Rebecca Lobo

Last updated
Rebecca Lobo
Rebecca Lobo taken by Danny Karwoski.jpg
Lobo in 2012
Personal information
Born (1973-10-06) October 6, 1973 (age 50)
Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school Southwick-Tolland
(Southwick, Massachusetts)
College UConn (1991–1995)
WNBA draft 1997: Allocated
Selected by the New York Liberty
Playing career1997–2003
Position Center
Number50
Career history
1997–2001 New York Liberty
2002 Houston Comets
2002–2003 Springfield Spirit
2003 Connecticut Sun
Career highlights and awards
Basketball Hall of Fame as player
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Medals
Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1996 Atlanta Team competition
U18 and U19
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1992 U18 Guanajuato Team Competition

Rebecca Rose Lobo-Rushin (born October 6, 1973) is an American television basketball analyst and former women's basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) from 1997 to 2003. Lobo, at 6'4", played the center position for much of her career. She played college basketball at the University of Connecticut, where she was a member of the team that won the 1995 national championship, going 35–0 on the season in the process. She was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. In April 2017, she was one of the members of the 2017 class of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, alongside Tracy McGrady and Muffet McGraw. [1]

Contents

Early life and high school career

Lobo was born in Hartford, Connecticut, the youngest daughter of RuthAnn (née Hardy) and Dennis Joseph Lobo. [2] Her father is of Cuban descent, while her mother was of German and Irish heritage. [3] Lobo was raised a Catholic. [4] [5] Her brother Jason played basketball at Dartmouth College and her sister Rachel played basketball at Salem State College. Lobo's mother and father were both teachers; her father also coached basketball and track and field. [6] Raised in Southwick, Massachusetts, Lobo was the state scoring record-holder with 2,740 points in her high school career for Southwick-Tolland Regional High School in Massachusetts. [6] She held this record for 18 years until it was surpassed by Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir of the new Leadership Charter School in Springfield on January 26, 2009. [7]

Career

College

More than 100 colleges recruited Lobo, but she chose the University of Connecticut due to its proximity and her belief in its academic excellence. [6] She helped lead the Huskies to the 1995 National Championship with an undefeated 35–0 record. In her senior year, Lobo was the unanimous national player of the year, winning the 1995 Naismith College Player of the Year award, the Wade Trophy, the AP Player of the Year award, the USBWA Player of the Year award, the Honda Sports Award for basketball, and the WBCA Player of the Year award. She was awarded the prestigious Honda-Broderick Cup for 1994–95, presented to the athlete "most deserving of recognition as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year". [8] She was a member of the inaugural class of inductees to the University of Connecticut women's basketball "Huskies of Honor" recognition program. [9] The Women's Sports Foundation named Lobo the 1995 Sportswoman of the Year (in the team category). [10] She was the first player in the Big East Conference to earn first-team all-American honors for both basketball and academics. [11]

USA Basketball

Lobo was named to the USA U18 team (then called the Junior World Championship Qualifying Team) in 1992. The team competed in Guanajuato, Mexico in August 1992. The team won their first four games, then lost 80–70 to Brazil, finishing with the silver medal for the event, but qualifying for the 1993 world games. Lobo averaged 6.8 points per game during the event. [12]

Lobo continued with the team to the 1993 U19 World Championship (then called the Junior World Championship). The team won five games and lost two, but that left them in seventh place. Lobo averaged 7.7 points per game and recorded six blocks, highest on the team. [13]

In 1995, Lobo passed through tryouts to join the national team, which later became the US team for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GA. Though her minutes on the floor were few, Lobo shared in the gold medal.

WNBA

In 1997, the WNBA was formed and enjoyed its inaugural season, and Lobo was assigned to the New York Liberty during the league's first player allocations on January 22, 1997. Her debut game was played on June 21, 1997 in a 67 - 57 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks where she recorded 16 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. [14] In her first season, the Liberty fell to the Houston Comets in the WNBA Finals.

Lobo remained being a centerpiece of the Liberty in the 1998 season, averaging 11.7 points and 6.9 rebounds as the Liberty finished 18 - 12. Although they had a great record, the Liberty would not make the playoffs in 1998 due to being 5th in the league standings and only the top 4 teams made the playoffs. The Charlotte Sting also had a 18 - 12 record, but made it in the playoffs over the Liberty due to having a better Conference record (11 - 5 to New York's 8 - 8).

