Legends, top programs key women’s Final Four

UConn, Tennessee, LSU and Stanford will vie for the title.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Fourteen NCAA championships, four WNBA titles, three Olympic gold medals.

The women’s Final Four coaches have very impressive resumes. And all four — UConn’s Geno Auriemma, Tennessee’s Pat Summitt, Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer and LSU’s Van Chancellor — are in the Hall of Fame.

They have contrasting styles and personalities. But whether it’s an icy stare, constant words of encouragement or riding their best players hard, the four get their points across.

“I think the women’s Final Four right now, with not only the players, but three of the other coaches, I think this is the greatest Final Four we’ve ever had,” said Chancellor, who is making his first appearance in the Final Four.

“You’ve got perennial powers, Connecticut and Tennessee, with legendary coaches. Then you’ve got Stanford where the coach has won a national championship.”

Summitt is the most decorated of the four, having won seven national championships and an Olympic gold medal in 1984. She has led Tennessee to the national semifinals 18 times in her 34-year career.

An icy stare often is painted on Summitt’s face during a game, aimed at whichever player isn’t playing up to her potential. Ask her about the accomplishments of a former player, though, and her eyes begin to sparkle and a smile breaks out on her face.

Auriemma definitely hasn’t gotten softer in his 23rd season at Connecticut. He continues to ride his best players hard to get the most out of them. No one can question the results — he’s led the Huskies to nine Final Fours and five national titles.

Auriemma has 657 career wins, reaching the 600-victory plateau faster than any other coach in the women’s game by taking just 716 games to accomplish the feat. Yet, this season may have been his best coaching job.

The Huskies won both the Big East regular-season and tournament titles despite losing two starters, Mel Thomas and Kalana Greene, to season-ending knee injuries.

VanDerveer, whose Cardinal squad faces Connecticut in the semifinals, returns to the Final Four for the first time in a decade. This time she’s more relaxed and enjoying the experience more.

“I’m probably happier than I’ve been in 10 years,” VanDerveer said. “To win a gold medal is the most pressure I’ve ever experienced.”

She led Stanford to national championships in 1990 and 1992 and the U.S. to a gold medal in 1996.

After spending 19 years at Mississippi, reaching four regional finals, Chancellor will make his Final Four debut Sunday night when the Lady Tigers face SEC rival Tennessee.

The 64-year-old Chancellor was an instant hit with his players. His Southern drawl and charm brought stability to a program that has seen so much upheaval in the last four years with the death of former coach Sue Gunter, the disaster of Hurricane Katrina and the scandal of Pokey Chatman’s resignation last year.

“I don’t think there was a better fit for this job,” senior Erica White said.