By Mike Ferris
Engage in an argument with almost anybody about who the greatest dynasty of all-time in sports is.
I’m sure a number of people will say the 2000-present New England Patriots (NFL), some will certainly say the Yankees (MLB) and a handful might even suggest the 2009-present Alabama Crimson Tide (NCAAF).
I’m not going to argue that these aren’t impressive franchises or even that they’re not dynasties. Instead, I’ll argue that none of them are the greatest dynasty in the history of sports.
The greatest dynasty that sports has ever seen is among us right now, it just doesn’t get the recognition it deserves because it has two things working against it.
For one, it is a college program. Secondly, and probably more importantly, it is a program that competes in women’s athletics.
Yes, the UCONN Huskies women’s basketball team is the greatest dynasty that sports has ever witnessed and it’s about time that the program gets the recognition it has earned and deserves.
I said above that I won’t argue those aren’t impressive dynasties.
The Patriots have been nearly unstoppable since 2000. They’ve won four Super Bowls, the most in that span, been to six (not including Super Bowl LI) and have won 13 division titles.
The Yankees are equally great in their own right. New York has dominated Major League Baseball forever. With 27 World Series Championships and 40 American League pennants, the Yankees’ dominance has gone unmatched.
The Alabama Crimson Tide are somewhat new to the spotlight, but nevertheless there. Alabama has dominated college football since Nick Saban took the reigns after a short stint in the NFL. Since 2009, the Crimson Tide have won four national championships and competed in five.
Sure, these are all impressive feats in their own right, but none of them are as great as the dynasty Geno Auriemma has built at Connecticut since 2000.
Since 2000, Auriemma has led the Huskies to 13 conference championships, 17 NCAA Tournament appearances, 17 Sweet Sixteens, 16 Elite Eights, 14 Final Fours and 10 National Championships.
That is utter dominance over a period of time, dominance that is unprecedented. The Patriots haven’t been nearly as dominant in that span, the Yankees dominance is spread over many more years and Alabama hasn’t been dominant for nearly as long.
As if the championships and trophies aren’t enough to prove my point, Connecticut has gone 598-40 from the 1999-2000 season through the 2015-2016 season, and if you count this year, its 618-40.
Another stat is that UCONN has broken the record for longest winning streak and broken that record that it set itself.
In the early 1970’s the UCLA men’s team won 88 games in a row. A record that seemed almost untouchable was touched when the Huskies won 90 straight games from 2008-2011.
If 90 games weren’t enough, Connecticut has opened up a new winning streak that started in 2014 and is in progress right now. Auriemma’s club has won 96 games and counting as of Feb. 2, 2017.
Sure there are a number of dynasties throughout the history of sports and sure each of them is spectacular in its own way, but not one is as great as the one Geno Auriemma has built as Connecticut. I hate to say it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves because it’s a women’s sport, but I keep searching and can’t find any other reason why anyone would think it isn’t the most dominant dynasty ever.
The championships, the record and the streaks say everything that needs to be said.