More great news from the recuiting front...

UConn's ever expanding recruiting class is now at four after the verbal commitment 5'11 SG Lauren Engeln (Laguna Hills, CA) on Thursday. Lauren, who was at the Final Four with her parents to watch UConn win its sixth national title, informed the coaches of her decision today according to her AAU coach Russ Davis. She is ranked 87th in the ESPN HoopGurlz Class of 2010. She joins 6'5 C Stefanie Dolson, 6'3 PF Michala Johnson, and 6'1 SF Samarie Walker as the high school juniors who have committed to UConn.

The last piece of UConn's recruiting class could be 5'10 PG Bria Hartley out of North Babylon High, who was named the Gatorade New York Player of the Year as a junior. Hartley was hoping to visit UConn this week but those plans fell through since UConn was in the Final Four and UConn coach Geno Auriemma was in New Jersey for Thursday's WNBA draft and will leave with Maya Moore Friday for the Wooden Award banquet.

And with the 4th Pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft the Minnesota Lynx select....

University of Connecticut PG Renee Montgomery!!!!

She joins former UConn teammate Charde Houston along with former Wade Trophy winner's Seimone Augustus (LSU) and Candice Wiggins (Stanford).

Follow along with the 2009 WNBA Draft at WNBA.com and find out where UConn's outstanding Senior PG Renee Montgomery will land. She is the NEW choice for the No. 1 Overall Pick in the lastest WNBA Mock Draft which belongs to the Atlanta Dream. The first round of the 2009 WNBA Draft will be televised live on ESPN2 at 3:00 pm. The second and third rounds will continue to be televised live on NBATV and ESPNU at 4:00 pm. Personally, I would love to see her in Phoenix with Taurasi, but after her performance in the Final 4, there is no way she will be on the board when the 5th Overall Pick rolls around.

The 2009 WNBA Draft Order (1st Rd):
1. Atlanta Dream
2. Washington Mystics
3. Chicago Sky
4. Minnesota Lynx
5. Phoenix Mercury
6. Indiana Fever
7. Sacramento Monarchs
8. New York Liberty
9. Minnesota Lynx (via Was via LA)
10. Connecticut Sun
11. Detroit Shock
12. Seattle Storm
13. Los Angeles Sparks (via Atl via SA)

Watch the Connecticut Women's Basketball 2009 National Championship Pep Rally LIVE now via WTNH News Ch. 8!

I must say I absolutely LOVE the new UConnHuskies.com! Way to go UConn...I am totally blown away by the National Championship coverage of Our Ladies...everyone check it out if you haven't already!!!!

Pep Rally Set....

The 2009 National Champion Connecticut women's basketball team will leave St. Louis at 1:00 pm ET today and is expected to return to Bradley International Airport at approximately 3:15 pm ET.

Upon arrival at Bradley, there will be a short public event (rain/shine). That event will include remarks from UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma.

Upon arrival at Storrs, there will be a Championship Pep Rally in Gampel Pavilion. The doors to Gampel will open to the public at 3:00 pm and the team is expected to arrive in Storrs at approximately 4:30 pm. The event at Gampel is free and open to the public. The program will include the introduction of the team and also include brief comments from Coach Auriemma and a few players.

A special Thank You to Our Outstanding Seniors...



















Cassie Kerns, Renee Montgomery, and Tahirah Williams
...for an amazing four years and everything each of you contributed to this undefeated 2008-09 National Championship season!!!! Good Luck in everything you do in life!!!!

Renee Montgomery's Legacy:
(Connecticut, Point Guard , 06-09)

Thank you so much Renee for 4 incredible years!!!! We will miss you!!!! Good Luck on your future whereever it may take you!!!!




Accomplishments:
NCAA WCBB Champion, Undefeated 39-0 (09)
NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team (09)
3-time UConn Captain (07,08,09)
2-time State Farm All-American (08,09)
All-Big East First Team (07, 08, 09)
AP First Team All-American (09)
AP Third Team All-American (08)
AP All-American Honorable Mention (07)
Honda Sports Award (Nation's Top Collegiate Basketball Player) (09)
Francis Pomeroy Naismith Award (Nation's Top Player Under 5'8) (09)
Nancy Lieberman Award (Nation's Top Point Guard) (09)
Lowe's Senior CLASS Award All-Senior First Team (09)
John Wooden All-American (09)
USBWA All-American (09)
Big East Sportsmanship Award (09)
Big East Freshman of the Year (06)
NCAA Tournament All-Regional Team (06,07,08,09)

