Rebecca Lobo is a former women’s basketball player in the Women’s National Basketball Association. Almost after two decades of a successful and blistering career in basketball, she now works as an American television basketball analyst.
Early Life
Lobo, the youngest daughter of RuthAnn and Dennis Joseph Lobo, was born on 6th October 1973 in Hartford, Connecticut. Her father is of Cuban origin, while her mother has German and Irish heritage. Lobo’s siblings, Jason and Rachel, played basketball at Dartmouth and Salem State College. Lobo’s parents were both teachers, and her father coached basketball and track and field. Lobo grew up in Southwick, Massachusetts, where she attended Southwick-Tolland Regional High School.
Rebecca Lobo Career
Sports Career at College
Lobo had over 100 colleges recruiting her, but she ultimately decided to attend the University of Connecticut because of its proximity and a strong reputation for academic excellence. At the University of Connecticut, she led the Huskies to an undefeated 35-0 season and won the National Championship in 1995. In her senior year, Lobo’s exceptional performance on the court earned her several prestigious awards, including the Naismith College Player of the Year, the USBWA Player of the Year, the Wade Trophy, the AP Player of the Year, and many others. She was also honored with the Honda-Broderick Cup for 1994-1995, recognizing her as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.
USA Basketball
In 1992, Lobo was selected for the USA U18 team (the Junior World Championship Qualifying Team). They competed in Guanajuato, Mexico, in August of that year. After winning four games, they suffered an 80-70 defeat against Brazil, resulting in a silver medal. Lobo’s average points per game were 6.8.
In 1995, Lobo passed the tryouts to join the national team, which later represented the US at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GA. Although she had limited playing time, Lobo was on the gold medal team.
WNBA
The WNBA was established in 1997 and had its first season. During the league’s initial player allocations on January 22, 1997, Lobo was designated to the New York Liberty. However, the Liberty lost to the Houston Comets in the WNBA Finals during their inaugural season. During the season’s first game, Lobo encountered a setback in 1999, injuring her left anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus. She was chosen for the inaugural WNBA All-Star team in 1999 but could not participate due to her injury. In 2002, Lobo was traded to the Houston Comets for the 26th overall selection in the 2002 WNBA draft. She subsequently transferred to the Connecticut Sun the next season and retired in 2003. Lobo also played for the Springfield Spirit in the National Women’s Basketball League from 2002 to 2003.
Appearance at Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
As a member of the class of 2010, Lobo was honored with induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. During the induction ceremony, her former college coach, Geno Auriemma, introduced and lauded her for her achievements on and off the court.
Reporter
Currently, Lobo works as a reporter and color analyst for ESPN, specializing in covering women’s college basketball and WNBA matches. Lobo and Rushin co-host a weekly podcast called the Ball & Chain Podcast—their topics of discussion range from current events and sports to matters concerning family life. The inaugural episode of the podcast was released on October 23, 2017.
Spokesperson
In 1996, Rebecca Lobo and her mother, Ruth Ann Lobo (now deceased), worked together on a book titled “The Home Team,” which focused on Ruth Ann’s experience with breast cancer. They also established the RuthAnn and Rebecca Lobo Scholarship to provide financial assistance to Hispanic students at the UConn School of Allied Health. Rebecca Lobo also served as the spokesperson for the Lee National Denim Day fundraiser in 1996, which raised significant funds for breast cancer research and education. From 2000 onward, Lobo became a national spokesperson and advocated for Body1.com.
Rebecca Lobo Biography |
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| Real Name | Rebecca Rose Lobo-Rushin |
| Birth Date | 6 October 1973 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 49 Years |
| Birth Place | Hartford, Connecticut, United States |
| Profession | Basketball Analyst |
| College | University of Connecticut |
| Qualification | Graduate |
Physical Statistics |
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| Height | in feet inches – 6’ 4” – in Centimeters – 193 cm |
| Weight | in Kilograms – 84 kg – in Pounds – 185 lbs |
| Hair Color | Light Brown |
| Eye Color | Light Brown |
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Family |
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| Father | Dennis Joseph Lobo |
| Mother | RuthAnn |
| Sister | Rachel Lobo |
| Brother | Jason Lobo |
Relationship Status |
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| Marital Status | Married |
| Who is her husband? | Steve Rushin |
| Children | Four (Siobhan Rose Rushin, Maeve Elizabeth Rushin) |
Personal Life
Lobo married Sports Illustrated writer Steve Rushin on April 12, 2003, at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, and subsequently changed her last name to Lobo-Rushin. The couple has four children, comprising three daughters and one son. Rebecca is available on Twitter and Instagram and highlighted on the IMDb page. You can also find the details about her, her life story, and her current activities on her personal website.
Rebecca Lobo Net Worth
Rebecca Lobo, the former sports personality and current ESPN reporter, has a net worth of around $1.5 million as of Celebrity Net Worth.
Trivia
- Lobo was among the first inductees to the “Huskies of Honor” recognition program for women’s basketball at UConn.
- She was named the 1995 Sportswoman of the Year in the team category by the Women’s Sports Foundation.
- Lobo made history as the first player in the Big East Conference to receive first-team All-American honors for her athletic and academic achievements.
