Nice Article in the Wichita Eagle about UCONN

[Gabbyfan]

Here’s why the UConn’s first trip to Koch Arena was monumental for Wichita women’s basketball

 

[Huskee11]

Nice article! They are great role models, for sure.

Love the quote from the young girl who drove three hours with her family to see the game. Fan of Lou, wore her hair in a bun. "I can make a three basically, but I just have to take a step in."

(That pretty much sums up that state of my game at this point too.)

 

[Waquoit]

I can almost dunk, I just need the rim to be 2 feet lower.

 

[Kevin G]

“That’s why we present ourselves a certain way because we know we have younger fans,” said UConn’s Napheesa Collier.

I could not help but to think of the trashy classless behavior of Arike vs UCONN this year when I read this. Obviously, I am not over how a player like AO can be such a nasty player with young girls idolizing her.

 

[rbny1]

A wonderful article. I love this quote from CD:

"You can be an athlete and be demanding of yourself and your teammates and be competitive as a female. And then when you’re off the court, you can be a lovely young woman to be around. Hopefully that’s what the little girls and even boys see: being a competitor is great, but being a great person off the court is even better.”

 

[Bama fan]

Here’s why the UConn’s first trip to Koch Arena was monumental for Wichita women’s basketball

great article thank you for posting.

 

[Carnac]

When trolls post comments here suggesting that no one cares about WCBB, I laugh, pay it no mind, and move on to the next post. I don't give it a second thought because I know better. Look at the attendance at the women's final four EVERY YEAR. Pure "hardcore" WCBB fans whose team IS NOT in the field will make that pilgrimage to the "Mecca" to watch the 4 best teams remaining in the tournament win those last two games. The TV numbers (ratings) are not bad either.

Geno calls UConn "The Circus". Well, who doesn't like the circus? Barnum & Bailey's The Greatest Shown on Earth (and other circuses) made millions of people happy across the country for decades when they came to town. We took our children and grandchildren to the circus every year. When it hits town, it's an event you don't want to miss.

I always liked watching the clown car (about the size of a Volkswagen Beetle) come out, and see the endless procession of clowns get out. An unopened can of sardines had more room than those clowns did as they loaded up and prepared to come out. I wonder if anyone of them ever passed gas after crawling in and the door was shut.

Look at the "sell out" crowd that turned out in Reno for Gabby's homecoming. The largest crowd ever in school history to see a women's BB game in the Lawlor Events Center. Over 7 thousand fans, for a Nevada WCBB game that usually generates less than 400.

Let's not forget the fans that showed up for Kia Nurse's homecoming in Toronto, or Napheesa Collier's against the St. Louis Billikens in Missouri. Then there's the sellout crowd that came to see UConn in Berkeley (Cal) earlier this season. Their program received lots of national media attention for that game, and the coach was very thankful for it. There are lots of WCBB fans out there, and lots of UConn WBB fans everywhere. The numbers speak for themselves!!!

Teams (coaches) have taken a number and are lined up to play UConn in the coming years, for the national media exposure and experience if nothing else. If you're a new coach (or an old one) at a school trying to rebuild the program and put it on the map, what better way to do it than with a game against the perennial top program in the country, UConn. Especially given Geno's attitude of willing to play anybody, anywhere at anytime.

 

[ubasketball]

“That’s why we present ourselves a certain way because we know we have younger fans,” said UConn’s Napheesa Collier.

Last year, I had the privilege of traveling with the team to the South Carolina game in Columbus. Because I went with other fans on the team bus to the game, we had to wait in the arena after the game was over and most fans left for the team to shower, dress and emerge from the player area to go back to the bus.

Because it was my first time at an away game, I was, at first, curious why a group of perhaps 300 to 400, mostly adolescent and teenage girls with their parents, were hanging around with us long after everyone else had left.

The reason was obvious once our players reappeared. They were politely swarmed by these adoring girls for autographs, pictures with them, and a chance to talk to them. Our players could not have been more gracious and accommodating. Then it struck me: this must happen after every away game. As Napheesa notes above, our players are clearly aware of the extremely important role that they play in building character and self-confidence in young girls and promoting women’s basketball throughout the country.

I am sure that others in the Boneyard who have attended away games are aware of this, but for me, a newbie, it was a very moving and enlightening experience.

 

[Conndog]

Thank you so much for relating this story of the fans waiting for the team! It was sweet and when I tried reading it to my wife (who loves UConn too), I started to cry for some reason.

 

[Woof 101]

Very nice post for a couple of reasons....
Someone writing that the UConn women are GOOD for women's basketball! ...
That and a few good quotes from CD...

