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Reactions: Injured stars

The legacy of Abrosimova, Catchings and Ralph

Connecticut's Svetlana Abrosimova and Shea Ralph, and Tennessee's Tamika Catchings have been among the nation's best players the past four years. But all three saw their senior seasons end prematurely due to injuries, and they won't be able to play in one last NCAA tournament. CNNSI.com users shared what they thought the trio's legacies would be at UConn and Tennessee and on the sport:

Each of these great stars brought attention and respect to the women's game. They each brought elements of athleticism and rhythm that were more prevalent in the men's game. Additionally, each of these women, along with Ruth Riley, Sue Bird and others, have demonstrated that the remarkable talents that make them outstanding players translate equally to the classroom and to community relations. Unlike so many of their male counterparts, they are accessible and respectful. They truly are role models for their gender and for their universities. Bravo to these renaissance women and to the coaches who demand that their stars be more than just jocks.
Barry, Simsbury, Conn.

I think that all three players will leave a legacy of hard playing, hustling, never-say-die players that have represented their schools well. I'm a Tennessee fan through and through, but I can't help but marvel at how well all three of these ladies represented their school and themselves on and off the court. I hope they leave a standard for the rest of their teammates to follow.
Margaret B. Cannon, Kingsport

An almost unparalleled work ethic for all three players and a commitment to the game which serves to further blur the lines between the excitement and excellence of women's and men's basketball on the Division One level.
Richard Kent, Westport, Conn.

The things that come to mind when I think of Catchings, Abrosimova and Ralph is the level to which they have brought the women's game. The desire, competitiveness and talent they bring to the court every night has made women's college basketball the most enjoyable sport to watch. They play for the pure love of the game. My daughters play high school basketball and I told them if they want to see how to play the game, just watch Shea Ralph. Despite the constant pain she is in, she never lessens her effort. I would take her over any spoiled NBA star any day. All three players were a pure joy to watch and will be missed. The tournament will not be the same without them.
Paul J. DiPietro, Waterbury, Conn.

These young women have brought a lot of publicity to the women's game. Their injuries, though devastating as they were to them, their teams, and to their fans, will not take away from the success and the accomplishments in their collegiate careers. These particular women have always played to their fullest potential every second that they were on the court. This is what their teammates, coaches, and fans are going to remember. Women's basketball is becoming more and more popular, and these great players are three of the reasons for the increase in popularity. Even John Wooden is a fan of the women's game! I hope that all three women will be fully recovered and enjoy as much success in the WNBA as they have had in the NCAA.
Dana, Butler, Pa.

The legacy that Tamika Catchings will leave at Tennessee is one of a player that showed nothing but pure passion for the game every time she stepped out on the floor. She always made the most of her amazing athleticism and God-given talent every time she stepped on the court. The ultimate team player, Catchings would give up open looks if a teammate had a better shot. If a ball was on the floor so was she. Instead of individual accolades, Catchings sought after team glory. Her unselfishness is something that should be admired by all.
J. Feugs, Boston, Mass.

Shea Ralph, Svetlana Abrosimova and Tamika Catchings have all had great careers in terms of winning championships and individual awards. But, their injuries have helped overshadowed a great year in women's basketball and a number of other great players throughout the nation, especially in the case of Abrosimova and Catchings, who each missed half the season. The story of this season is the way new teams have stepped up and made a national name for themselves, such as Oklahoma and Xavier. And how some players have improved to become among the nation's best, such as Marie Ferdinand of LSU and Brandi McCain of Florida. And the way that not one team is dominant anymore like Tennessee or UConn, but anyone can go to St. Louis and walk away with the national championship. Those are the stories of this year.
Scott Dean, Baton Rouge, La.

In the case of all three athletes, their legacy will be a model for tenacious and focused attitudes both on and off the court. During their tenure at Connecticut and Tennessee, they have been instrumental in bringing women's basketball to prime time and raising the public's consciousness about women's athletics in general. They are role models for young women athletes to emulate in achieving academic as well as athletic success.
Larry Barbieri, Danbury, Conn.

Their legacy does not lie in the numbers that they had, or the winning that they did. It has a lot to do with it, but I look past those things. Their impact is how much we will miss them when they are gone. It was heart wrenching when they all went down, and we saw then what their legacy was. To each, they were one of a kind. There will never be another Svet Abrosimova, Shea Ralph, or Tamika Catchings and I do not want there to be. The memories that they have given women's basketball fans are just AMAZING, just like the women that they are.
Matthew Bartelson, Oswego, N.Y.

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