Three Kodak All-Americans. The country's leading scorer from a year ago. Last season's Big Ten Player of the Year. Three members from the summer's 2002 USA Basketball team that won gold at the World Championship for Young Women.

Does that help explain how Notre Dame's Alicia Ratay could be left off the list?

ESPN.COM'S TOP FIVE
	Alana Beard, Duke, 5-11, junior "She can score, rebound, pass, post you, take you off the bounce. There's nothing she can't do. She has it all." -- Nancy Lieberman G MIN FG REB AST PTS 35 33.3 57.2 6.1 4.4 19.8
	Kelly Mazzante, Penn State, 6-0, junior "She has a lightning-quick release and a quick first step. She's just a pure scorer, a big-time, incredible finisher." -- Nancy Lieberman G FG REB STL PTS AVG 35 43.7 3.9 1.9 872 24.9
	Jia Perkins, Texas Tech, 5-8, junior "After Plenette Pierson was suspended, Perkins really stepped up and showed us what kind of star she is." -- Nancy Lieberman G FG REB AST STL PTS 32 42.6 5.0 3.8 2.7 16.0
	Diana Taurasi, Connecticut, 6-0, junior "She can shoot over you or take you off the dribble. She can deliver the ball anywhere, any time, any angle." -- Nancy Lieberman G MIN FG REB AST PTS 39 29.0 49.4 4.1 5.3 14.5
	Lindsay Whalen, Minnesota, 5-8, junior "She creates her own shot, knows how to use her screens and read defenses. She's very difficult to guard." -- Nancy Lieberman G MIN FG REB AST PTS 30 33.9 56.1 5.5 5.3 22.2

ESPN analyst Nancy Lieberman and ESPN.com columnist Mechelle Voepel contributed to the selection process.