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Rebecca Lobo

Rebecca Lobo – WNBA News, Rumors & Updates, Stats

Who is Rebecca Lobo?

Rebecca Lobo is a former American professional basketball player and one of the most influential pioneers of women’s basketball. A college basketball legend at the University of Connecticut, she helped lead the Huskies to their first NCAA Championship in 1995. Lobo was part of the inaugural season of the WNBA in 1997 and later became a prominent broadcaster with ESPN.

Quick Facts – Rebecca Lobo

Attribute Detail
Full Name Rebecca Rose Lobo-Rushin
Born October 6, 1973 (Southwick, Massachusetts, USA)
Age 51 (as of 2025)
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight 174 lbs (79 kg)
Nationality American
Position Center / Forward
Jersey Number #50 (retired by UConn & New York Liberty)
College University of Connecticut (1991–1995)
WNBA Debut 1997
WNBA Draft Allocated to New York Liberty (1997 WNBA Initial Player Allocation)
WNBA Teams New York Liberty (1997–2001), Houston Comets (2002), Connecticut Sun (2003)
Notable Achievements NCAA Champion (1995), Olympic Gold Medalist (1996), WNBA All-Star (1999), Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (2017)
Years Active in WNBA 1997–2003
Current Role ESPN Basketball Analyst

Early Life and College Career

Born in Southwick, Massachusetts, Rebecca Lobo was a standout athlete from a young age. She chose to attend the University of Connecticut, where she became the face of the UConn Huskies women’s basketball program. In 1995, she led the team to a perfect 35–0 season and the school’s first NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship.

Lobo was named the Naismith College Player of the Year, AP Player of the Year, and Wade Trophy winner in 1995, cementing her status as one of the best players in college basketball history.

WNBA Career

Rebecca Lobo entered the WNBA in its inaugural 1997 season and was allocated to the New York Liberty, where she became one of the league’s early stars. She helped the Liberty reach the WNBA Finals in the league’s first year, giving visibility and credibility to women’s professional basketball in the United States.

She later played for the Houston Comets and the Connecticut Sun before retiring in 2003. Though her playing career was shortened by injuries, her impact on the league’s growth was monumental.

Career Achievements

  • NCAA Champion with UConn Huskies (1995)

  • Olympic Gold Medalist with Team USA (1996 Atlanta Olympics)

  • WNBA All-Star (1999)

  • Inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2010)

  • Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2017)

  • Jersey #50 retired by both UConn and the New York Liberty

Off-Court Influence

After retiring, Rebecca Lobo transitioned into broadcasting and has been a respected basketball analyst for ESPN, covering women’s and men’s college basketball and the WNBA. She is also active in philanthropy, co-founding the Connecticut Sports Foundation Against Cancer with her late mother.