Spring Break
McCoughtry's career helps bring Louisville national prominence
Kevin Meacham
Issue date: 4/8/09 Section: March Madness
ST. LOUIS - In any other conference, Angel McCoughtry might well be a three- or four-time league Player of the Year (instead of a one-timer), and a part of a multiple-championship-winning team. Unfortunately, McCoughtry - and her Cardinals - play in the Big East in 2009, home to Maya Moore and UConn.
That hasn't stopped McCoughtry from being one of the best players in the nation. And even if she doesn't have all the hardware to show it, she has transformed the Louisville program.
When McCoughtry, the 6-1 senior forward from Baltimore, came to Louisville four years ago, the Cardinals were 22-9, a fringe NCAA Tournament team. Tuesday, McCoughtry came close to realizing her dream of bringing home an NCAA title.
"Only one team's going to be happy in the end," she said. "But everyone else's team was done. We were still playing in the last game. So we were pretty happy, too."
McCoughtry should be happy with her final collegiate performance as well. She scored 23 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, even though the Cardinals fell short. Always an emotional player, she was clearly shaken, but still composed following the game.
"We went out with pride," she said. "That's all we could do."
With her sterling career over, McCoughtry will look toward the future, as she is likely to be picked in the top two of Thursday's WNBA Draft. And though her days of tormenting UConn (Tuesday was her fifth game of 20-plus points against the Huskies) are over, McCoughtry can't help but smile.
"This is the start of something at Louisville," she said. "I hope we started a trend. I just thank the Lord for all of my blessings."
That hasn't stopped McCoughtry from being one of the best players in the nation. And even if she doesn't have all the hardware to show it, she has transformed the Louisville program.
When McCoughtry, the 6-1 senior forward from Baltimore, came to Louisville four years ago, the Cardinals were 22-9, a fringe NCAA Tournament team. Tuesday, McCoughtry came close to realizing her dream of bringing home an NCAA title.
"Only one team's going to be happy in the end," she said. "But everyone else's team was done. We were still playing in the last game. So we were pretty happy, too."
McCoughtry should be happy with her final collegiate performance as well. She scored 23 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, even though the Cardinals fell short. Always an emotional player, she was clearly shaken, but still composed following the game.
"We went out with pride," she said. "That's all we could do."
With her sterling career over, McCoughtry will look toward the future, as she is likely to be picked in the top two of Thursday's WNBA Draft. And though her days of tormenting UConn (Tuesday was her fifth game of 20-plus points against the Huskies) are over, McCoughtry can't help but smile.
"This is the start of something at Louisville," she said. "I hope we started a trend. I just thank the Lord for all of my blessings."
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