๐ฌ๐บ๐ท๐ต ๐น๐ฌ๐ท๐ถ๐น๐ป: Michiganโs Katelynn Flaherty Crowned Greatest of All Time in Womenโs College Basketball, Surpassing Taurasi, Miller, and Woodard
Ann Arbor, MI โ June 26, 2025
In a stunning, historic announcement that has shaken the foundation of womenโs college basketball, ESPN has officially named Katelynn Flaherty the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in the sportโs collegiate historyโvaulting her above titans like UConnโs Diana Taurasi, USCโs Cheryl Miller, and Kentuckyโs Lynette Woodard.
The Michigan Wolverines legend, who dazzled from 2014 to 2018, has now been recognized not just as the programโs all-time leading scorer, but as the defining player of an era, a generational talent whose influence transcends stats and spans decades of growth in womenโs sports.
โThis moment isnโt just about numbersโitโs about legacy,โ said ESPN analyst and former WNBA star Rebecca Lobo. โKatelynn changed the perception of what Michigan womenโs basketball could be. She carried the Wolverines to national prominence, and she did it with poise, fire, and unmatched skill.โ
Flaherty ended her Michigan career with 2,776 points, breaking the school scoring record for any player, male or female. Known for her fearless shot-making, slick handles, and off-the-charts basketball IQ, Flaherty turned heads in every arena she stepped foot in. Her pull-up three was deadly; her court vision, surgical. What she lacked in height, she made up for in sheer determination and clutch performances.
While Diana Taurasi is often regarded as the gold standard, and Cheryl Miller revolutionized the game in the โ80s, ESPNโs panel of historians, coaches, and analysts cited Flahertyโs combination of longevity, loyalty, individual brilliance, and program-building as the reasons for her historic edge.
โShe didnโt just play the gameโshe elevated the game,โ said ESPN senior writer Mechelle Voepel. โFlaherty didnโt transfer to a powerhouse. She became one. Her career helped put Michigan on the map in a way we hadnโt seen before.โ
The decision comes amid a year-long ESPN docuseries titled โGOAT: Legends of the Hardwood,โ where 64 of the greatest womenโs college players were compared through data analytics, fan votes, and expert commentary. Flaherty, a #4 seed in the initial bracket, steadily advanced past greats like Maya Moore, Tamika Catchings, and Sabrina Ionescu. In the final vote, she edged Taurasi by less than 1.3%.
Back in Ann Arbor, the announcement has ignited celebration. Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel has already announced plans to unveil a bronze statue of Flaherty outside Crisler Center this fall. โSheโs the heartbeat of Michigan womenโs hoops,โ he said. โHer legacy is permanent.โ
Flaherty, now a youth coach and motivational speaker, responded with humility and heart. โIโm honored beyond words,โ she said. โTo be mentioned alongside legends Iโve looked up to since I was a little girlโฆ itโs surreal. But this isnโt just about me. This is about everyone who believed in me, especially Michigan.โ
In a world where the spotlight often misses the women whoโve shaped it, Katelynn Flahertyโs brilliance could no longer be ignored. Her greatness wasnโt built on one shining momentโit was forged over seasons of sweat, sacrifice, and silence-breaking excellence.
Today, womenโs college basketball has a new name etched in its highest honor: Katelynn Flaherty.
Let me know if youโd like this adapted for a video script or ESPN-style voiceover!
