Sports
WNBA - English
WNBA Draft - English
Paige Buckers capped her UConn career in storybook fashion, leading the Huskies to an 82-59 victory over South Carolina in the 2025 National Championship – a rematch of the 2022 title game. After setting a Final Four record with a 34-point blowout over UCLA in the semifinals, UConn continued its excellence by winning its NCAA-record 12th national title and the program’s first since 2016. Bueckers, who dropped 17 points in the final, now ranks third all-time in NCAA Tournament scoring with 477 points, trailing only Caitlin Clark (491) and Chamique Holdsclaw (479). She joins Huskies legends like Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore in the pantheon of greatness, and like those three, she’s likely to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft with the Dallas Wings. There, she’ll reunite with fellow stars of the 2020 recruiting class, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso and Cameron Brink, a group whose NCAA dominance set a high bar for future generations.
The 2020 Class: A Legacy of Greatness
The 2020 recruiting class may be the greatest in women’s basketball history, a powerhouse group that has produced five national championships, three National Player of the Year awards and four top-10 WNBA Draft picks, with Bueckers and Hailey Van Lith soon to make it six. Bueckers bookends the class’ accolades: In 2021, she became the first freshman to win the Naismith College Player of the Year award, and now, four years later, she’s a national champion. Cameron Brink kicked off the title haul by winning with Stanford in 2021, where she also won three straight Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year awards and joined an elite three-person club with 1,800 points, 1,200 rebounds and 400 blocks.
Kamilla Cardoso won two championships with South Carolina, one in 2022 against the Bueckers and the second in 2024, while Angel Reese delivered LSU’s first-ever title in 2023. The latest of this elite group of women’s basketball players is Hailey Van Lith, a now projected first-round pick who made history by reaching the Elite Eight with three different schools – Louisville, LSU and TCU – becoming the only player to reach that round five times and leading TCU past the Sweet 16 for the first time ever this season.
Clark’s Near-Misses and the Power of Teamwork
The crazy thing about this class is that Caitlin Clark, arguably its brightest star, has never won a championship despite a stellar career. The two-time national player of the year led Iowa to back-to-back title games only to fall short, first to Reese and LSU in 2023, then to Cardoso and South Carolina in 2024, both fellow 2020 recruits. Clark’s 60 points in those two finals dwarfed the combined 61 points scored by Bueckers (17), Reese (15), Cardoso (19), and Brink (10) in their championship victories, underscoring a harsh truth: one player can take you far, but a team will take you all the way. Iowa’s program, with just three Final Four appearances in its history (two under Clark), isn’t the juggernaut that UConn (12 titles), South Carolina (three in a decade), LSU, or Stanford (15 Final Fours) have been. Clark’s brilliance got them close, but the class of 2020 showed that depth wins out.
A New Era in the WNBA
Now the WNBA can reap the rewards of this historic class. Watching Clark, Bueckers, Reese, Cardoso, Brink, and soon Van Lith compete as pros – while going up against veterans like A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Brittney Griner, Alyssa Thomas, and Arike Ogunbowale – promises to be electric. Women’s basketball is basking in unprecedented attention, and while Clark’s star power deserves much of the credit, the entire Class of 2020 has raised the level of the game. The momentum is only growing, with NCAA talent like JuJu Watkins, Sarah Strong and Hannah Hidalgo poised to join the WNBA. The revolution began with the 2020 class, and its legacy – five titles, countless records, and a new standard of excellence – will reverberate for years to come.