Lobo suffered a setback in 1999, tearing her left anterior cruciate ligament and her meniscus in the first game of the season. In 1999, she was selected to the inaugural WNBA All Star team but could not play because of the injury. [15] On April 3, 2002, she was traded to the Houston Comets in exchange for Houston's second-round selection (26th overall) in the 2002 WNBA draft (the Liberty would use the pick to draft Linda Fröhlich).

On February 14, 2003, Lobo was traded to the Connecticut Sun for a 2003 second-round pick (which the Comets used to select Lori Nero). [16] Lobo played in 29 games for the Sun, averaging 2.4 points and 2.1 rebounds. Her final WNBA game ever was played in Game 2 of the 2003 Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Shock on September 7, 2003. Lobo recorded 9 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks but the Sun lost the game 73 - 79 and would be eliminated from the playoffs. [17] Lobo would announce her retirement on September 23, 2003. [18]

Lobo also played two seasons in the National Women's Basketball League with the Springfield Spirit from 2002 through 2003. [19]

Awards and honors

1994

1995

1997

2010

2017

2019

Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Lobo was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2010. [27] [28]

At the induction ceremony, she was introduced by her college coach, Geno Auriemma, who praised her for her "impact on the court and off the court" as "one of the founders [of the WNBA]", and "as a representative of our university, [and] as a member of the board of trustees". [29]

Career statistics

College

Rebecca Lobo Statistics [30] at University of Connecticut
Year G FG FGA PCT 3FG 3FGA PCT FT FTA PCT REB AVG A TO B S MIN PTS AVG
1991–92291673380.494010.000821170.7012287.92678463067541614.3
1992–93291894210.44929850.341771190.64732611.23775972692648416.7
1993–94332434450.54611340.3241381870.73837111.2681071313496663519.2
1994–95352384760.518510.3531041540.6753439.81299112240100559817.1
Totals12683716800.498581710.3394015770.695126810.12603513961303572213316.9

WNBA

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold Career best°League leader

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
1997 New York 282833.5.376.286.6107.31.90.91.83.112.4
1998 New York 303029.2.484.308.7106.91.50.61.12.211.7
1999 New York 111.01.00.00.00.01.00.0
2001 New York 1605.3.318.500.5000.90.10.10.00.41.1
2002 Houston 2106.3.469.429.2501.10.60.10.20.51.6
2003 Connecticut 251311.9.284.250.2222.10.20.20.60.62.4
Career6 years, 3 teams1217219.2.407.295.6284.11.00.40.91.66.7

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
1997 New York 2234.0.429.000.5839.02.00.02.02.512.5
2003 Connecticut 2119.0.400.250.0004.02.50.02.01.04.5
Career2 years, 2 teams4326.5.419.143.5836.52.30.02.01.88.5

Broadcast career

Today, Lobo is a reporter and color analyst for ESPN with a focus on women's college basketball and WNBA games.

Lobo faced criticism for her commentary during an April 1, 2024, NCAA women's basketball Elite Eight game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and LSU Tigers in Albany, New York, after she remarked during an exchange with ESPN announcer Ryan Ruocco, "And, by the way, good luck finding something to do in Albany." [31] Lobo has since apologized to the city of Albany. [32]

Breast cancer advocate and health spokesperson

In 1996, Lobo and her late mother, Ruth Ann Lobo, collaborated on a book entitled The Home Team, [33] which dealt with Ruth Ann's battle with breast cancer. They also founded the Ruth Ann and Rebecca Lobo Scholarship, which offers a scholarship to the UConn School of Allied Health for Hispanic students. [34] Lobo was the 1996 spokesperson for the Lee National Denim Day fundraiser which raises millions of dollars for breast cancer research and education.

Starting in 2000, Lobo served as national spokesperson and backer for Body1.com, a consumer-targeted network of sites providing interactive content-rich information on medical technologies that treat ailments and diseases specific to body parts. Due to her recurring problems with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), she campaigned to raise awareness of knee injury risks in women. She shared her story with others suffering from the same type of injury and advocated for patient self-education via the Internet. [35]

Personal life

On April 12, 2003, Lobo changed her last name to Lobo-Rushin after marrying Sports Illustrated writer Steve Rushin at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. [36] They have three daughters and one son. [37]

