Even after graduating from UConn with countless honors and two national championships, Maya Moore continues to win awards. On Monday, the Collegiate Women Sports Awards announced that Moore had won the Honda-Broderick Cup, designating her as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.
Not only is it the second time Moore has received the honor (she won in 2010, too), but it marks only the second time in 35 years that an athlete has won the Honda-Broderick Cup twice.
Details via the Honda-Broderick Cup press release:
"Moore was selected as the winner of the Honda-Broderick Cup by a voting of nearly 1,000 NCAA member schools and the Board of Directors of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards Program. Previous winners include: basketball superstar Candace Parker (2008), track and field legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1985), soccer great Mia Hamm (1994) and volleyball star Misty May (1999). Last year, Maya shared the award in a rare tie with Penn State volleyball player Megan Hodge."
Distinguished names, for sure, but that's the company Moore keeps as one of the best players in the history of women's college basketball.
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In related Huskies news, Moore's former college coach, Geno Auriemma, is currently on his way to Poland to scout the final rounds of the European Championships. Auriemma is also the US National Team coach. He'll be back stateside by July 4 and back on the recruiting trail a few days later.
Then, in August, he will take the Huskies on a 10-day tour of Italy and Greece to play at least four exhibition games.
"It's always good to go on a trip like that and it works well in any situation your team is in for the coming season," Auriemma said, according to the Hartford Courant. "It's the perfect time for us to do it. We don't worry about the outcome of the games. It's just great to have the ability to practice for 10 days before the trip."
Not only will it be an opportunity for freshmen Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Kia Stokes and Brianna Banks to get used to playing with their new teammates, Caroline Doty can slowly work her way back from injury before the Huskies' season begins in November.
"When Sue Bird came over to Europe with us in 1999, she had missed the majority of her freshman season [with an ACL injury]," Auriemma said. "Her first time playing seriously was that summer and it took her a little bit to get herself to trust the knee. Once she did, she took off. The hope is the same thing happens with Caroline. The atmosphere is non-threatening, no pressure. You just play a little and get your timing and feel back."
