For a decade and a half, the UConn women's basketball team has ended most seasons as champions of one thing or another. There have been five national titles, along with too many Big East regular season and tournament crowns to keep track of. Still, it's worth celebrating the team's latest accomplishment.
With a win over South Florida on Tuesday, the Huskies clinched the regular season conference title; they have yet to lose a Big East game this year. The team won 11 straight of these titles from 1994 to 2004, and the accomplishments came to seem routine. When you win every year, the fans only expect more.
But the last two years saw the team pushed off its customary throne. The team still had, by any standard, highly successful seasons, but the recognition that goes along with being better than all your neighbors was missing. This year, they've been unmatched, and after experiencing what it's like to finish someplace other than first place, they're back in their customary spot. After two seasons away, a return to greatness is all the sweeter.
At the start of UConn's run of national dominance, the Big East was considered a hindrance to the team's national prospects; experts claimed the team couldn't adequately prepare for the grind of March because they played sub-par teams all year. The mighty Southeastern Conference, led by archrival Tennessee, sniffed at UConn's prescribed regular season matchups. But since those days, the conference has risen to join the country's top ranks. The ascent of Notre Dame, Villanova, Marquette and especially Rutgers has provided UConn with stiff tests throughout the year, and made their season-long triumph all the more satisfying.
With a young roster sure to be just as competitive next year, the Huskies and their fans have plenty to look forward to. And though they're clearly not done with this season, it's worth taking a moment to appreciate the team's achievements. Here's hoping there's more to celebrate in the coming months.
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