{"id":543400,"date":"2026-03-25T01:26:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T01:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/543400\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T01:26:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T01:26:10","slug":"taurasi-leaves-paige-bueckers-off-her-all-time-uconn-starting-five","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/543400\/","title":{"rendered":"Taurasi Leaves Paige Bueckers Off Her All\u2011Time UConn Starting Five"},"content":{"rendered":"

Paige Bueckers could ask for all that is there in the WNBA and still end up getting it. The Dallas Wings\u2019 rookie superstar seems to have a bright future coming in a couple of years after the latest CBA is signed<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, there are still some lists where she has yet to make her mark.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Recently, when Diana Taurasi was asked<\/a> to name her all-time UConn starting five, the result reflected both the program\u2019s depth and the difficulty of narrowing down decades of elite talent.<\/p>\n

Speaking on Yahoo Sports Daily, Taurasi selected a lineup featuring Sue Bird at point guard, alongside Nykesha Sales, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, and Breanna Stewart. Notably, Taurasi placed herself and Bueckers on the bench.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy starting point guard would be Sue Bird, obviously,\u201d Taurasi said. \u201cI\u2019m gonna go Nykesha Sales, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, and Breanna Stewart\u2026 Paige, I left Paige off. And off the bench, Paige and I will come off the bench.\u201d<\/p>\n

“My starting PG would be Sue Bird. \u2026 Nykesha Sales, Maya Moore, Tina Charles and Breanna Stewart. \u2026 Paige [Bueckers] will come off the bench.”@DianaTaurasi<\/a> lists her UConn women’s all-time starting 5 \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n

(via Yahoo Sports Daily) pic.twitter.com\/WpxL5K4d0j<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 23, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

The selection highlights UConn\u2019s sustained dominance under Geno Auriemma. Bird and Taurasi led the Huskies to an undefeated national championship in 2002, setting the tone for a dynasty. Moore later carried that standard forward, anchoring back-to-back undefeated title runs while earning multiple National Player of the Year honors.<\/p>\n

Stewart\u2019s r\u00e9sum\u00e9 may be the most decorated of the group, winning four consecutive national championships and three Player of the Year awards. Charles, the 2010 Player of the Year, added interior dominance during her tenure, while Sales remains one of the program\u2019s most accomplished scorers.<\/p>\n

Diana Taurasi Leaving Paige Bueckers Out Of Her Starting Five <\/p>\n

Leaving Bueckers out of the starting five is the most debatable aspect of Taurasi\u2019s lineup. The former UConn star capped her college career with a national title and went on to win WNBA Rookie of the Year honors, reinforcing her status as one of the program\u2019s modern greats.<\/p>\n

Still, Taurasi\u2019s decision reflects the challenge of balancing eras. UConn\u2019s history is filled with players who not only excelled individually but also defined dominant teams.<\/p>\n

Even with two elite guards coming off the bench, the exercise underlines a broader point, as there is no single definitive answer. Any all-time UConn lineup is bound to leave out names that would start at almost any other program.<\/p>\n

Taurasi\u2019s version simply leans on championship pedigree, longevity, and the players who shaped the program\u2019s identity across different eras.<\/p>\n

Diana Taurasi Puts Azzi Fudd Ahead Of Paige Bueckers<\/p>\n

When Diana Taurasi talks about UConn guards, it\u2019s usually worth paying attention. Her recent comments about Azzi Fudd did just that, especially because of what they hinted at when placed alongside names like Paige Bueckers.<\/p>\n

Taurasi didn\u2019t explicitly compare the two, but her praise for Fudd\u2019s shooting stood out. She called Fudd \u201cthe best pure shooter\u201d she has seen, which is a strong statement considering the level of players UConn has produced over the years, including Bueckers and Caitlin Clark.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think AZ\u2019s the best pure shooter I\u2019ve ever seen,\u201d she said. \u201cShe\u2019s one of the only players I\u2019ve seen that when she catches the ball and gets ready to shoot, I never think she\u2019s going to miss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAzzi\u2019s the best pure shooter i\u2019ve ever seen\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaymaking, decision making, great defender, always put on the other team\u2019s best guard & every huddle she\u2019s the one talking\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019ll definitely be the # 1 pick, there\u2019s not many players like her to have ever worn a UConn jersey\u201d pic.twitter.com\/q1uKy1WvTr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ana (@salt3dwounds) March 23, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

The way Taurasi explained it was simple. With Fudd, there\u2019s a level of confidence the moment she gets her shot off. It\u2019s not just about form or range, but how repeatable it looks, possession after possession. That kind of consistency is often what separates good scorers from great ones at the next level.<\/p>\n

At the same time, Taurasi made it clear that Fudd\u2019s game has grown beyond shooting. She pointed to improvements in decision-making and playmaking, along with a defensive presence that allows her to take on tough assignments. Those are the areas that tend to decide whether a player can handle a bigger role professionally.<\/p>\n

That said, none of this takes away from what Bueckers has already done. Her body of work at UConn and her transition to the WNBA speak for themselves. But Taurasi\u2019s point seemed more specific than that. When it comes to shooting alone, she sees Fudd operating at a very high level, even among elite guards.<\/p>\n