UConn Legend Jennifer Rizzotti Named Connecticut Sun President

UNCASVILLE, CT — Former University of Connecticut basketball great Jennifer Rizzotti is coming back to the Nutmeg State, this time as president of the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA.

The Sun's parent company, the Mohegan Tribe and the Mohegan Sun Casino, announced the move Tuesday.

Rizzotti became available in March when she was let go as the head women's basketball coach at George Washington University. Rizzotti will be responsible for the overall business operations and marketing strategies of the Sun, which plays its home games in Mohegan Sun Arena.

"I am so honored to rejoin the WNBA family in this leadership position with the Connecticut Sun," Rizzotti said. "This league employs the very best women's basketball players in the world. But more importantly, the WNBA is an inclusive and diverse community of women that inspire, lead and in their own words, 'provide a voice for the voiceless.'

"I am proud to have won two championships as a player in the WNBA and will work tirelessly to help bring a championship to the Sun franchise."

Rizzotti pointed to the Mohegan website's motto. "Honor the Past ... Building for the future," as a sign the two are a good match.

"I believe the immediate future of the WNBA has never been more exciting," she said "The level of talent, growing support around the sports world and the league's commitment to be a keystone for cultural change in these tempestuous times, makes this upcoming season one of the most important in its already rich history."

Rizzotti played at UConn from 1992 to 1996 and lead the 1995 team to a 35-0 season that ended in the first of the Huskies' 11 national championships.

She finished her college career with 637 assists and nearly 350 steals, while averaging just more than 11 points per game.

Rizzotti played nearly a decade in the pros, including a stint with the short-lived American Basketball League and Hartford-based New England Blizzard and two WNBA championship seasons with the Houston Comets (1999 and 2000).

Rizzotti then embarked on a coaching career that led her to 17 seasons and the University of Hartford. During her tenure at UHart, Rizzotti was the America East Conference Coach of the Year in 2006, 2007 and 2010.

Rizzotti was at George Washington for five years, a tenure that began with a 20-10 season in 2016-17 and a share of the A-10 regular season title. A trip to the NCAA Tournament would come in 2018 as well, after GW won an A-10 Tournament title.

Rizzotti has also been an integral part of USA Women’s Basketball, and she currently serves as an Assistant Coach for both the Women’s USA Olympic team and the USA AmeriCup Team. In 2011, she was named USA Basketball Coach of the Year.

"Jen Rizzotti brings instant credibility and is a powerhouse within the women’s basketball community. She has deep roots here in Connecticut and we could not be more thrilled to have her joining our team," Connecticut Sun Board of Governors Representative and Recording Secretary for the Mohegan Tribal Council Kathy Regan-Pyne said. "Her passion, talent and expertise, along with her shared values and philosophies, make her a natural fit within our organization. We look forward to the team’s continued success and path forward under her leadership and alongside our incredible staff, coaches and players."

Added Mohegan President and General Manager Jeff Hamilton, "The Sun had had so many great seasons, and incredible athletes, coaches and leaders throughout their impactful history here at Mohegan Sun. Mohegan Sun is honored to have Jennifer Rizzotti joining our executive team and we’re incredibly excited about the future of the Connecticut Sun under her vision.”

Rizzotti is scheduled to be formally introduced on April 27.

Rizzotti was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, joining fellow UConn legends, Coach Geno Auriemma (2006 inductee) and Rebecca Lobo (2010 inductee).

"I'd be remiss if I didn’t recognize the contributions that Amber Cox made to this franchise over the past five years," said Rizzotti. "She and head coach and GM, Curt Miller, have made the Connecticut Sun one of the most successful teams in the WNBA. I look forward to using this foundation and the overall culture of the Mohegan Tribe and Mohegan Sun to attract players, fans, and sponsors to be a part of our bright future."

The Connecticut Sun recently announced its schedule for the upcoming 2021 season, which starts on the road against the Atlanta Dream on May 14.

The Sun, led by DeWanna Bonner, Jonquel Jones and Jasmine Thomas, have their first home game of the season on May 16, which marks their first return to Mohegan Sun Arena since Game 4 of the WNBA finals on October 8, 2019.