Milestones:
No.1 Games Played, Career (150)
No.1 Assists, Game (13)
No.2 3-pt FG's Made, Season (99)
No.3 Assists, Career (632)
No.4 Assists, Season (199)
No.4 3-pt FG's Made, Career(254)
No.5 Steals, Career (266)
No.6 Points, Career (1990)
No.7 Points, Season (644)

1 Seed Connecticut Huskies (39-0)

Results: Connecticut 76, Louisville 54
Player of the Game: Jr. C Tina Charles
Defensive Player of the Game: RJr. SF Kalana Greene
Freshman Player of the Game: Fr. SG Tiffany Hayes
Stat of the Game: FG%: UConn 50%, Louisville 31%

2008-09 NCAA Women's Basketball National Champions!!!

















2009 Final Four Most Outstanding Player:
Jr. C Tina Charles, Connecticut

2009 Final Four All-Tournament Team:
Sr. PG Renee Montgomery, Connecticut
So. SF Maya Moore, Connecticut
Sr. SF Angel McCoughtry, Louisville
Jr. C Jayne Appel, Stanford

Game notes (pdf) for today's NCAA Tournament National Championship game vs. 3 Louisville Cardinals.

TV: ESPN & ESPN360.com, 8:30 pm

And they haven't stopped rolling in yet...

The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today that Connecticut's Maya Moore was named winner of the 2008-09 Naismith National Player of the Year Trophy in Women's College Basketball presented by AT&T. The two-time BIG EAST Player of the Year becomes just the sixth student-athlete to win a Naismith Trophy in both high school and college, joining UConn Husky Great Diana Taurasi, Tennessee Trio of Tamika Catchings, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Candace Parker, and Southern California's Lisa Leslie. The Connecticut sophomore from Collins Hill High School in Atlanta, GA won the H.S. prep award in both 2006 and 2007.

Update: UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma has been named the 2008-09 Naismith National Coach of the Year in Women's College Basketball (for a record 6th time).

1 Seed Connecticut Huskies (38-0)

Results: Connecticut 83, Stanford 64
Player of the Game: Sr. PG Renee Montgomery
Defensive Player of the Game: Sr. PG Renee Montgomery
Freshman Player of the Game: Fr. SG Tiffany Hayes
Stat of the Game: Pts Off TO's: UConn 19, Stanford 9

Game notes (pdf) for today's NCAA Tournament Final 4 game vs. 2 Stanford Cardinal.

TV: ESPN & ESPN360.com, 9:30 pm

Today it was announced that UConn Senior PG Renee Montgomery was named to the 2008-09 Lowe's Senior CLASS All-Senior All America First Team. Oklahoma's Senior C Courtney Paris was awarded the 2008-09 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in Women's Basketball which is given to the women's college basketball’s top NCAA Division I senior student-athlete. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award has grown into the nation’s premier tribute to college seniors. The award identifies personal qualities that define a complete student-athlete with criteria including excellence in the “4 C’s” of classroom, community, character and competition.

2008-09 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Winner:
Sr. C Courtney Paris, Oklahoma

2008-09 Lowe's All Senior All America Teams:
First Team:

Sr. PG Renee Montgomery, Connecticut

Sr. PG Shalee Lehning, Kansas State
Sr. PG Kristi Toliver, Maryland
Sr. C Courtney Paris, Oklahoma
Sr. SF Christina Wirth, Vanderbilt

Second Team:
Sr. SG Koren Schram, Dartmouth
Sr. SG Abby Waner, Duke
Sr. PF Rachel Galligan, Eastern Illinois
Sr. SG Jada Frazier, New Orleans
Sr. SG Takia Starks, Texas A&M

And they haven't stopped rolling in....

Today UConn's So. SF Maya Moore was also named the 2008-09 Associated Press Women's National Player of the Year and UConn's Head Coach Geno Auriemma was named the 2008-09 Associated Press Women's National Coach of the Year. Moore received 37 out of the 45 possible votes (UConn teammate PG Renee Montgomery finished 2nd in the voting with 4 votes) and becomes only the second sophomore to win the award (Oklahoma's Courtney Paris won the award in 2006-07), and Coach Auriemma recieved 27 out of the 45 possible votes (Auburn Head Coach Nell Fortner finished 2nd in the voting with 7 votes) and becomes the first coach to win the award in back to back seasons. This is his sixth AP National Coach of the Year award.