The Class of 2020 didn’t just play the game, they redefined it. From Bueckers’ UConn triumph to Clark’s scoring heroics, Reese and Cardoso’s title runs to Brink’s defensive dominance, they’ve left an indelible mark. As they take their talents to the pros, the future of the WNBA looks brighter than ever, and the next generation has a towering standard to chase.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Buffalo Bills Day 3 mock draft: Trading up for a falling value, targeting special teams
The first two days of the 2025 NFL Draft have concluded, and the Bills held true to their promise by using all three of their early picks on defense. The trio of cornerback Maxwell Hairston, defensive tackle T.J. Sanders and edge rusher Landon Jackson all have the potential to turn into starting players for the Bills over time.AdvertisementBut with the first two days done, it’s time to shift into the depth of the draft and the third day. Saturday will hold the final four rounds, with the Bills holding seven picks at Nos. 132, 169, 170, 173, 177, 206 and 240.And if there’s one thing the Bills have been able to do well over the years in the NFL draft, it’s finding some Day Three gems who turn into down-the-line starters. Since general manager Brandon Beane’s first Bills draft in […]
In Trey Amos, Commanders again get a player atop their board on Day 2 of NFL Draft
ASHBURN, Va. — Forget whether fans approve of the Washington Commanders’ second-round selection. Drafting former Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos 61st overall had members of the organization’s research and development department roaring with delight.“I don’t know if you guys could hear,” general manager Adam Peters said to local media members moments later, “but our R&D department was probably the loudest.”AdvertisementThe approval wasn’t a display of Ole Miss fandom. Amos, a physical 6-foot-1 press cornerback with 13 credited pass deflections last season, was the data analyst’s top-rated player entering Day 2 of the NFL Draft. They weren’t the only ones in the building who were ecstatic about adding the former Louisiana and Alabama transfer who faced Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels in college.Peters shared that the 2024 first-team All-SEC defender was in consideration with the Commanders’ first-round selection, 29th overall, before landing […]
49ers add beef — and ferocity — to middle of their defense on Day 2 of NFL Draft
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Five of the last seven tailbacks the San Francisco 49ers faced in 2024 ran for more than 100 yards and the team gave up 24 rushing touchdowns on the season, tied for the second most in the NFL.Those dubious statistics seemed to be on the 49ers’ mind on Friday as they focused on bolstering the middle of their defense, beginning with a 332-pound defensive tackle early in the second round and finishing with a 181-pound nickel cornerback late in the third.AdvertisementKyle Shanahan admitted last month’s free-agency period, one in which the team lost eight 2024 starters — “more than we ever (lost) before,” he said — had him nervous about filling those holes in the draft. He said he was feeling a lot better about his roster by the end of the day Friday.“I told John […]
How the Bengals altered their process to — perhaps — finally fix the OL drafting problem
CINCINNATI — Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher doesn’t go on many pro day visits. He traveled to Ohio State and Georgia this year with new offensive line coach Scott Peters alongside him every step of the way.They arrived in Athens, Georgia, with a target on UGA guard Dylan Fairchild and his teammate, Tate Ratledge.AdvertisementWhen Peters started working with Fairchild, and both locked arms, something special happened.“That’s really where it felt like a connection,” Fairchild said.Fairchild, a country-strong, 315-pounder from rural Georgia, started wrestling when he was 6 years old. It defined his transition to football and his becoming a two-year starter at left guard for the Bulldogs. Then there’s Peters, in his first season with Cincinnati, with a background in jujutsu and no stranger to the weight room, himself looking to test Fairchild’s technical skill and power.“I could feel my […]
Why the Browns passed on Shedeur Sanders again on Day 2, drafted Dillon Gabriel
Ralph Vacchiano NFL Reporter <!--> --> For most of the first two nights of the NFL Draft, the biggest surprise was the fact that Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was not selected.But then, late in the third round, the Cleveland Browns found a way to top that.When they made their selection with the 90th overall pick on Friday night — their fifth pick of the first two days — they didn’t just pass on Sanders again. They passed on him in favor of a quarterback almost nobody thought would go in the first three rounds. Cleveland took Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a 24-year-old who stands just 5-foot-11 and was a six-year starter at three different schools.Nobody, anywhere, thought he had a shot of getting drafted ahead of Sanders. By this point, Sanders was already having a miserable draft experience. But the […]
In drafting Mason Taylor, Jets transform his father from longtime foe into biggest fan
For years, Jason Taylor mocked the Jets and their fans. It was hard to blame him — he was a Miami Dolphin lifer, a rival. He tormented the Jets during the prime of a Hall of Fame career, and he relished it. In 2004, he called their fans “ignorant.” In 2007, he said they “suck.” In 2009, he called Giants fans “classy” — and Jets fans, not so much. He even joked that he’d rather retire than play for the Jets. But then he did become a Jet.AdvertisementIn 2010, he signed with the Jets, a franchise on the rise under Rex Ryan’s guidance. They’d moved to their new facility in Florham Park a couple years earlier, and Taylor’s locker was in the back corner. He hung out there a lot, happy to chat with anyone — media, teammates, staffers — […]
