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Queens of Dominance: The Best UConn Women’s Basketball Players of the 2010s and 2020s

From Maya Moore’s fire to Breanna Stewart’s perfection and Paige Bueckers’ flair, the past 15 years of UConn women’s basketball have been a dynasty within a dynasty.

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Quarter Zip Sports
September 19, 2025

When you talk about dynasties in sports, UConn women’s basketball belongs right at the top of the conversation. What Geno Auriemma built in Storrs during the 2010s and into the 2020s is the kind of dominance that coaches dream about and rivals quietly resent. Titles, streaks, lottery picks, Olympic gold medalists—you name it, UConn had it.

But it wasn’t just about winning. The Huskies turned out transcendent stars—players who didn’t just dominate the college game but also helped redefine what women’s basketball could be at the highest level. From the versatile forwards to the steely guards who always seemed unflappable under pressure, UConn produced a conveyor belt of greatness.

Looking back now, as we sit in 2025 with more than a decade of hindsight, here’s a look at the best UConn women’s basketball players of the 2010s and 2020s.

Breanna Stewart: The Standard of All Standards

You don’t start a conversation about UConn’s modern era without mentioning Breanna Stewart. Honestly, you barely start a conversation about women’s basketball at all without her name being front and center.

From 2012 to 2016, Stewart wasn’t just good—she was generational. She won four national championships in four years. Let that sink in: four years, four rings. And just for fun, she collected four consecutive Most Outstanding Player awards at the Final Four. No one had ever done that before, and no one has done it since.

Stewart was the ultimate modern forward—6’4” with the ability to stretch the floor, defend multiple positions, and take over a game whenever she pleased. She was as reliable as the sunrise and as ruthless as a closer. By the time she left Storrs, she was already being talked about as potentially the greatest college player ever, and her WNBA and Team USA career since has only cemented that argument.

Maya Moore: Carrying the Torch into the 2010s

Technically, Maya Moore straddles the late 2000s and early 2010s, but she set the tone for everything that came after. By the time Stewart arrived, Moore had already shown the blueprint for what a UConn superstar could be in the modern game.

From 2007 to 2011, Moore was a two-time national champion, a four-time All-American, and UConn’s all-time leading scorer until Kelsey Plum broke the NCAA record. She could shoot, slash, rebound, defend—there was no hole in her game.

What really made Moore special was her aura. She had the kind of presence where opponents knew they were already fighting uphill. Even before the championships piled up, Moore played with an inevitability that defined UConn’s culture. Her success in the WNBA with the Minnesota Lynx only underscored that her greatness wasn’t confined to Storrs.

Napheesa Collier and Katie Lou Samuelson: The Dynamic Duo

If Stewart was UConn’s singular superstar, then Napheesa Collier and Katie Lou Samuelson were proof of the Huskies’ ability to develop multiple elite players at the same time.

Collier, who played from 2015 to 2019, was the definition of consistent dominance. A silky scorer around the basket, a relentless rebounder, and a tireless worker, Collier brought steadiness to a team that was transitioning out of the Stewart era. She earned National Player of the Year honors and has since become a WNBA All-Star with the Minnesota Lynx.

Samuelson, meanwhile, was UConn’s sharpshooter. At 6’3”, she could bury threes over defenders with ease, stretching defenses in a way few college players ever could. Injuries sometimes hampered her, but when she was healthy, she was a lethal scorer who could put up 30 points in a blink. Together, Collier and Samuelson kept UConn at the forefront of the sport even as the competition around the country got stronger.

Paige Bueckers: The Face of a New Era

Fast forward to the 2020s, and Paige Bueckers has taken on the role of UConn’s superstar torchbearer. Her freshman season in 2020–21 was nothing short of spectacular: National Player of the Year, Big East Player of the Year, and an immediate fan favorite thanks to her flair, court vision, and knack for hitting big shots.

What makes Bueckers different is her charisma. She has the “it” factor that draws attention beyond the box score. Whether it’s her crafty passing, her deadly midrange jumper, or her ability to seize momentum in crunch time, she feels like the centerpiece of women’s basketball in the social media age.

Injuries slowed her trajectory—missing all of 2022–23 was a gut punch—but by 2025, she has reestablished herself as one of the best players in the country. And if she can stay healthy, her legacy could rival the all-time greats who came before her.

Azzi Fudd: The Sharpshooting Prodigy

If Bueckers is the leader, Azzi Fudd is the weapon you can’t ignore. The former No. 1 recruit in the nation, Fudd came into UConn with hype that mirrored Bueckers’. When healthy, she’s one of the best pure shooters women’s basketball has ever seen—someone whose range stretches defenses to the breaking point.

Fudd’s career has also been defined by injuries, but when she’s on the court, she and Bueckers form one of the most electrifying backcourts Geno Auriemma has ever coached. In many ways, she represents the new direction of UConn: dynamic guard play, floor spacing, and adaptability. If she stays healthy in the pros, Fudd has the tools to become a WNBA superstar.

Crystal Dangerfield, Kia Nurse, and Moriah Jefferson: The Backbone Guards

It’s easy to focus on the superstars, but UConn’s run through the 2010s and 2020s also depended on a string of excellent guards who kept the engine running.

  • Moriah Jefferson (2012–16) was lightning in sneakers—a defensive pest and a floor general who could score when needed.

  • Kia Nurse (2014–18) brought toughness, leadership, and clutch shooting, particularly in international play for Team Canada.

  • Crystal Dangerfield (2016–20) was a steady hand at the point, quick with the ball and fearless in big moments.

These players weren’t always the headliners, but they were the glue that allowed UConn’s stars to shine while ensuring the team never skipped a beat.

Why This Era Matters

The 2010s and 2020s proved that UConn wasn’t just a dynasty—it was an institution. Year after year, the Huskies produced not just great teams but transcendent players who carried the program’s legacy forward.

From Stewart’s unprecedented run of championships, to Bueckers and Fudd redefining what a backcourt can look like in the modern game, UConn continually reinvented itself without ever losing its identity. That’s the true mark of greatness: adaptability without compromise.

And while fans might occasionally gripe about injuries, recruiting misses, or the lack of recent championships compared to the Stewart era, the bigger picture is clear: UConn women’s basketball has remained the gold standard, even as the rest of the sport has improved dramatically.

Looking back from 2025, the past decade-plus of UConn women’s basketball feels almost like a greatest-hits album. Stewart, Moore, Collier, Samuelson, Bueckers, Fudd—the names roll off the tongue like a Hall of Fame roster.

Yes, the championships matter. But what really stands out is how these players have shaped the game itself, elevating women’s basketball on and off the court. Whether it was Stewart’s dominance, Moore’s aura, or Bueckers’ star power in the age of NIL and social media, UConn’s players weren’t just great—they were transformative.

In the end, that’s why UConn’s dynasty endures. It’s not just about the banners hanging in Gampel Pavilion. It’s about the players who came through Storrs and left the game better than they found it.

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