Ball & Chain Podcast

Lobo and Rushin host the weekly Ball & Chain Podcast, where they discuss current events, sports and family life. They released its first episode on October 23, 2017.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "McGrady, Self, Lobo headline 2017 HOF class". ESPN.comf. April 1, 2017.
  2. ↑ Hamwey, Ken (2007-09-06). "Wall full of local Warriors - Bellingham, MA - Country Gazette". Wickedlocal.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  3. ↑ Stated on Finding Your Roots, PBS, September 30, 2014
  4. ↑ "Celebrate Hispanic Heritage! Meet Pat Mora". Teacher.scholastic.com. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  5. ↑ Thomson Gale biography.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Porter p. 285
  7. ↑ Roberts, Selena (5 March 2009). "Enlightening the Clothes-Minded". SI.com. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  8. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL;Lobo Receives Another Award". NYTimes. 1996-01-09. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  9. ↑ "Women's Basketball 1995 National Championship Team to be Recognized as "Huskies of Honor"" . Retrieved 2009-07-24.
  10. ↑ "Sportswoman of the Year Award". Women's Sports Foundation. Archived from the original on 2009-07-22. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
  11. ↑ "Basketball luminary Rebecca Lobo appearing at Hooplandia". WWLP. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  12. ↑ "Second Women's Junior World Championship Qualifying Team -- 1992". USA Basketball. June 10, 2010. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "Third FIBA Women's U19/Junior World Championship -- 1993". USA Basketball. June 10, 2010. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  14. ↑ https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/boxscores/199706210LAS.html
  15. ↑ Litsky, Frank (1999-06-12). "PRO BASKETBALL; Torn Ligament Ends Lobo's Season Early". NYTimes. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  16. ↑ "W.N.B.A.'s Sun Acquires Lobo". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2003-02-15. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  17. ↑ "Connecticut Sun at Detroit Shock, September 7, 2003". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  18. ↑ "ESPN.com: WNBA - Lobo and out: One of first faces of WNBA retires". www.espn.com.
  19. ↑ "Rebecca Lobo to help celebrate Connecticut Sun's 15th anniversary". norwichbulletin.com. June 28, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  20. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL;Lobo Receives Another Award". NYT. 1996-01-09. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
  21. ↑ "Sportswoman of the Year". Women's Sports Foundation. Retrieved 5 Jan 2013.
  22. ↑ "The Wade Trophy". Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Retrieved 30 Jun 2014.
  23. ↑ "Lobo Named Recipient of NCAA Silver Anniversary Award". UConn Today. 2019-12-27. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  24. ↑ "Basketball". CWSA. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  25. ↑ Voepel, Mechelle (October 15, 2014). "Rebecca Lobo there from the start". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  26. ↑ Anthony, Mike (March 2, 2019). "Mike Anthony: Rebecca Lobo back at center of UConn women's basketball world she helped create as her No. 50 retired". Hartford Courant.
  27. ↑ "Lobo: I'm just 1st of many Huskies heading to Hall". FOXSports.com. Fox Sports Interactive Media. Jun 11, 2010. Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved 28 Apr 2014.
  28. ↑ "Class of 2010 Inductees Announced". WBHOF. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  29. ↑ Greenberg, Mel (14 June 2010). "WBHOF Wrapup I: Rebecca Lobo's Speech". Womhoops Guru. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
  30. ↑ "Connecticut Women's Basketball" (PDF). University of Connecticut. Retrieved 5 Jan 2013.
  31. ↑ Kelly, Michael (April 1, 2024). "ESPN's Lobo disses Albany during Elite Eight game". Times Union . Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  32. ↑ Fahy, Claire (April 2, 2024). "In the Magnificence of Iowa's Glow, Albany Catches Some Shade". The New York Times . Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  33. ↑ The Home Team: Of Mothers, Daughters, and American Champions (9781568361994): Ruth Ann Lobo, Ruthann Lobo, Rebecca Lobo: Books. Amazon.com. January 1997. ISBN   9781568361994 . Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  34. ↑ Begley, Ian (2008-12-28). "Where are they now? Former Liberty star Rebecca Lobo". Daily News. New York.
  35. ↑ "Complete Source for Shoulder Health". Shoulder1.com. Archived from the original on 2013-07-07. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  36. ↑ Elfman, Lois (2003). "Rebecca Lobo weds at the Basketball Hall of Fame: Rebecca Lobo". Women's Basketball. Archived from the original on 2005-06-24.
  37. ↑ Rushin, Steve. "Lobo 'Schools' Sportswriter In Women's Game". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 21 May 2016.

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