UConn players in the WNBA: Taurasi, Stewart, Bird, more

Diana Taurasi announced her WNBA retirement in February 2025. A five-time WNBA scoring champion and 14-time All-WNBA selection, Taurasi was league MVP in 2009 and Finals MVP in 2009 and 2014. Prior to her 20-season run with the Phoenix Mercury, Taurasi started her legendary basketball career at UConn.

Here's a look at the most notable players who shined at UConn and in the WNBA:

Sue Bird

• Two-time national champion


• 2002 women's college basketball player of the year


• No. 1 pick in the 2002 WNBA draft (Seattle Storm)


• 13-time WNBA All-Star (record)


• Four-time WNBA champion


• All-time assists leader in WNBA history

Swin Cash

• Two-time national champion


• 2002 NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player


• No. 32 retired at Connecticut


• No. 2 pick in the 2002 WNBA draft (Detroit Shock)


• Four-time WNBA All-Star


• Three-time WNBA champion

Tina Charles

• Two-time national champion


• 2010 women's college basketball player of the year


• No. 1 pick in the 2010 WNBA draft (Connecticut Sun)


• 2010 WNBA Rookie of the Year


• 2012 WNBA MVP


• All-time leading rebounder in WNBA history

Napheesa Collier

• 2016 national champion


• Two-time first-team All-American


• No. 6 pick in the 2019 WNBA draft (Minnesota Lynx)


• 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year


• 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year


• Four-time WNBA All-Star

Rebecca Lobo

• 1995 national champion


• 1995 first-team All-American


• 1995 women's college basketball player of the year


• No. 50 retired at Connecticut


• 1997 second-team All-WNBA


• 1999 WNBA All-Star

Maya Moore

• Two-time national champion


• Two-time women's college basketball player of the year


• No. 1 pick in the 2011 WNBA draft (Minnesota Lynx)


• 2014 WNBA MVP


• Four-time WNBA champion


• No. 23 retired by Minnesota Lynx

Breanna Stewart

• Four-time national champion


• Four-time NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player


• No. 1 pick in the 2016 WNBA draft (Seattle Storm)


• Two-time WNBA MVP


• Three-time WNBA champion


• Two-time WNBA Finals MVP

Diana Taurasi

• Three-time national champion


• Two-time NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player


• No. 1 pick in the 2004 WNBA draft (Phoenix Mercury)


• 2009 WNBA MVP


• Three-time WNBA champion


• All-time leading scorer in WNBA history

Check out the ESPN women's college basketball hub page and the ESPN WNBA hub page for more women's basketball coverage.