From 64 teams to 32 to 16, the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament field is narrowing and becoming more exciting by the day! When the action of the Sweet Sixteen round tips off tomorrow (Friday, March 29, ESPN and ESPN2), underdog players and teams will rise up to make sure everyone knows their names. Stalwarts of collegiate women’s basketball, meanwhile, will cement their legacies.

So, what better way — on Throwback Thursday, no less — to celebrate players that constructed illustrious NCAAW careers before going on to excel at the professional and/or international levels as well?

Sweet! 16 players who competed for teams in the 2019 NCAAW Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen

The notable players from each of the Sweet Sixteen schools are (in alphabetical order):

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• Danielle Adams, Retired (San Antonio Stars) — Texas A&M | Before being picked 20th overall in the second round of the 2011 WNBA Draft, Danielle Adams made quite a name for herself at Texas A&M, leading the Aggies to their first national title that same year. After entering the WNBA, Adams averaged 12.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game with the San Antonio Stars before experiencing a drop-off in production in her last two seasons in the league: with San Antonio in 2015 and with the Connecticut Sun in 2017. Adams was cut by San Antonio following the 2015 campaign and wasn’t picked up to play in 2016. She played 4.4 minutes per game and averaged 2.6 points per game for the Sun in 2017 and was waived after 19 games. Adams’ biggest basketball accomplishment occurred in Israel: In 2014, after averaging 19.5 points and 9.2 rebounds for the season, Adams helped Maccabi Ashdod to a championship. Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
• Jennifer Azzi, Retired (San Antonio Stars) — Stanford | These days, Jennifer Azzi is the head women’s basketball coach of the San Francisco Dons. But the Tennessee native got there by growing deep Bay Area roots. A starter for Stanford in each of her four years (1987-90), Azzi helped the Cardinal to Pac-10 conference titles in 1989 and 1990, and to two Elite Eight appearances in those same years. Azzi is still remembered for the accuracy of her shooting while in the college ranks — she remains in 10th place in NCAA history for a career three-point field goal percentage of a dramatic 45.2 percent (making 191 out of 423 three-pointers in 95 games). When Azzi took her shooting talents to the WNBA, she put together career averages of 44.5 percent field goal shooting, 45.8 percent three-point shooting and 84.5 free-throw shooting in five years, playing for the Detroit Shock (1999), Utah Starzz (2000-02) and San Antonio Stars (2003). These days, Azzi’s greatness also lives on in the 2018-19 Gatorade Player of the Year, Azzi Fudd, who was named after Jennifer Azzi.
• Jordin Canada, Active (Seattle Storm) — UCLA | No player can ask for better than winning a WNBA championship in her rookie season, but that’s just what Jordin Canada did. On a team with the likes of Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart, Canada didn’t see a lot of minutes in 2018. But when her name was called — such as when Bird missed a playoff game with a broken nose — Canada stepped up and created scoring opportunities for herself and others. With the Storm undoubtedly seeking to repeat for the title, it will be interesting to see whether Canada experiences a sophomore slump in 2019 (like some players) ... or, a sophomore slay. For such a scrappy player, we’re betting on the latter. Canada finished her career as a Bruin with 15.7 points, 6.1 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
• Swin Cash, Retired (Detroit Shock, Seattle Storm) — UConn | Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Breanna Stewart are active WNBA players whose names often appear in sentences with UConn Huskies. Of the most notable retired players, Rebecca Lobo, now an ESPN analyst, comes to mind. And then there is Swin Cash — a UConn-bred NCAAW champion and three-time WNBA champion. Her senior year, Cash propelled the Huskies to their second national championship in three years behind 14.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. UConn went 39-0 that year, and Cash was celebrated with the 2002 Final Four Most Outstanding Player award. A journeywoman who played for four WNBA teams, Cash won championships with the Detroit Shock (2003, 2006) and the Seattle Storm (2010). USA Today Sports
• Edniesha Curry, Retired (Phoenix Mercury, Los Angeles Sparks) — Oregon | As assistant coach of the Maine Black Bears, Edniesha Curry is the only full-time female coach in Division I NCAA men’s basketball. But her journey to claiming that status began at Oregon at 2000. A transfer from Cal State Northridge, Curry transferred to Oregon and led the Ducks to a WNIT Championship. While a Duck, Curry averaged 9.8 points per game and dished a total of 104 assists. After her collegiate career was over, Curry played in the WNBA for the Charlotte Sting, Phoenix Mercury and Los Angeles Sparks before heading overseas to play in “Greece, Poland, Israel, and Hungary from 2002 to 2009.” After a two-year stint as a women’s basketball coach at Maine, Curry entered the NBA Assistant Coaches’ Program, which led to her becoming assistant coach of the men’s team in 2018. Photo by: David Sherman/WNBAE/Getty Images
• Skylar Diggins-Smith, Active (Dallas Wings) — Notre Dame | Before the “Smith” was added to her surname following her marriage, Skylar Diggins dazzled Notre Dame crowds by leading the Fighting Irish to the NCAA championship games during her sophomore and junior seasons. She was named Big East Player of the Year twice during her junior and senior years. The first Notre Dame player to tally 2,000 points, 500 assists and 500 rebounds, Diggins set the standard for Notre Dame guards, and the likes of Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm) and, presently, Arike Ogunbowale have followed in her footsteps. In 2012, Diggins received the Nancy Lieberman Award to honor her status as the top point guard in the nation. Diggins was drafted third overall in the 2013 WNBA Draft by the Tulsa Shock, which became the Dallas Wings before the 2016 WNBA season. The Wings made the playoffs two seasons in a row (2017, 2018), but were bounced in the first round each time. In her WNBA career overall, Diggins-Smith is averaging 15.9 points, 4.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game. Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
• Brittney Griner, Active (Phoenix Mercury) — Baylor | From a high school girl dunking in a video that went viral on YouTube to the Lady Bears, Brittney Griner made headlines from the moment she suited up for Baylor. Her illustrious collegiate career includes an undefeated season her junior year (2011-12), winning the NCAAW Championship (2012) and sweeping all major awards in 2012 and 2013: AP Player of the Year, Wade Trophy, Naismith Trophy, USBWA Player of the Year and Wooden Award. After college, Griner signed with the Phoenix Mercury and, despite injuries derailing her rookie season, helped her team to the Western Conference Finals, where they were swept by the Minnesota Lynx, 2-0. In 2014, the Mercury won it all in the WNBA Finals with a 3-0 sweep of the Chicago Sky. The four-time All-Star also won the Defensive Player of the Year award in two consecutive seasons (2014, 2015). Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
