Comment on UMaine women’s basketball starting lineup could be best in program’s history

The University of Maine women’s basketball team won’t play its first game until at least December due to the suspension of winter sports activities there because of COVID-19 cases. When the Black Bears do play, this could be a special team. UMaine proved last season that a winning culture, and the confidence and swagger that accompany it, are firmly in place. Despite a rash of injuries to players, including 2019 America East Player and Defensive Player of the Year Blanca Millan (knee) and 2018-2019 America East rebounding leading Fanny Wadling (concussion), the gritty Black Bears went 18-14 overall and 12-4 in America East. They earned a spot in the league championship game against top seed Stony Brook, but the season was halted because of the coronavirus. Head coach Amy Vachon’s team was going for a third straight conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance. Millan, who appeared in six games, and Wadling, who missed the entire season, received medical redshirts and have returned for a fifth season.