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The Inspiring Inside Story Of The Tennessee Lady Vols Historic 1997-1998 Season

Casey Bell

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Published in Raise The Roof: The Inspiring Inside Story Of The Tennessee Lady Vols Historic 1997 1998 Threepeat Season

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The Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team made history in the 1997-1998 season by winning their first NCAA Women's Basketball Championship. The team was led by legendary coach Pat Summitt and star player Chamique Holdsclaw. The Lady Vols finished the season with a record of 39-2, including a perfect 14-0 record in the SEC. They defeated the Auburn Tigers in the NCAA Championship game by a score of 93-75.

Raise the Roof: The Inspiring Inside Story of the Tennessee Lady Vols' Historic 1997-1998 Threepeat Season

by Michael Part

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
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The Lady Vols' success in 1997-1998 was the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. Summitt had been building the program into a national powerhouse since she took over as head coach in 1974. She had won seven SEC Championships and led the Lady Vols to the NCAA Tournament 20 times before finally winning the title in 1998.

Holdsclaw was the centerpiece of the Lady Vols' success in 1997-1998. The 6-foot-2 center was a dominant force on both ends of the court. She averaged 22.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, and she was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

The Lady Vols' victory in 1997-1998 was a major moment for women's basketball. It was the first time that a women's basketball team had won a national championship by more than 20 points. It also helped to raise the profile of women's basketball and inspire a new generation of players.

The Lady Vols' success in 1997-1998 is a story of hard work, dedication, and teamwork. It is a story that will inspire generations of athletes and fans.

The Team

The 1997-1998 Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team was one of the most dominant teams in women's college basketball history. The team featured a starting lineup that included four future WNBA players: Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings, Semeka Randall, and Michelle Marciniak. The team also had a strong bench, led by reserve guard Kristen Clement.

Chamique Holdsclaw: Holdsclaw was the team's star player and the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. She averaged 22.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
Tamika Catchings: Catchings was a versatile forward who averaged 14.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. She was also a defensive standout, averaging 3.5 steals per game.
Semeka Randall: Randall was a physical post player who averaged 13.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. She was also a strong defender, averaging 2.5 blocks per game.
Michelle Marciniak: Marciniak was a point guard who averaged 10.3 points and 5.6 assists per game. She was a good shooter and passer, and she was also a tough defender.
Kristen Clement: Clement was a reserve guard who averaged 6.4 points and 2.8 assists per game. She was a good shooter and passer, and she was also a strong defender.

The Season

The Lady Vols started the 1997-1998 season with a 13-0 record. They then lost their first game of the season to the Stanford Cardinal. However, the Lady Vols rebounded from that loss and won their next 25 games. They finished the regular season with a record of 31-1.

The Lady Vols entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed. They defeated the No. 16 seed Florida A&M Rattlers in the first round, the No. 8 seed Vanderbilt Commodores in the second round, and the No. 4 seed North Carolina Tar Heels in the Sweet 16. In the Elite Eight, the Lady Vols defeated the No. 2 seed Connecticut Huskies by a score of 95-80.

In the Final Four, the Lady Vols defeated the No. 3 seed Louisiana Tech Bulldogs by a score of 88-71. The Lady Vols then defeated the No. 1 seed Auburn Tigers in the NCAA Championship game by a score of 93-75.

The Legacy

The Tennessee Lady Vols' victory in the 1997-1998 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship was a major moment for the program and for women's basketball. It was the first time that a women's basketball team had won a national championship by more than 20 points. It also helped to raise the profile of women's basketball and inspire a new generation of players.

The Lady Vols' success in 1997-1998 is a story of hard work, dedication, and teamwork. It is a story that will inspire generations of athletes and fans.

Raise the Roof: The Inspiring Inside Story of the Tennessee Lady Vols' Historic 1997-1998 Threepeat Season

by Michael Part

4.9 out of 5