A dominant win over Villanova set the stage, but the real celebration at UConn was about its past. The Huskies cruised to a 99–50 victory, marking one of their 56 conference wins. But the night wasn’t defined by the score.

The UConn women’s basketball program welcomed back members of its 2015 and 2016 national championship teams to Storrs. Both squads were officially inducted into the Huskies of Honor recognition program, with their names now proudly displayed on the walls of Gampel Pavilion.

To celebrate the moment, several legends were in attendance, including Morgan Tuck, Kia Nurse, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson, Katie Lou Samuelson, Kiah Stokes, Briana Pulido, and Tierney Lawlor.

The moment felt fitting. UConn won its 12th national title last season, ending a nine-year championship drought. But it was the 2016 team that set the gold standard. That group remains one of the greatest in college basketball history, and its legacy still shapes the program today.

That’s why when Stewie and her mates returned to be honored, the focus wasn’t on the past. It was on continuity. The current Huskies are undefeated and are ranked No. 1.

“They all feel challenged by what came before them, and they all feel this sense of, of course, they’re going to do it again,” Geno Auriemma said Wednesday at the Werth Champions Center. “It’s just a matter of when.” So no doubt, much of that standard traces back to Stewart and her generation.

Why the 2016 Title Run Was the Toughest?

Out of UConn’s 12 national championships, the 2016 title run appeared inevitable to many. The Huskies were chasing a fourth straight title and had lost just one game over the previous two seasons.

The roster was stacked. Stewart, in particular, had made a promise to herself to leave college with four championships. But despite the dominance, Geno didn’t feel calm or confident. 

Instead, he felt pressure. He understood how much that season meant to his players and constantly worried about the consequences of falling short. By his own admission, it was the most stressful season of his career.

On the court, though, UConn looked untouchable. The Huskies overwhelmed opponents all season, especially during the NCAA Tournament, where they won by an average margin of more than 40 points. They even set a record for the largest margin of victory ever in a Final Four game.

Given that legacy, the honor was more than deserved.

Written by

Yashika Dutta

Edited by

Joyita Das