"It pains me to say it, but it does help women's basketball," said Sue Bird, the creative spirit of last year's team.

Posted by Sue Bird on October 18th, 2005.

Led by Sue Bird, they ran the fast break with textbook neatness.

If Sue Bird starts making shots, forget it.

So it was up to guard Sue Bird, the junior from Long Island.

"We wanted to be intense on defense," said Sue Bird, the Huskies' senior point guard.

Connecticut won without Sue Bird, its regular point guard, who has a back injury.

Connecticut's Sue Bird said Stiles ran them so ragged in practice that "it was, like, ridiculous."

Its five starters, including Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson, are back.

She was a finalist for the award last season, when it was won by Sue Bird of Connecticut.