[qwerty49]

 It really comes down to the players themselves and how they all play together. Our last year's team of 2 #1's and a #3 (by far the best recruiting rankings we've ever had in

I beg to differ. imo last year was not about learning to "play together." we knew before the season that losing kiana and failing to get rice, miles, or similar would limit our success.   several top 10, even top 5 players, is indeed usually necessary for a championship, but it's not sufficient. you need a top point guard who can take over a game, and we had 2 top-3 posts and a top-3 wing. our 3 national championship teams all had top guards. there was no henning/azzi, molly, jamila, candice, or kiana on the team last year. i am reminded of the 49ers against the eagles last year: can't win without a qb.

I basically agree with your point, jonny.  I'll add one nuance:

With so small a recruiting pool, the odds of having the right mix on-court all the time are pretty low.  And players don't always develop the way we think they might, and at the rate we hope, e.g. who could anticipate Jones never really finding her outside shot, and we aren't really sure how Lepolo will continue to develop, and what her true ceiling might be.  

And FWIW I was never really comfortable with either of them running point last year.

[qwerty49]

 It really comes down to the players themselves and how they all play together. Our last year's team of 2 #1's and a #3 (by far the best recruiting rankings we've ever had in

I beg to differ. imo last year was not about learning to "play together." we knew before the season that losing kiana and failing to get rice, miles, or similar would limit our success.   several top 10, even top 5 players, is indeed usually necessary for a championship, but it's not sufficient. you need a top point guard who can take over a game, and we had 2 top-3 posts and a top-3 wing. our 3 national championship teams all had top guards. there was no henning/azzi, molly, jamila, candice, or kiana on the team last year. i am reminded of the 49ers against the eagles last year: can't win without a qb.

I basically agree with your point, jonny.  I'll add one nuance:

With so small a recruiting pool, the odds of having the right mix on-court all the time are pretty low.  And players don't always develop the way we think they might, and at the rate we hope, e.g. who could anticipate Jones never really finding her outside shot, and we aren't really sure how Lepolo will continue to develop, and what her true ceiling might be.  

And FWIW I was never really comfortable with either of them running point last year.