March 2, 2025
USA TODAY Women of the Year winner Jennifer Rizzotti has strong ties to Connecticut
Jennifer Rizzotti: 'leadership and relationships transfer into whatever you're doing'
It didn’t start with the Connecticut Sun for president Jennifer Rizzotti. Instead, it started in a No. 21 white-and-blue jersey with “Connecticut” printed across her chest. Rizzotti and former UConn husky, has been named USA TODAY Women of the Year representing the state of Connecticut. She is among 61 other women being honored but her tie to Connecticut is special.
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“I think part of what I’ve learned through this role is that, leadership and relationships transfer into whatever you’re doing,” Rizzotti told Howard Megdal on LockedOn women’s basketball podcast last week. “And so going from a player to a coach, to now a front office executive, I’ve taken all those lessons. I’ve learned about, player relationships, people relationships, how to treat people, how to lead people, how to motivate people. I’ve turned that into a career and it’s something that I’m really proud of.”
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USA TODAY state on their website:
They are leaders and activists, women you may follow and those you have never heard of. They are women who make a difference every day – in every state. We are proud to introduce USA TODAY’s 2025 Women of the Year, 61 women across the country inspiring the next generation, they are breaking barriers and pushing for change. They are making our communities better.
They encourage us, influence us, and make us laugh
Rizzotti played at Connecticut. In her junior year, she led the Huskies to a perfect 35-0 record and their first national championship as the starting point guard. After graduating college in 1996 she played professionally for eight seasons.
Rizzotti spent three seasons in the American Basketball League (ABL) for the New England Blizzard and was a two-time All-Star. She spent five seasons in the WNBA and the Houston Comets selected her in the fourth round, 48th overall in the 1999 WNBA Draft. She went on to win back-to-back WNBA championships (1999 and 2000) in the two seasons she was with the franchise.
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Rizotti spent her last three seasons with the Cleveland Rockers before she became head coach at Hartford. She remained there until 2016 when she became head coach of George Washington.
Rizzotti was named president of the Sun in 2021 and she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
Connecticut is special for Rizzotti, and she has made an impact on and off the court over the years. One of her recent notable accomplishments is helping to arrange the sold-out first ever women’s basketball game at TD Garden in Boston.
Rizzotti has found a passion for Connecticut basketball which all began at UConn under arguably one of the best women’s basketball coaches to ever coach. Her love for the game translates into her current role as she strives to put the Sun in position for success in the future.
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The Sun have had a busy off season. Rizzotti, alongside Sun general manager Morgan Tuck, were prepared for it. She reiterated on Locked On Women’s Basketball the goal was to have a competitive team.
She and Tuck signed Tina Charles, who is not only a fellow Husky too but is also playing at a high level. Charles began her WNBA career in Connecticut and now has the chance to end it there, which wouldn’t have been possible without Rizzotti.
Rizzotti has proved that she earned it as a coach and franchise president, all her hard work strives to bring Connecticut it’s first WNBA championship one day.