• Marie Gülich, Active (Phoenix Mercury) — Oregon State | As a WNBA rookie in 2018, Marie Gülich didn’t see much playing time with the Phoenix Mercury given that the team’s starting center is Brittney Griner. But it can be assumed that Gülich is learning from the best for whenever her name is called. A native of Germany, Gülich played four years at Oregon State, where she averaged 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Her senior season, she ranked second-best in Pac-12 history for field goal percentage (65.2 percent), which also was third in the nation. Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
• Briann January, Active (Phoenix Mercury) — Arizona State | A 10-year pro, Briann January played the majority of her career with the Indiana Fever, with whom she won a championship (2012) and made the WNBA Finals in two other years (2009, 2015). Now a women’s basketball assistant coach at Arizona State part of the year, January and her new team, the Phoenix Mercury, made a deep run in the 2018 playoffs but were stopped short by the Seattle Storm in the semifinals. January re-signed with Phoenix with hopes of sealing the deal in 2019. At Arizona State, January won the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009. She is also the only player in Sun Devils history to lead the team in steals and assists four years in a row. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
• Samantha Logic, Active (former Atlanta Dream, San Antonio Stars) — Iowa | Picked 10th overall in the 2015 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream, Samantha Logic played just one professional season, averaging 1.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. But Logic kept her basketball career alive in Australia, Austria and France, and currently plays for the Young Angels in Slovakia. Before hitting the professional ranks, Logic made her mark at Iowa by becoming the first player in NCAA history to record at least 1,500 points, 900 rebounds, 800 assists and 200 steals.  Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images
• Angel McCoughtry, Active (Atlanta Dream) — Louisville | When Angel McCoughtry had her jersey retired in 2010, she became the first female student in Louisville history to receive this honor. The tribute was fitting for a woman picked first overall in the 2009 WNBA Draft. McCoughtry earned top conference awards during her collegiate career: Big East Player of the Year (2007, her sophomore year) and Big East Defensive Player of the Year (2009, her senior year). She powered the Cardinals to the 2009 NCAAW championship game, but they lost to UConn. Ten years into her WNBA career, McCoughtry and the Dream have made it to the WNBA Finals three times, but lost in three-game sweeps to the Seattle Storm (2010) and to the Minnesota Lynx (2011, 2013). The Dream had a strong playoff run in 2018, but were bounced in the semifinals by the Washington Mystics. Can McCoughtry bounce back from the knee injury that ended her 2018 season early and finally win a championship trophy — something that has eluded her since college? Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
• Chasity Melvin, Retired (Cleveland Rockers, Washington Mystics) — NC State | Chasity Melvin played six of her 12 WNBA seasons with the Washington Mystics, but she played the first five seasons of her professional career with the now-defunct Cleveland Rockers (1999-2003) and was named a WNBA All-Star in 2001. After a stint in the NBA Assistant Coaches’ Program, Melvin is now an assistant coach with the Charlotte Hornets’ G-League team, the Greensboro Swarm. But Melvin got her start at NC State where, as Wolfpack senior in 1998, she led her team to its first-ever Final Four appearance. She scored 37 points in NC State’s heartbreaking loss to Louisiana Tech, which kept the Wolfpack from the championship game.
• Jackie Stiles, Retired (Portland Fire) — Missouri State | Jackie Stiles was the first-ever Missouri State player to be drafted onto a WNBA team. Picked No. 4 overall by the now-defunct Portland Fire, the 5-foot-8 braced-faced guard played one season in Portland (2001) and one season for Los Angeles Sparks (2002) and averaged a career 11.4 points per game. But Stiles is best known as the leading scorer in Division I women’s basketball history. She held that title from 2001 until Kelsey Plum came along and topped her in 2017. These days, Stiles is six years into her tenure as a Missouri State assistant coach.
• Victoria Vivians, Active (Indiana Fever) — Mississippi State | Stats from Victoria Vivians’ rookie season with the Indiana Fever may seem unimpressive — 8.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game — but don’t let the numbers fool you. What is not listed in the box score is the fearlessness with which Vivians plays. Picked eighth overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft, Vivians started in 26 of 34 games, averaging 27.1 minutes. What she didn’t do in scoring, she made up for in hustle, including big defensive stops late in games that kept her Fever in games. At Mississippi State, however, Vivians was key in helping the Bulldogs to national stage, averaging a career 17.1 points and 5.3 rebounds. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
• Megan Vogel, Retired (Washington Mystics) — South Dakota State | In 2007, Megan Vogel was selected 19th overall in the WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics, becoming the first South Dakota State alum to be drafted into the professional ranks. But the Jackrabbit didn’t last long in the pro ranks. She was waived by the Mystics during training camp, which she blogged about here. A subsequent training camp stint with the Minnesota Lynx didn’t work out either, launching Vogel into a coaching career. From intern with the Mystics in 2007, Vogel is now assistant coach of the Green Bay Phoenix. Vogel finished her Jackrabbits career second on the all-time leading scorers’ list with 1,850 career points. Photo by Mitchell Layton/NBAE via Getty Images
• A’ja Wilson, Active (Las Vegas Aces) — South Carolina | A’ja Wilson. Enough said? For those in the cheap seats, the Dawn Staley protégé put South Carolina women’s basketball on the map. Along with notable would-be rookies of the 2017 WNBA Draft class (Allisha Gray and Kaela Davis, Dallas Wings), Wilson and the Gamecocks won the 2017 NCAAW Championship. Wilson played another year at South Carolina before taking the WNBA by storm as a member of the Las Vegas Aces. In her 2018 rookie season, Wilson was named a WNBA All-Star and received the Rookie of the Year award by unanimous vote. In September, Wilson helped the Staley-coached Team USA win the gold medal at the 2018 FIBA World Cup. It is fitting that a statue in Wilson’s likeness is being built at the University of South Carolina. Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images

