Surprising news: The UConn women’s basketball team traded their most talented player to the Phoenix Mercury.

The results of our reader voting on the top 10 former Huskies to play in the WNBA are in.

The top four consisted of the usual suspects: Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Breanna Stewart. What were some of the unexpected turns along the way, and who else made up the top 10?

The top 10 players as selected by our readers are broken down player by player here. Further information about the voting breakdown can be found at courant.com/uconnwnba.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JUNE 27: During the first half of the WNBA game at Phoenix Suns Arena on June 27, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona, Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury handles the ball against Brittney Sykes #15 of the Los Angeles Sparks. NOTE TO USER: By downloading and/or using this image, User explicitly understands and accepts that User is agreeing to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Image courtesy of Getty Images/Christian Petersen) ** * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA, or MoD ** OUTS – ELSENT, FPG, CM – OUTS
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JUNE 27: During the first half of the WNBA game at Phoenix Suns Arena on June 27, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona, Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury handles the ball against Brittney Sykes #15 of the Los Angeles Sparks. NOTE TO USER: By downloading and/or using this image, User explicitly understands and accepts that User is agreeing to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Image courtesy of Getty Images/Christian Petersen) ** NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA, or MoD ** OUTS – ELSENT, FPG, CM – OUTS *
1. Diana Taurini

Not shocking, as Taurasi is the all-time leading scorer in the WNBA, a three-time champion with the Phoenix Mercury (2007, 2009, 2014), and one of just five players to earn multiple Finals MVP honors. Many already consider Taurasi to be the WNBA GOAT. With 14, she also has the most selections made to the All-WNBA First and Second Teams in the league. Her two seasons where she missed most of them due to injuries were the only ones in which she didn’t receive a nomination. Additionally, this season, she became the first player in the WNBA to score 9,000 points.

In the opening half of a women’s professional basketball match on Friday, August 20, 2021, in New York, Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird (10) dribbles the ball against the New York Liberty. (Noah K. Murray/AP Photo)
In the opening half of a women’s professional basketball match on Friday, August 20, 2021, in New York, Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird (10) dribbles the ball against the New York Liberty. (Noah K. Murray/AP Photo)
2. Sue Bird

Bird’s resume is another valuable resource for WNBA fans, and it speaks for itself. She leads the league in assists all-time, has appeared on eight All-WNBA teams, and is a 12-time WNBA All-Star, the most of any player in league history. She is the first player in WNBA history to win championships in three distinct decades, adding to her unmatched championship pedigree. Although Bird’s durability sets her apart, it’s amazing that she was able to play at such a high level for the entire 18 seasons she was in the league.

On October 4, 2017, in Minneapolis, during the last minute of Game Five of the WNBA Finals between the Minnesota Lynx and the Los Angeles Sparks, Maya Moore of the Minnesota Lynx electrifies the audience.
On October 4, 2017, in Minneapolis, during the last minute of Game Five of the WNBA Finals between the Minnesota Lynx and the Los Angeles Sparks, Maya Moore of the Minnesota Lynx electrifies the audience.
3. Maya Moore

Given that Moore only participated in eight WNBA seasons, different people see her career in different ways, but what Moore accomplished during that time makes her stand out. She was named the 2013 Finals MVP and the 2014 WNBA MVP, and she is a four-time WNBA champion with the Minnesota Lynx. She was a seven-time All-WNBA team member and six-time All-Star. Who knows what else she may have put on her resume had she not left the game to focus on criminal justice reform? Moore is among the ten players in the Across the Timeline database who have averaged more than 18 points per game during her career, among players such as Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Taurasi, Angel McCoughtry, and Lauren Jackson, despite the fact that scoring was only one aspect of her game.

Stephanie Talbot, 7, and Breanna Stewart, 30, of the Seattle Storm, celebrate following a basket against the New York Liberty on Friday, August 20, 2021, in New York, during the second half of a WNBA basketball game. (Noah K. Murray/AP Photo)
4. Stewart Breanna

The unsettling thing about Stewart is that, despite being fourth in our survey, she might very well have a case for being ranked number one in another five to ten years. After missing the 2019 season due to an Achilles tear, Stewart won championships in her final two WNBA seasons. Even though they lost two key players from their 2020 squad, Stewart is still a strong MVP candidate, and the Storm are among the best teams in the league this year. Having won the MVP award in 2018 and 2020, as well as the inaugural Commissioner’s Cup MVP, she continues to excel at the age of 26.

On Saturday, May 15, 2021, in Washington, WNBA basketball action featured 31-year-old center Tina Charles of the Washington Mystics. (Daniel Kucin Jr./AP Photo)
5. Tina Charles

You know who else is among the elite group of scorers who finished their careers with an average of at least 18 points? Charles. Charles has stated unequivocally that winning her first WNBA championship with the Washington Mystics is what motivates her this season. With 25.4 points per game, she is presently leading the league in scoring. Charles is one of the all-time greats in the league, regardless of whether she wins a championship. She is an eight-time All-Star, eight-time WNBA selection, 2012 MVP, and a four-time scoring and rebounding champion.