Final Four-bound Huskies among best college basketball teams in Washington history

Photo: Patrick Semansky, Associated Press Kelsey Plum (left) and Talia Walton have taken the 2015-16...

Forget the glass slipper. Cinderella is wearing purple and gold this March.

The University of Washington women's basketball team makes its first Final Four appearance in program history Sunday following a dominant -- and unexpected -- NCAA Tournament run this month.

After a 20-9 regular season that included an 11-7 mark in Pac-12 play, third-year head coach Mike Neighbors and third-team All-American Kelsey Plum led the Huskies to the Pac-12 tournament semifinals. That was enough to secure UW its second straight NCAA appearance.

A No. 7 seed in the tournament's Lexington Region, the Huskies dispatched Penn in the opening round before beating second-seeded Maryland 74-65 in a stunning upset on the Terrapins' home floor.

That win led to UW's first Sweet 16 appearance in 15 years -- and the Huskies took full advantage of the opportunity.

Talia Walton, a Federal Way native and the team's lone senior starter, scored 30 points as Washington tallied its second straight upset on an opponent's home court in a 85-72 win over Kentucky. Then, in just UW's third Elite Eight appearance in program history, juniors Plum and Chantel Osafor led the way over Pac-12 rival Stanford in a 85-76 victory, with Osafor accounting for 24 points and 18 rebounds in a dominant effort.

On Sunday, the Huskies will take on fourth-seeded Syracuse in Indianapolis with a chance to advance to the national championship game, where the winner will likely face the ultimate challenge in undefeated UConn. There's a send-off for the team at Husky Stadium on Thursday.

The 2015-16 UW squad has already staked its claim as one of the greatest college basketball teams in Washington history -- men's or women's -- though its final place has yet to be determined.

Check out the gallery below for our picks of the 10 best college basketball teams in the state's history.

TBD: 2015-16 Washington Huskies

Resume: 26-10 overall record (fifth in the Pac-12), lost to Oregon State in Pac-12 tournament semifinals, advanced to NCAA Final Four for first time in program history.



Led by juniors Kelsey Plum (right) and Chantel Osahor, the seventh-seeded Huskies are on a magical run in this year's NCAA Tournament. Washington beat No. 2 seed Maryland and No. 3 seed Kentucky on their home floors before taking out Pac-12 rival Stanford in the Elite Eight. They take on No. 4 seed Syracuse in Indianapolis on Sunday for a chance at a championship game berth. less TBD: 2015-16 Washington Huskies

Resume: 26-10 overall record (fifth in the Pac-12), lost to Oregon State in Pac-12 tournament semifinals, advanced to NCAA Final Four for first time in program history.



Led by ... more Photo: Patrick Semansky, Associated Press Photo: Patrick Semansky, Associated Press Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Final Four-bound Huskies among best college basketball teams in Washington history 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

Visit seattlepi.com for more Washington Huskies news. Contact sports editor Stephen Cohen at stephencohen@seattlepi.com or @scohenPI.