The 2008-09 State Farm All America Team was announced today as well as the recipient of the prestigious 2009 State Farm Wade Trophy. The winner of the Wade Trophy is UConn's Sensational Sophomore Maya Moore. She becomes the first true sophomore to ever win the Wade Trophy, which is the highest player of the year honor in women's college basketball. She becomes the 5th Connecticut player to win the award joining fellow Husky Greats Rebecca Lobo, Jennifer Rizzotti, Sue Bird, and Diana Taurasi. Congratulations Maya, you deserve it!!!!













2008-09 State Farm Wade Trophy Winner:
So. SF Maya Moore, Connecticut

2008-09 State Farm All America Team:
Sr. SF DeWanna Bonner, Auburn
Jr. C Tina Charles, Connecticut
Sr. PG Renee Montgomery, Connecticut
So. SF Maya Moore, Connecticut
Sr. SF Angel McCoughtry, Louisville
Sr. SF Marissa Coleman, Maryland
Sr. PG Kristi Toliver, Maryland
So. C Jantel Lavendar, Ohio State
Sr. C Courtney Paris, Oklahoma
Jr. C Jayne Appel, Stanford

Keep rollin', rollin', rollin'......

Today UConn Sr. PG Renee Montgomery was named the winner of the 2009 Nancy Lieberman Award. The award recognizes the nation's top collegiate point guard in women's Division I basketball. The criteria for the award are the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills that personified Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman during her career. Sportswriters from across the country determined the award winner and finalists. The three finalists (in alphabetical order) are: Kristi Cirone (Illinois State), Danielle Robinson (Oklahoma), and Kristi Toliver (Maryland). Montgomery adds her name to the list of outstanding WCBB point guards which includes former UConn Greats Sue Bird (who won the award from 2000 to 2002) and Diana Taurasi (who won the award in 2003 and 2004).

Now they are pouring in....

Today both Renee Montgomery and Maya Moore were named to the 2008-09 John Wooden All America Team. They become the first set of teammates to make the five-player team in its six year history. The 2008-09 John Wooden Award will be awarded to one of the five members of the All America team at the 33rd Annual Wooden Award ceremony which will take place on Friday, April 10 at The Los Angeles Athletic Club in CA.

2008-09 John Wooden All America Team:
Sr. PG Renee Montgomery, Connecticut
So. SF Maya Moore, Connecticut
Sr. SF Angel McCoughtry, Louisville
Jr. PG Kristi Toliver, Maryland
Sr. C Courtney Paris, Oklahoma

And the awards just keep rolling in...

Today Connecticut's Sophomore Sensation Maya Moore was named the 2008-09 USBWA National Player of the Year while Connecticut's Head Coach Geno Auriemma was named the 2008-09 USBWA Coach of the Year for the 2nd consecutive season (4th overall). Moore and teammate Renee Montgomery were named to the 2008-09 USBWA All America Team. (Again, who is watching the games because Tina Charles is clearly one of the 11 Best in the Nation)

2008-09 USBWA National Player of the Year:
So. SF Maya Moore, Connecticut
2008-09 USBWA National Coach of the Year:
Geno Auriemma, Connecticut
2008-09 USBWA National Freshman of the Year:
Fr. SG Shekinna Stricklen, Tennessee

2008-09 USBWA All America Team:
Sr. SF DeWanna Bonner, Auburn
Sr. PF Ashley Walker, California
Sr. PG Renee Montgomery, Connecticut
So. SF Maya Moore, Connecticut
Sr. C Chante Black, Duke
Sr. SF Angel McCoughtry, Louisville
Sr. SF Marissa Coleman, Maryland
Sr. PG Kristi Toliver, Maryland
So. C Jantel Lavender, Ohio State
Sr. C Courtney Paris, Oklahoma
Jr. C Jayne Appel, Stanford

Meet us in St. Louie....













2009 NCAA Women's Final Four here we come!!!!!

National Semifinals:
Sunday, April 5, 2009
1 Oklahoma vs. 3 Louisville, ESPN 7:00 pm
1 Connecticut vs. 2 Stanford, ESPN 9:30 pm