The Big East Player of the Year was given to Debbie Beckford in 1983, and since then, many players have won it after her. Rebecca Lobo won it twice during her time with UConn, and a few years later, she made her WNBA debut. Sue Bird won the award in 2002, and right after that, her teammate won in 2003 and 2004. Diana Taurasi won the award those years , and in what was her first season playing without Bird and Swin Cash, she helped UConn win another title. Taurasi averaged 17.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 blocks in 2003, and she had another impressive season in 2004. She averaged 16.2 points, 4.9 assists, four rebounds and 1.5 steals that year, and UConn beat Tennessee for the second time. After winning a title in 2004, Taurasi was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury. Then, she went on to become one of the WNBA’s top players. Another Mercury great won Big East Player of the Year in 2006, as Cappie Pondexter received the honor. She had her best college season, and she averaged 21.6 points, 4.2 rebound