Related
Buffalo Bills Day 3 mock draft: Trading up for a falling value, targeting special teams
The first two days of the 2025 NFL Draft have concluded, and the Bills held true to their promise by using all three of their early picks on defense. The trio of cornerback Maxwell Hairston, defensive tackle T.J. Sanders and edge rusher Landon Jackson all have the potential to turn into starting players for the Bills over time.AdvertisementBut with the first two days done, it’s time to shift into the depth of the draft and the third day. Saturday will hold the final four rounds, with the Bills holding seven picks at Nos. 132, 169, 170, 173, 177, 206 and 240.And if there’s one thing the Bills have been able to do well over the years in the NFL draft, it’s finding some Day Three gems who turn into down-the-line starters. Since general manager Brandon Beane’s first Bills draft in […]
In Trey Amos, Commanders again get a player atop their board on Day 2 of NFL Draft
ASHBURN, Va. — Forget whether fans approve of the Washington Commanders’ second-round selection. Drafting former Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos 61st overall had members of the organization’s research and development department roaring with delight.“I don’t know if you guys could hear,” general manager Adam Peters said to local media members moments later, “but our R&D department was probably the loudest.”AdvertisementThe approval wasn’t a display of Ole Miss fandom. Amos, a physical 6-foot-1 press cornerback with 13 credited pass deflections last season, was the data analyst’s top-rated player entering Day 2 of the NFL Draft. They weren’t the only ones in the building who were ecstatic about adding the former Louisiana and Alabama transfer who faced Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels in college.Peters shared that the 2024 first-team All-SEC defender was in consideration with the Commanders’ first-round selection, 29th overall, before landing […]
49ers add beef — and ferocity — to middle of their defense on Day 2 of NFL Draft
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Five of the last seven tailbacks the San Francisco 49ers faced in 2024 ran for more than 100 yards and the team gave up 24 rushing touchdowns on the season, tied for the second most in the NFL.Those dubious statistics seemed to be on the 49ers’ mind on Friday as they focused on bolstering the middle of their defense, beginning with a 332-pound defensive tackle early in the second round and finishing with a 181-pound nickel cornerback late in the third.AdvertisementKyle Shanahan admitted last month’s free-agency period, one in which the team lost eight 2024 starters — “more than we ever (lost) before,” he said — had him nervous about filling those holes in the draft. He said he was feeling a lot better about his roster by the end of the day Friday.“I told John […]
How the Bengals altered their process to — perhaps — finally fix the OL drafting problem
CINCINNATI — Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher doesn’t go on many pro day visits. He traveled to Ohio State and Georgia this year with new offensive line coach Scott Peters alongside him every step of the way.They arrived in Athens, Georgia, with a target on UGA guard Dylan Fairchild and his teammate, Tate Ratledge.AdvertisementWhen Peters started working with Fairchild, and both locked arms, something special happened.“That’s really where it felt like a connection,” Fairchild said.Fairchild, a country-strong, 315-pounder from rural Georgia, started wrestling when he was 6 years old. It defined his transition to football and his becoming a two-year starter at left guard for the Bulldogs. Then there’s Peters, in his first season with Cincinnati, with a background in jujutsu and no stranger to the weight room, himself looking to test Fairchild’s technical skill and power.“I could feel my […]
Why the Browns passed on Shedeur Sanders again on Day 2, drafted Dillon Gabriel
Ralph Vacchiano NFL Reporter <!--> --> For most of the first two nights of the NFL Draft, the biggest surprise was the fact that Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was not selected.But then, late in the third round, the Cleveland Browns found a way to top that.When they made their selection with the 90th overall pick on Friday night — their fifth pick of the first two days — they didn’t just pass on Sanders again. They passed on him in favor of a quarterback almost nobody thought would go in the first three rounds. Cleveland took Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a 24-year-old who stands just 5-foot-11 and was a six-year starter at three different schools.Nobody, anywhere, thought he had a shot of getting drafted ahead of Sanders. By this point, Sanders was already having a miserable draft experience. But the […]
In drafting Mason Taylor, Jets transform his father from longtime foe into biggest fan
For years, Jason Taylor mocked the Jets and their fans. It was hard to blame him — he was a Miami Dolphin lifer, a rival. He tormented the Jets during the prime of a Hall of Fame career, and he relished it. In 2004, he called their fans “ignorant.” In 2007, he said they “suck.” In 2009, he called Giants fans “classy” — and Jets fans, not so much. He even joked that he’d rather retire than play for the Jets. But then he did become a Jet.AdvertisementIn 2010, he signed with the Jets, a franchise on the rise under Rex Ryan’s guidance. They’d moved to their new facility in Florham Park a couple years earlier, and Taylor’s locker was in the back corner. He hung out there a lot, happy to chat with anyone — media, teammates, staffers — […]
Be the first to leave a comment