History of Rebecca Lobo in Timeline

Rebecca Lobo is an American television basketball analyst and former professional basketball player in the WNBA. She played center, standing at 6'4". She gained prominence playing college basketball at the University of Connecticut, contributing to their undefeated 1995 national championship season. Lobo was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, solidifying her legacy in basketball.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

October 6, 1973: Rebecca Lobo's Birth

On October 6, 1973, Rebecca Rose Lobo-Rushin was born. She is an American television basketball analyst and former professional women's basketball player.

Others born on this day/year

August 1992: USA U18 Team Competition

In August 1992, Rebecca Lobo competed with the USA U18 team in Guanajuato, Mexico, where they won the silver medal and qualified for the 1993 world games.

1993: U19 World Championship

In 1993, Rebecca Lobo played in the U19 World Championship where the team finished in seventh place.

1993: Qualifying for World Games

In August 1992, the USA U18 team qualified for the 1993 world games in Guanajuato, Mexico.

1994: Honda-Broderick Cup

In 1994, Rebecca Lobo was awarded the prestigious Honda-Broderick Cup, presented to the athlete "most deserving of recognition as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year".

1994: Start of Honors

In 1994, Rebecca Lobo was awarded the prestigious Honda-Broderick Cup.

1995: Winning National Championship

In 1995, Rebecca Lobo helped lead the Huskies to the National Championship with an undefeated record of 35-0.

1995: Joining the National Team

In 1995, Rebecca Lobo passed through tryouts to join the national team, which would later become the US team for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GA.

1995: National Player of the Year

In 1995, Rebecca Lobo was unanimously named the national player of the year and won several awards including the Naismith College Player of the Year award, the Wade Trophy, the AP Player of the Year award, the USBWA Player of the Year award, the Honda Sports Award for basketball, and the WBCA Player of the Year award.

1996: The Home Team Book Release

In 1996, Rebecca Lobo and her mother, Ruth Ann Lobo, collaborated on a book entitled "The Home Team", which dealt with Ruth Ann's battle with breast cancer. They also founded the Ruth Ann and Rebecca Lobo Scholarship. Lobo was the spokesperson for the Lee National Denim Day fundraiser.

1996: Olympic Gold Medal

In 1996, Rebecca Lobo shared in the gold medal as a member of the US team at the Olympics in Atlanta, GA.

January 22, 1997: WNBA Player Allocation

On January 22, 1997, Rebecca Lobo was assigned to the New York Liberty during the league's first player allocations.

June 21, 1997: WNBA Debut

On June 21, 1997, Rebecca Lobo made her debut in the WNBA, playing in a 67 - 57 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks, recording 16 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.

1997: WNBA Career

In 1997, Rebecca Lobo began her professional career in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

1998: Liberty's Season

In 1998, Rebecca Lobo averaged 11.7 points and 6.9 rebounds for the New York Liberty, but the team did not make the playoffs despite an 18-12 record.

1999: ACL Injury and All-Star Selection

In 1999, Rebecca Lobo tore her left anterior cruciate ligament and her meniscus in the first game of the season. She was selected to the inaugural WNBA All-Star team but could not play due to the injury.

2000: Knee Reinjury

In December 1999, Rebecca Lobo reinjured her knee and ended up missing all of the 2000 season.

2000: Spokesperson for Body1.com

Starting in 2000, Rebecca Lobo served as national spokesperson for Body1.com, a network of sites providing information on medical technologies. She also campaigned to raise awareness of knee injury risks in women.

2001: Return to the Court

In 2001, Rebecca Lobo returned to the court but played sparingly, totaling only 85 minutes.

January 2002: Joining the Springfield Spirit

In January 2002, during the WNBA offseason, Rebecca Lobo joined the Springfield Spirit in the National Women's Basketball League.

April 3, 2002: Trade to the Houston Comets

On April 3, 2002, the Liberty traded Rebecca Lobo to the Houston Comets in exchange for Houston's second-round selection (26th overall) in the 2002 WNBA draft.

2002: Springfield Spirit

In 2002, Lobo played for the Springfield Spirit in the National Women's Basketball League.

February 14, 2003: Trade to the Connecticut Sun

On February 14, 2003, Rebecca Lobo was traded to the Connecticut Sun for a 2003 second-round pick.

February 2003: Return to the Springfield Spirit

In February 2003, during the WNBA offseason, Rebecca Lobo returned to the Springfield Spirit and scored 25 points and 14 rebounds in her first game of the season.

April 12, 2003: Marriage to Steve Rushin

On April 12, 2003, Rebecca Lobo changed her last name to Lobo-Rushin after marrying Sports Illustrated writer Steve Rushin at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

September 7, 2003: Final WNBA Game

On September 7, 2003, Rebecca Lobo played her final WNBA game in Game 2 of the 2003 Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Shock, recording 9 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks.

September 23, 2003: Retirement Announcement

On September 23, 2003, Rebecca Lobo announced her retirement from the WNBA.

2003: Springfield Spirit

In 2003, Lobo played for the Springfield Spirit in the National Women's Basketball League.

2003: End of WNBA Career

In 2003, Rebecca Lobo ended her professional career in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

January 26, 2009: High School Scoring Record Surpassed

On January 26, 2009, Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir surpassed Rebecca Lobo's Massachusetts state scoring record of 2,740 points, a record Lobo had held for 18 years since her high school career at Southwick-Tolland Regional High School.

2010: Induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

In 2010, Rebecca Lobo was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

April 2017: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Induction

In April 2017, Rebecca Lobo was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

October 23, 2017: Ball & Chain Podcast Release

On October 23, 2017, Rebecca Lobo and Steve Rushin released the first episode of their weekly Ball & Chain Podcast, where they discuss current events, sports and family life.

2017: Hall of Fame Induction

In 2017, Rebecca Lobo was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

April 1, 2024: Controversy during NCAA game commentary

On April 1, 2024, Rebecca Lobo faced criticism for her commentary during an NCAA women's basketball Elite Eight game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and LSU Tigers in Albany, New York, after she made a remark during an exchange with ESPN announcer Ryan Ruocco about Albany.