SAN ANTONIO — Many women’s basketball insiders consider the Stanford-Oklahoma game today to be a sideshow to the main attraction — Connecticut vs. Baylor.
UConn has a 76-game winning streak fueled by forward Maya Moore, who Saturday was named the Associated Press player of the year. The Huskies also are led by All-America center Tina Charles, expected to be the top pick in the WNBA draft this week.
Baylor, which tied for sixth in the Big 12, is led by 6-foot-8 freshman Brittney Griner, an athletic dunker who could change the face of women’s basketball.
Yet, Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer says the Bears (27-9) aren’t ready to topple Connecticut.
“They’re so young,” she said of Baylor, which plays four freshmen. “Tina won’t be down low so Brittney can block 15 of her shots.”
Just doing it: When asked to explain his team’s dominance, UConn coach Geno Auriemma had trouble finding the words.
“It’s something that I have a hard time explaining, because it doesn’t make any sense,” he said. “We don’t think about it. We don’t talk about it. We play a game. They know. Tomorrow we could lose by double digits.”
He continued: “No matter what the score is, no matter what the situation is, my players are under the impression that it doesn’t matter; we’re going to win.”
Food for thought: Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale, on reaching two previous Final Fours without winning a title: “Well, it’s like being invited to this incredible feast. They just set the table, and the food looks and smells fabulous “… and you get to sit down, and then they take all your utensils away. So we’re still hungry.”
Preview: Chiney Ogwumike, the sister of Stanford sophomore Nneka Ogwumike, played in a high school all-star game Saturday at the Alamodome. Chiney, the national player of the year, will join the Cardinal next season, as will guard Sara James, who played on Chiney’s team Saturday.
Cal-bound guards Lindsay Sherbert and Afure Jemerigbe also were members of the all-star team.
