Women's Final Four has star power

TAMPA, Fla. — Candace Parker vs. Sylvia Fowles. Candice Wiggins vs. Maya Moore.

That's four first-team All-Americans. Some coaches say there's never been a Final Four with more talent.

"I think this is the greatest star power we've had in our game," said Louisiana State coach Van Chancellor, whose Tigers will take on Tennessee in today's second national semifinal. "I think if you went out and asked the average fan to name four players, they could name all four players."

Tennessee's Parker said that despite a dislocated left shoulder, she will be on the court for tonight's semifinal.

"My shoulder feels strong, and it's getting better every day," Parker said.

She will surely be the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft come Wednesday, likely followed by Fowles of LSU. Then, probably Stanford's Wiggins. And Connecticut's Moore, well, she's still only a freshman.

LSU is desperate to send the 6-foot-6 Fowles and her fellow seniors out in style. This is the team's fifth straight Final Four, and the Lady Tigers' eight seniors are still waiting to reach the title game.

Honors and awards

Parker was named The Associated Press player of the year, and Connecticut's Geno Auriemma was named the AP coach of the year after leading the Huskies to their ninth Final Four.

Wiggins, who has had two 40-point-plus games in the tournament, succeeded Parker as winner of the Wade Trophy, given by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association to the player of the year.

Moore and Renee Montgomery of Connecticut were named to the WBCA All-America team, along with Sylvia Fowles (LSU), Crystal Langhorne (Maryland), Erlana Larkins (North Carolina), Angel McCoughtry (Louisville), Courtney Paris (Oklahoma) and Kristi Toliver (Maryland).

WNIT title

Angel Robinson had 16 points and eight rebounds to help Marquette win the WNIT title with an 81-66 victory over Michigan State. Erin Monfre hit five three-pointers for the Golden Eagles (21-14). Kalisha Keane had 24 points for the Spartans (23-14).

Notes

• LSU's Marian Whitfield and Khalilah Mitchell have become the first two players in NCAA history to be members of five Final Four teams. They were injured early in their freshman season of 2003-04 and redshirted; they were on the bench when LSU made the first of five consecutive appearances in the Final Four.

• Television ratings for the tournament are up 31 percent over last year, ESPN said.

McClatchy newspapers and The Associated Press contributed to this report.