2001–02 Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team


The 2001–02 Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team represented the University of Connecticut in the 2001–2002 NCAA Division I basketball season. Coached by Geno Auriemma, the Huskies played their home games at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut, and on campus at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut, and are a member of the Big East Conference. At the Big East Women's Basketball Tournament, the Huskies won the championship by defeating Boston College 96-54. The Huskies won their third NCAA championship by defeating the Oklahoma Sooners, 82-70. The starting five of Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Asjha Jones, Tamika Williams, and Diana Taurasi are generally considered the greatest starting lineup in Women's College Basketball history.
On December 29, 2011, the team was recognized as one of the greatest in the program's history by induction into the Huskies of Honor.

Roster changes

Five players from the 2000–01 team were seniors and are no longer part of the team. One sophomore player, Kennitra Johnson, decided to leave UConn to be closer to her mother, and transferred to Purdue. Two freshmen joined the team: Ashley Valley, younger sister of Morgan Valley, and Stacey Marron. Although Marron had received scholarship offers from other schools, she chose to apply to UConn and attempt to make the team as a walk-on. She succeeded, and eventfully earned a full scholarship, the first Connecticut walk-on to earn a basketball scholarship.
Two other players are not new to the program, but will be playing in their first full season. Ashley Battle was a freshman in the prior year, but sustained an elbow injury in the fifth game of the season, and did not play the remainder of the season. Battle applied for a medical hardship, often called a redshirt. Jessica Moore also joined the team in the prior year, but elected not to play her first year.

Roster

Source

Schedule

Source
!colspan=8| Regular Season
!colspan=9| 2002 Big East Women's Basketball Tournament
!colspan=10| 2002 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament

Team players drafted into the WNBA

Awards and honors