history with her immense IQ and unparalleled intangibles. This has helped the Syracuse, New York native to become a four-time national champion, all of which she was the MOP in, and translate that success into the WNBA with three championships and two Finals MVP awards. Stewart is currently helping out her team in their championship defense in the 2025 season.
#2 Maya Moore
Maya Moore’s impact on the women’s game can be encapsulated by her activism towards matters such as social justice and prosecutorial reform. Her game on the court has also been transcendental, as Moore is a four-time WNBA champion, one of which named her the Finals MVP. She was also named the regular season MVP once in 2014. In her time at UConn, the 36-year-old won two NCAA titles.
#1 Diana Taurasi
Not only is Diana Taurasi considered by many as one of the most influential UConn Huskies of all time, but the now 43-year-old is also arguably hailed as the greatest women’s basketball player of all time. Her impact extends beyond her three national championships and three WNBA titles, as Taurasi was a staple in her time playing for Team USA, garnering a historic six Olympic gold medals from 2004 to 2024.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
