Stewart, Loyd headline AP preseason women’s team

FILE - In this March 29, 2014, file photo, Notre Dame guard Jewell Loyd (32) drives between Oklahoma State guard Tiffany Bias (3) and Roshunda Johnson (00) during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament at the Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Ind. Loyd has been selected to The Associated Press' preseason All-America team Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) FILE - In this March 29, 2014, file photo, Notre Dame guard Jewell Loyd (32) drives between Oklahoma State guard Tiffany Bias (3) and Roshunda Johnson (00) during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament at the Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Ind. Loyd has been selected to The Associated Press' preseason All-America team Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

By Associated Press November 4, 2014 4 min read

Connecticut’s Breanna Stewart and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis are in a class by themselves.

They are the first teammates to twice be honored as preseason All-Americans by The Associated Press.

“The fact that this has never been achieved before by the same teammates speaks volumes to just how special it is,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “I know that coaches and their teammates are very proud of both of them. “

The two are joined on the team by Notre Dame’s Jewell Loyd, Duke’s Elizabeth Williams and South Carolina’s Tiffany Mitchell.

Stewart and Loyd received all 35 votes from a national media panel Tuesday, becoming the 10th and 11th players to be unanimous selections on the AP preseason team. Chiney Ogwumike was a unanimous choice last year, with Brittney Griner, Maya Moore, Elena Delle Donne and Skylar Diggins doing it before.