NCAAW Sweet Sixteen Schedule

Friday, March 29

• UCLA vs. UConn — 7 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Oregon State vs. Louisville — 9 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Arizona State vs. Mississippi State — 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2
• South Dakota State vs. Oregon — 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2

Saturday, March 30

• North Carolina State vs. Iowa — 11:30 a.m. ET pm ESPN
• South Carolina vs. Baylor — 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame — 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2
• Missouri State vs. Stanford — 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2

Scorching the status quo

From choosing accused rapist Kobe Bryant as a spokesperson for NCAA women’s basketball to sending out social media posts that refuse to acknowledge the existence of the women’s tournament, the NCAA has been getting a two-thumbs down response from many in the world of women’s basketball.

Making matters worse, local television news stations are not covering the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament in many markets, while national outlets have committed similarly egregious basketball sins by airing the men’s tournament on the major networks, like CBS, and sticking all of the women’s games on ESPN channels.

And we haven’t even touched on the botched NCAAW bracket reveal by ESPNU.

2018 WNBA champion, league MVP and Finals MVP Breanna Stewart is among the chorus of voices expressing disdain. Via tweet, Stewart expressed a common sentiment that often is uttered about the WNBA as well: the disrespect the league shows the game, and a license for the population at-large to disrespect the game.

Stewart had a legendary NCAAW run while at UConn, surely bringing in a lot of television dollars with the Huskies’ tournament appearances. At minimum, the NCAA owes its players women’s players a public apology for its discriminatory treatment of the women’s game as well as a plan for equitable treatment moving forward.

Elsewhere in the world of women’s basketball

Stanford-bound Fran Belibi wowed the crowd at the JamFest dunk contest ...

And won.

Also:

• Holly Warlick’s seven-year career at Tennessee is over. She was fired after her Lady Volunteers failed to make this year’s Sweet Sixteen.
• Georgia Tech fired MaChelle Joseph after the school’s “investigation” revealed she had been abusive to players. Joseph tells a very different story, however — that she was fired out of retaliation because she spoke up about gender inequities within the programs.
• Tennessee recruit Jordan Horston won the McDonald’s All-American MVP award. (Reminder: Maori Davenport was left off the team after missing the majority of her high school season through no fault of her own.)

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