STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

More Columns

• Adams: Tebow mania is for real
• Adams: Country wising up to SEC
• Adams: Florida, LSU have proven strengths

Share and Enjoy [?]

Get Reprints

Want to use this article? Click here for options!

TAMPA, Fla. - You expect the four best teams to make the Final Four. But you can't be sure about the four best players.

That's what distinguishes this women's Final Four from so many others.

It's not just about the four best teams. It's about the four best players - Candace Parker of Tennessee, Candice Wiggins of Stanford, Sylvia Fowles of LSU and Maya Moore of Connecticut.

"I think this is the greatest star power we've had in our game," said coach Van Chancellor, whose LSU team will face UT in one of tonight's two semifinal games at the St. Pete Times Forum. "I think if you went out and asked the average fan, they could name all four players. You're going to see some players do some exceptional things in this tournament."

You already have.

UT made the Final Four only because of Parker's talent and toughness. She was talented enough to score 16 consecutive UT points during one stretch of its victory against Texas A&M in the Elite Eight. She was tough enough to finish the game after twice dislocating her left shoulder.

Parker was honored Saturday as the national player of the year by The Associated Press. There's nothing surprising about Parker winning an award. It's more newsworthy when she doesn't.

And sometimes, even the winner is surprised. For example, take Wiggins, who was named the winner of the Margaret Wade Trophy on Saturday. That award goes to the national player of the year, as voted by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

Wiggins, a four-time All-American, is peaking at the right time. She had 44 points against UTEP in the second round of the NCAA tournament and scored 41 more points against Maryland in the Elite Eight.

Despite all the points and all the honors, she wasn't expecting Saturday's award.

"I think that was a shock for everyone in the room, including Candice," Stanford coach Tara Vanderveer said. "I just kind of thought it was going to Candace Parker."

That's not the only award Parker didn't win, which tells you something about the caliber of competition. Parker is being compared to the best women ever to play the game, yet she didn't win either one of the SEC player of the year awards, both of which went to LSU's Fowles.

Moore, who will lead UConn against Stanford in the other semifinal game, is on pace to match Wiggins as a four-time All-American. Not only did she make All-American this season, she became the first freshman in the history of the Big East to be named conference player of the year.

"Maya Moore is going to be a four-time All-American," Vanderveer said. "I believe she'll be a Wade Trophy winner."

National player of the year awards might come sooner, rather than later. This is the final college season for Parker, Fowles and Wiggins.

But Chancellor believes Parker's and Fowles' greatness will extend beyond their final college season.

"They aren't stars," he said. "They're superstars. In 10 or 15 years, you'll be saying they were two of the greatest players ever to play this game."

Chancellor was asked to imagine coaching Parker, Fowles, Wiggins and Moore on the same WNBA team.

"I'd win four more championships," he said.

But those four players would leave him without a point guard.

"I wouldn't need one," he said.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.