Jennifer Rizzotti grew up playing sports with older boys. Undersized then and throughout her career she chose to work harder, smarter and make up for a smaller stature with a bigger heart and ambition. It worked as Jennifer had a great college career serving as point guard for the UCONN Huskies basketball team and playing professionally before becoming a coach for more than 20 years. Along the way she nabbed most every post season award including the Honda Cup in 1996, the Associated Press Player of the Year, All American, All Academic American and Wade Trophy.

The advice given as a player served her well as a coach, including knowing your teammates, what motivates them and building relationships. She credits Geno Auriemma, her collegiate coach, with building the national championships and being a model for coaching. He wants athletes who value teamwork and who are willing to work harder in practice than in a game. And he expects good academics; good character and good players.

Check out what Jennifer has to say about eight basketball players of the CWSA family who also won the Honda Cup. She describes her professional experiences as a dream for making a living as an athlete and having an opportunity to compete at the highest level every outing, her ultimate competitiveness and need to pay attention to details. Jennifer shares with the audience her experience as President of the WBCA and what comes with paying attention to something bigger than yourself. She credits sport with teaching her the life lessons of humility and appreciation, that no success happens by yourself, and the possibility of having lasting impact as a leader. We hear what success looks like to Jennifer.

Jennifer is using her growth mindset in her current position as President of the WNBA franchise, the Mohegan Sun. Let’s cheer that franchise on during this big professional pivot for Jennifer Rizzotti. But first let’s cheer on the USA Women’s Basketball team in Tokyo at the Olympics where she will be on the bench as an Assistant Coach - a culmination of decades of contributions to USA basketball.

Host: Chris Voelz

A co-production of WiSP Sports and the Collegiate Women's Sports Awards.
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