This year’s University of Connecticut's women’s basketball team is unique in that it has no great All-American star, just five starters, plus two, who may just be technically the most proficient team Geno Auriemma has ever produced. They really are a chemistry wonder that may or may not make it to a national championship. No Diana, no Maya, no Sue, no Mariah, no Breanna, no Tina, no Svetlana, no Shea, no Nykesha, no Kara, no Jennifer, no Rebecca, and no Renee.

Speaking of Diana, she took three freshmen and one unheralded senior to a national championship by personally thwarting every opposing team’s strength that threatened UConn’s alternative weakness, whether rebounding, shooting, blocking shots, or being the floor coach. Of her, Geno rightfully observed, “The difference between us and everybody else is we got Diana and they don’t.”

Watching women’s basketball teams these days, it seems obvious that despite the lopsided scores this UConn team achieves, opposing teams are pretty solidly coached teams, they are skilled, and they do play good basketball, but they are just outmatched by the all-out pressure, speed and athleticism UConn applies at both ends of the court. One wonders just how great this team is without the great star to rely on.

Howard Flora

Ledyard