The 30 Lowest Moments for Tennessee Vols Athletics in the Adidas Era
Apr 7, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma speaks during a post game press conference after winning the 2015 NCAA Women
27. The UConn Huskies Become a Match for the Lady Vols
When Pat Summit won her sixth national championship in 1997-1998, there was nobody to challenge here. Even the UConn Huskies and Geno Auriemma had to submit to her, and quite frankly, that showed after the Lady Vols stunned the Huskies to get to the Final Four and win their second straight title in 1997.
But after that three-peat, things began to change.
Auriemma’s squad beat the Lady Vols in a blowout to win the 2000 national championship, but no matter. It was still 6-2 Tennessee, so what rivalry are we talking about?
Then came Diana Taurasi, and everything changed with the 2001-2002 season. It started when UConn played at Tennessee that year. Both teams were undefeated, but the Lady Vols had played a much tougher schedule and were favored at home. But UConn rolled all over Tennessee.
The two met again in the NCAA Tournament, and UConn won again as they capped off an undefeated season for their third national championship.
For the next two years, the Huskies beat the Lady Vols in the regular season and then in the national title game, and no matter what they did, Summitt’s squad could not stop Taurasi. This included a one-point loss in 2003 made only possible by a half court prayer she made at halftime.
By the end of Taurasi’s tenure, UConn had cut the Lady Vols’ title lead to one, 6-5. That was the lowest point of the rivalry.
Tennessee won the next three match-ups before the series was canceled, and they also pulled off two more titles. But Auriemma did not go away, winning two more himself.
Then Summitt had to step down, and UConn has since reeled off three more titles to take the overall lead in the race. That is a low point for every Lady Vol fan, especially to know that Summitt will never catch him now.
Next: #26: Football Loss to Florida in 1999