“Not only to get a college scholarship but to be on a team and to understand you can play hard and you can be intense and you can get after it on the court and you can still be a young woman off the court."

“You can do both, they don’t have to be mutually exclusive. You can be an athlete and be demanding of yourself and your teammates and be competitive as a female. And then when you’re off the court, you can be a lovely young woman to be around. Hopefully that’s what the little girls and even boys see: being a competitor is great, but being a great person off the court is even better.”

 

[Carnac]

“That’s why we present ourselves a certain way because we know we have younger fans,” said UConn’s Napheesa Collier.

Last year, I had the privilege of traveling with the team to the South Carolina game in Columbus. Because I went with other fans on the team bus to the game, we had to wait in the arena after the game was over and most fans left for the team to shower, dress and emerge from the player area to go back to the bus.

Because it was my first time at an away game, I was, at first, curious why a group of perhaps 300 to 400, mostly adolescent and teenage girls with their parents, were hanging around with us long after everyone else had left.

The reason was obvious once our players reappeared. They were politely swarmed by these adoring girls for autographs, pictures with them, and a chance to talk to them. Our players could not have been more gracious and accommodating. Then it struck me: this must happen after every away game. As Napheesa notes above, our players are clearly aware of the extremely important role that they play in building character and self-confidence in young girls and promoting women’s basketball throughout the country.

I am sure that others in the Boneyard who have attended away games are aware of this, but for me, a newbie, it was a very moving and enlightening experience.

CD is responsible for that. She instilled the habit of the players doing that years ago. It's been paying dividends for years. That's one of the many reasons UConn WBB has fans all over the country. If you come out and acknowledge the young fans, sign an autograph or take a selfie with them, talk with them for a moment, you've got a fan for life. Because the young fan will never forget that moment. It's a small thing for the player, but a very LARGE thing to the fan.

Last year, Stewie was kind enough to stop and take a picture with me as she was strolling through the casino
with a teammate where the Storm was playing the Aces the next night in Las Vegas. She was very gracious and cordial. I just happened to have my UConn hat on at the time. I did not attempt to engage her in any idle chit chat, like what a huge UConn fan I was.

I simply thanked her for giving me a moment, and went on my way. I was a big fan of hers before that, but I became a BIGGER fan afterwards simply because she gave me a moment of her time. I attended that game the next night (the Aces's inaugural home game). It was hard to root for her and the Aces at the same time. regardless, I did enjoy the game. The Storm won that game BTW.

 

[HuskyZee]

Here’s why the UConn’s first trip to Koch Arena was monumental for Wichita women’s basketball

Thanks for sharing. It was also a very touching article.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

“That’s why we present ourselves a certain way because we know we have younger fans,” said UConn’s Napheesa Collier.

I could not help but to think of the trashy classless behavior of Arike vs UCONN this year when I read this. Obviously, I am not over how a player like AO can be such a nasty player with young girls idolizing her.

Nasty is "our culture."

 

[CL82]

FWIW, I took my young daughter to game at Gampel and it ignited a lifelong love of the game. I highly recommend it. For a young (early elementary school) girl to see young woman playing before thousands of enthusiastic fans is incredibly empowering.

UConn players and coaches are incredibly gracious, warm and engaging. It's a special program.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

“That’s why we present ourselves a certain way because we know we have younger fans,” said UConn’s Napheesa Collier.

Last year, I had the privilege of traveling with the team to the South Carolina game in Columbus. Because I went with other fans on the team bus to the game, we had to wait in the arena after the game was over and most fans left for the team to shower, dress and emerge from the player area to go back to the bus.

Because it was my first time at an away game, I was, at first, curious why a group of perhaps 300 to 400, mostly adolescent and teenage girls with their parents, were hanging around with us long after everyone else had left.

The reason was obvious once our players reappeared. They were politely swarmed by these adoring girls for autographs, pictures with them, and a chance to talk to them. Our players could not have been more gracious and accommodating. Then it struck me: this must happen after every away game. As Napheesa notes above, our players are clearly aware of the extremely important role that they play in building character and self-confidence in young girls and promoting women’s basketball throughout the country.

I am sure that others in the Boneyard who have attended away games are aware of this, but for me, a newbie, it was a very moving and enlightening experience.

Can't find it now and I'm late for my second cuppa, but there was this interesting little video of Kia & Co. coming out of Maples in Toronto to be mobbed by a bunch of hyperventilating young girls and it was exactly as you say. The Beatles and Elvis would have gotten no more of a reaction. Players signing autographs on the top of their "snack box"(?) of fast food.