Women's basketball Coach Kathy Delaney-Smith says this year's edition of the squad could very well be the best in the history of the program.

"To be honest, even though I've always been the eternal optimist, this is potentially the strongest team I've coached at Harvard," said Delaney-Smith, who is entering her 18th season as head coach.

Excuse me? The strongest team? As in stronger than the Allison Feaster '98-led team of two seasons ago when Harvard, the 16th seed, upset top-seeded Stanford on the Cardinal's home floor in the first round of the NCAA tournament?

Well, yes, it could be.

"I think that in the four years that I've been here, this team has the most potential," captain Laela Sturdy said.

After a disappointing season last year when the team went 10-15 with a 7-7 Ivy record, good for a tie for fourth in the league, things are looking up for the Crimson this year. Literally.

The Crimson have added five players, all taller than 6'. The biggest addition, 6'5 junior Melissa Johnson, is a transfer from North Carolina. Sarah Johnson, her sister, is a 6'4 freshman. On top of that, there is Kate Ides, a 6'2 freshman who Delaney-Smith calls "the most powerful, explosive player I think I have ever coached, including Allison Feaster."

"All three of those player have tremendous ability to score," Sturdy said.