The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Dangerfield taking the lead for UConn
STORRS — A few hours before the first game of her senior season, Crystal Dangerfield came to a bittersweet realization.
“This is the beginning of the end,” she told herself. “It’s a long season, so I’m going to take it for what it is.”
It sure is a long season, and Dangerfield — potentially — has the power to define it. If she gets her way, it’ll end with UConn winning another national championship — No. 12 for Geno Auriemma and the first for the star point guard.
“This is her last goround, and expectations have been to win,” her father, Chris, said by phone. “That’s what she expects of herself and from her teammates.”
The moment that Napheesa Collier and Katie Lou Samuelson graduated, Dangerfield was
anointed the Huskies’ unquestioned leader. It’s no surprise to her father that she’s embraced that role, both on and off the court.
“This year is a different beast because it’s kind of in noman’s land for her,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of unknowns.”
Dangerfield has always been a liveinthemoment type person, but the reality of the situation is making it harder for her not to think about what has been and what could be. She may find herself reminiscing when the Huskies play at Vanderbilt on Wednesday (7 p.m.) as part of her homecoming game.
“I think it will be special,” she said. “It will give people a chance that haven’t seen me in four years to see me play again. I’ll get to see some family and friends.”
Chris said they’re expecting around 20 family members — not including friends, plus former coaches and teachers — to watch the No. 4 Huskies take on Vanderbilt from Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn. It’s roughly a 45minute drive from Dangerfield’s hometown of Murfreesboro.
Dangerfield, a top5 prospect in the Class of 2016, had several offers coming out of high school, including from Tennessee and Vanderbilt. But while she had grown fond of watching Lady Vols stars Candace Parker and Tamika Catchings, Dangerfield wanted to forge her own path, much to the dismay of the local crowd.
Lady Vols fans heckled her at high school games after she chose UConn. Most of the time she just laughed.
“She was a strong enough person not to let it bother her,” Chris said. “There were certain things they would kind of heckle her about. It was all fun and good.”
Chris likes to say she’s always been that way — strongwilled and determined. It’s a product, he said, of being raised by two Army veterans.
Chris was in the Army from 19841993, and met his wife, Davonna, along the way. They served nine and a half months together in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Occasionally, they’ll share some of those memories with their daughter.
“I would tell her a few things about it, about where we met, and how disciplined you had to be to be in there,” Chris said. “She was happy that we served and dedicated our lives to serve others. I kind of think that’s really made her the person she is. She just likes to share and do things for people when she can. I think she’s a good teammate.”
Dangerfield — the American Athletic Conference Preseason CoPlayer of the Year — has also proven to be quite a good basketball player. She averaged 13.4 points and 5.9 assists last season, nearly breaking the school record for the latter. This year, the Huskies need her more than ever.
“It’s not like sophomore year we needed her to be great or we weren’t going anywhere,” Auriemma said. “We really didn’t. But now, she has no choice. Now, can she? Absolutely. Absolutely, she can.”
dbonjour@ctpost.com; @DougBonjour