The Next WNBA Recruiting Class
The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) will have a tough time narrowing the field for its 2001 recruiting class. The college seniors, who have just started their final season, are a class of talented and competitive young women.
Number-one ranked UConn has two outstanding seniors who could contribute a lot to any team. All-Americans Svetlana Abrosimova and Shea Ralph are the heart and soul of the Huskies squad which hopes to defend its national championship. Abrosimova has greatly matured in her four years under head coach Geno Auriemma. She is instinctive, aggressive and a force to reckoned with along the perimeter and inside the paint. Ralph embodies commitment and perseverance. She missed her sophomore season because of a knee injury, but bounced back with hard work and determination to be a key to UConn’s title run last year. As a senior, Ralph is a go-to player for junior point guard Sue Bird. Look for Abrosimova and Ralph to be at the top of the 2001 draft.
There are a few dynasties in women’s college athletics. North Carolina has established a dynasty in soccer and Tennessee has seemed to carve out its niche in basketball. The Lady Vols will look to avenge last year’s loss to the Huskies in the championship game behind a trio of talented seniors. Kristen “Ace” Clement, Tamika Catchings and Semeka Randall are looking to win another national title before they graduate. Clement, who sprained her ankle in shoot-around the morning of the championship game, will be key if Pat Summitt’s squad wants to make it to the big game. Clement is a fury on defense and can launch three-pointers from anywhere along the arc. She’s moved from point guard to the off-guard position which allows her more scoring opportunities. Also, Clement brings an intensity and vocal leadership to the Lady Vols. Catchings, the 1999 Player of the Year, can do it all. She can nail the outside shot or go hard underneath the hoop. She is a rebound specialist and is always in the paint getting Tennessee those much-needed second chance points. While Clement is a vocal leader, Catchings is quiet and leads by example. She has truly grown into an excellent post defender under Summitt’s instruction. In order for the Lady Vols to have a successful season, Randall needs to come up big. She is fierce on defense and consistently leads the team in steals. She is also excellent in transition because of her speed and instincts on and off of the ball. Randall is one of the scrappiest players in basketball and is always giving 110% effort. The team thrives on her emotional intensity and leadership. All three Lady Vols seniors will be highly drafted and they hope with a national championship under their belts.
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