USA Basketball players name Breanna Stewart the poll‑era G‑O‑A‑T

At a USA Basketball camp, players and coaches picked Breanna Stewart as the poll-era G‑O‑A‑T, noting her four UConn national titles, multiple MOPs and wider influence.

Nearly a dozen current USA Basketball players and coaches at a recent camp singled out Breanna Stewart as the greatest college player of the women’s poll era, pointing to her unmatched team success at UConn — four national championships and being named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player each time. Who else was mentioned Many other modern greats were also named by the players: Diana Taurasi, Cheryl Miller and Caitlin Clark were frequently cited, and Paige Bueckers listed Stewart along with Maya Moore, Taurasi and Candace Parker. Coach Kara Lawson offered a starting five that included Cheryl Miller, Chamique Holdsclaw, Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker and Breanna Stewart. Sue Bird highlighted the ability to carry a team deep into the tournament when naming her top players. Why Stewart stood out Players emphasized both individual excellence and team success. Kahleah Copper described Stewart’s achievements as “unheard of,” and others noted that winning multiple national titles and having a sustained impact on the sport are central to their judgments. Cameron Brink also stressed off‑court contributions, naming players who have helped raise the profile of the game. Perspective on the poll era and pioneers The camp responses reflected a youth movement: many players tended to name athletes they had seen play or who had influenced them directly. That prompted reminders about earlier pioneers who had less TV and social‑media exposure. Longtime analyst Deb Antonelli, part of the AP panel that assessed the poll‑era greats, said current players’ narrower frame of reference underscores how much the game has grown and the role past stars such as Ann Meyers, Nancy Lieberman and Cheryl Miller played in building today’s game. Final note and suggestions The discussion at the camp mirrors the AP’s season‑long 50th‑anniversary coverage of the women’s poll; an AP panel also ranked Stewart, Cheryl Miller, Diana Taurasi and Caitlin Clark among the era’s greatest. Readers interested in following the poll and related coverage can sign up for AP Top 25 alerts or read more at the AP women’s college basketball hubs: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball.