Huskies of Honor
{{Short description|Award given by the University of Connecticut}}
File:Rebecca Lobo taken by Danny Karwoski.jpg, an inaugural inductee into the Huskies of Honor, was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.]]
File:Kemba3-9592.jpg was inducted into the Huskies of Honor in a surprise ceremony following the Connecticut Huskies men's basketball 2011 National Championship victory.]]
Huskies of Honor is a recognition program sponsored by the University of Connecticut (UConn). Similar to a hall of fame, it honors the most significant figures in the history of the UConn Huskies—the university's athletic teams—especially the men's and women's basketball teams. The inaugural honorees, inducted in two separate ceremonies during the 2006–07 season, included thirteen men's basketball players, ten women's basketball players, and four head coaches, of whom two coaches—Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma—and three players—Ray Allen, Swin Cash and Rebecca Lobo—are also enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, with another player, Sue Bird, having been announced as a 2025 Hall of Fame inductee.{{cite web |url=http://www.hoophall.com/events/enshrinement/class-of-2018/ |title=Enshrinement Class of 2018 |publisher=Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |access-date=December 13, 2018 |archive-date=December 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218105440/http://www.hoophall.com/events/enshrinement/class-of-2018/ |url-status=live }}{{cite press release |url=https://www.hoophall.com/news/naismith-basketball-hall-of-fame-announces-nine-inductees-for-the-class-of-2025/ |title=Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Nine Inductees for the Class of 2025 |publisher=Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |date=April 5, 2025 |access-date=April 5, 2025}} Since that time, an additional thirteen women's basketball players, ten men's basketball players, nine national championship teams, one women's basketball assistant coach, and one athletic director have been honored. One of these later honorees, player Maya Moore, will be inducted to the Hall of Fame alongside Bird in 2025.
Men's basketball has been played at the University of Connecticut since 1901, when the school was known as Connecticut Agricultural College. The Huskies first achieved success under Coach Hugh Greer, who over a sixteen-year period led the team to twelve Yankee Conference championships, seven National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Tournament berths, and one National Invitation Tournament appearance before dying suddenly during the 1962–63 college basketball season. It was not until Calhoun took over the university's basketball program in 1985, however, that UConn grew from a regional basketball power to a nationally prominent one. Under Calhoun, UConn won three national championships (1999, 2004, 2011), seven Big East tournaments, and ten Big East{{refn|The American Athletic Conference operated as the Big East Conference from 1979 through 2013. See 2010–2013 Big East Conference realignment for more information. This article uses the name "Big East" to refer to the conference for the years 2013 and earlier.|group="Note"|name="BigEastAACNote"}} regular season titles, while placing twenty-six former players into the National Basketball Association (NBA). Following Calhoun's retirement, new head coach Kevin Ollie would lead UConn to a fourth national championship win in 2014. Ollie's successor, current head coach Dan Hurley, led UConn to two more national titles in 2023 and 2024.{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-ncaa-championship-uconn-purdue-score-525f5f96f6b007034a2cb928dc8a4dbc |title=UConn concludes a dominant run to its 2nd straight NCAA title, beating Zach Edey and Purdue 75-60 |first=Eddie |last=Pells |agency=Associated Press |date=April 9, 2024 |access-date=March 3, 2025}}
Women's basketball was not a major sport at UConn until the arrival of Auriemma in 1985. Under his guidance UConn has enjoyed unprecedented success, winning 12 national titles, including six at the end of undefeated seasons and four consecutive championships from 2013–16. The Huskies also have the two longest winning streaks in NCAA Division I basketball history, at 111 games from 2014–17 and 90 games from 2008–10. Connecticut's rivalry with women's basketball power Tennessee has been one of the most celebrated in the sport. Twenty-six former UConn women's basketball players have gone on to play in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and six—Sue Bird in 2002, Diana Taurasi in 2004, Tina Charles in 2010, Maya Moore in 2011, Breanna Stewart in 2016, and Paige Bueckers in 2025—have been selected first overall in the WNBA draft. Stewart, Moriah Jefferson, and Morgan Tuck were the first three picks in the 2016 draft; this marked the first time three players from the same college were selected 1-2-3 in the draft of any major sport.
Placards honoring the members of the Huskies of Honor are hung at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, the on-campus home court of UConn basketball. Additional information about each of the honorees is displayed on the concourse between the upper and lower stands.
Honorees
File:Jim Calhoun.jpg was an inaugural member of the Huskies of Honor.]]
File:Okafor.jpg was drafted second overall in the 2004 NBA draft.]]
File:Geno Auriemma 140507-D-HU462-423 (cropped).jpg was one of the eleven inaugural inductees in 2006 from the women's basketball program into the Huskies of Honor, and the only one who is a man.]]
File:Renee Montgomery UConn.jpg was the first player to be named a Husky of Honor while still active.]]
File:Huskies of Honor additions 29 December 2013 cropped (Karwoski).jpg
class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Key ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; background:#ff9;"| {{dagger}} | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
=Men's basketball=
=Women's basketball=
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | |||||
! scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|No. | scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|Name | scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|Position | scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|Seasons | scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|Hometown | scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|Inducted |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
25 | {{sortname|Svetlana|Abrosimova}} | F | 1997–2001 | St. Petersburg, Russia | December 21, 2006 |
24 | {{sortname|Kerry|Bascom}} | C / F | 1987–91 | Epping, New Hampshire | December 21, 2006 |
10 | bgcolor=#ff9 | {{sortname|Sue|Bird}}{{dagger}}{{efn|group=Honorees|name=HOFPlayer}} | G | 1998–2002 | Syosset, New York | December 21, 2006 |
5 | {{sortname|Paige|Bueckers}} | G | 2020–25{{cite web |url=https://www.si.com/onsi/womens-fastbreak/news/paige-bueckers-to-receive-rare-uconn-honor-at-senior-day-game-01jnbxbm4vme |title=Paige Bueckers to Receive Rare UConn Honor at Senior Day Game |first=Grant |last=Young |work=Women's Fastbreak |publisher=Sports Illustrated |date=March 2, 2025 |access-date=March 2, 2025}} | Hopkins, Minnesota{{cite web |url=https://uconnhuskies.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster |title=2024–25 Women's Basketball Roster |publisher=UConn Huskies |access-date=March 2, 2025}} | March 2, 2025 |
32 | style="background:#ff9;"|{{sortname|Swin|Cash}}{{dagger}}{{efn|group=Honorees|name=HOFPlayer}} | F | 1998–2002 | McKeesport, Pennsylvania | December 21, 2006 |
31 | {{sortname|Tina|Charles|dab=basketball}} | C | 2006–10 | Jamaica, New York | February 13, 2010 |
24
| {{sortname|Napheesa|Collier}} | F | 2015–19 | Jefferson City, Missouri | March 2, 2019{{Cite web |date=2019-02-28 |title=Huskies to Honor Seniors, Rebecca Lobo Saturday |url=https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2019/2/28/womens-basketball-huskies-to-honor-seniors-rebecca-lobo-saturday.aspx |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=University of Connecticut Athletics |language=en}} | |
31 | {{sortname|Stefanie|Dolson}} | C | 2010–14 | Port Jervis, New York | March 1, 2014 |
14 | {{sortname|Bria|Hartley}} | G | 2010–14 | North Babylon, New York | March 1, 2014 |
4 | {{sortname|Moriah|Jefferson}} | G | 2012–16 | Glenn Heights, Texas | February 27, 2016 |
50 | style="background:#ff9;"|{{sortname|Rebecca|Lobo}}{{dagger}}{{efn|group=Honorees|Inducted to the Hall of Fame as a contributor.}} | C / F | 1991–95 | Southwick, Massachusetts | December 21, 2006 |
20 | {{sortname|Renee|Montgomery}} | G | 2005–09 | St. Albans, West Virginia | February 15, 2009 |
23 | bgcolor=#ff9 | {{sortname|Maya|Moore}}{{dagger}}{{efn|group=Honorees|name=HOFPlayer}} | F | 2007–11 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | February 28, 2011 |
23 | {{sortname|Kaleena|Mosqueda-Lewis}} | F | 2011–15 | Anaheim Hills, Anaheim, California | February 28, 2015 |
33 | {{sortname|Shea|Ralph}} | G | 1996–2001 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | December 21, 2006 |
21 | {{sortname|Jennifer|Rizzotti}} | G | 1992–96 | New Fairfield, Connecticut | December 21, 2006 |
42 | {{sortname|Nykesha|Sales}} | G | 1994–98 | Bloomfield, Connecticut | December 21, 2006 |
33 | {{sortname|Katie Lou|Samuelson}} | F | 2015–19 | Fullerton, California | March 2, 2019 |
30 | {{sortname|Breanna|Stewart}} | F | 2012–16 | |North Syracuse, New York | February 27, 2016 |
3 | {{sortname|Diana|Taurasi}} | G | 2000–04 | Chino, California | December 21, 2006 |
3 | {{sortname|Morgan|Tuck}} | F | 2012–16 | Grand Rapids, Michigan / Bolingbrook, Illinois | April 6, 2016 |
15 | {{sortname|Gabby|Williams}} | G | 2014–18 | Sparks, Nevada | {{cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/hc-sp-uconn-women-usf-notes-20180226-story.html|title='Just The Two Of Us': Gabby Williams And Kia Nurse Honored On UConn Women's Senior Night|first=Mike|last=Anthony|website=Courant.com|access-date=11 November 2021|archive-date=11 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111113827/https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/hc-sp-uconn-women-usf-notes-20180226-story.html|url-status=live}} | February 26, 2018
52 | {{sortname|Kara|Wolters}} | C | 1993–97 | Holliston, Massachusetts | December 21, 2006 |
— | style="background:#ff9;"|{{sortname|Geno|Auriemma}}{{dagger}}{{efn|group=Honorees|name=HOFCoach}} | Head coach | 1985–present | Montella, Italy / Norristown, Pennsylvania | December 21, 2006 |
— | {{sortname|Chris|Dailey}} | Associate head coach | 1985–present | New Brunswick, New Jersey | February 27, 2016 |
— | 1994–95 team | Team | 1994–95 | — | November 16, 2008 |
— | 1999–2000 team | Team | 1999–2000 | — | December 23, 2009 |
— | 2001–02 team | Team | 2001–02 | — | December 29, 2011 |
— | 2002–03 team | Team | 2002–03 | — | December 29, 2013 |
— | 2003–04 team | Team | 2003–04 | — | December 29, 2013 |
|Team |2008-09 |— | —
|||||
|Team |2009-10 |— | —
|||||
|Team |2012–13 |— | —
|||||
|Team |2013–14 |— | —
=Administrators=
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||||
! scope="col" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"|No. | scope="col" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"|Name | scope="col" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"|Position | scope="col" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"|Seasons | scope="col" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"|Hometown | scope="col" style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"|Inducted |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
— | {{sortname|John|Toner|dab=footballer}} | Athletic director | 1969–87 | Nantucket, Massachusetts | February 28, 2009 |
{{notelist|group=Honorees}}
The display
{{multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
| align = center
| direction = horizontal
| total_width = 800
| image1 = Huskies of Honor mens 2015.jpg
| width1 = 4080
| height1 = 1552
| alt1 = See caption
| image2 = Huskies of Honor womens 2015.jpg
| width2 = 3968
| height2 = 1200
| alt2 = See caption
| footer_align = center
| footer = The Huskies of Honor display at Gampel Pavilion, located on either side of the arena on each side of the scoreboards, {{as of|2015|10|17|lc=y|df=US}}.
Left are the placards for men's basketball and John Toner; right are the placards for women's basketball.
}}
Notes
{{reflist||group=Note|refs=
{{refn|The seasons listed are those that the individual was with the UConn Huskies in the specific listed position.|group=Note|name=SeasonsNote}}
}}
References
{{reflist|2|refs=
{{cite news|title=Montgomery helps UConn dismantle Pittsburgh after being honored |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/ncw/recap?gameId=290460041 |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=ESPN |publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures |date=February 15, 2009 |access-date=February 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219121912/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncw/recap?gameId=290460041 |archive-date=February 19, 2009 |url-status=dead }}
|title=Tall tale: Ex-UConn star Kara Wolters found love down below
|last=Kinkhabwala
|first=Aditi
|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/aditi_kinkhabwala/03/07/better.half/index.html
|newspaper=Sports Illustrated
|publisher=Time, Inc.
|date=March 7, 2006
|access-date=February 7, 2010
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081118052253/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/aditi_kinkhabwala/03/07/better.half/index.html
|archive-date=November 18, 2008
|url-status=dead
}}
{{cite news|title=UConn wins fifth game in five days to earn Big East tournament title |url=http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=310710097 |newspaper=ESPN |publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures |agency=Associated Press |date=February 23, 2011 |access-date=March 31, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006112046/http://blogs.courant.com/uconn_womens_basketball/2010/02/uconns-maya-moore-receives-top.html |archive-date=October 6, 2012 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite news|title=Connecticut wins third national title thanks to Butler's woeful shooting |url=http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?id=310940041 |newspaper=ESPN |publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures |agency=Associated Press |date=April 4, 2011 |access-date=April 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408160746/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?id=310940041 |archive-date=April 8, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/15206002/wnba-draft-breanna-stewart-selected-seattle-storm-no-1-overall-pick |title=Breanna Stewart top pick in WNBA, leading 1-2-3 UConn sweep |work=ESPN.com |date=April 14, 2016 |access-date=April 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721140627/http://espn.go.com/wnba/story/_/id/15206002/wnba-draft-breanna-stewart-selected-seattle-storm-no-1-overall-pick |archive-date=July 21, 2016 |url-status=live }}
}}
External links
{{commons category|UConn Huskies basketball}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150905065314/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/trads/huskies-of-honor.html Huskies of Honor] UConn's official website
{{University of Connecticut}}
{{UConn Huskies men's basketball navbox}}
{{UConn Huskies women's basketball navbox}}
{{featured list}}
Category:Halls of fame in Connecticut
Category:College sports halls of fame in the United States
Category:Awards established in 2006
Category:Lists of college men's basketball players in the United States
Category:Lists of college women's basketball players in the United States