The Connecticut Sun announced that UConn associate head coach Chris Dailey will receive the Margo Dydek Award as its 2017 Woman of Inspiration on August 8 when former UConn stars Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and the Seattle Storm return to Mohegan Sun Arena.
Dailey, who has been at Geno Auriemma side since 1985 as UConn won a record 11 national titles and have seen five of their players be the No. 1 overall picks in the WNBA Draft while 13 of her UConn players have been members of WNBA national championship teams, will participate in a pregame reception and honored at halftime. In her name, a $1,000 donation will be made by the Connecticut Sun Foundation, through the Travelers Championship, to the Jay S. Fishman Fund at the Bruce Edwards Foundation to help find a cure for ALS.
The Margo Dydek Award, named after the former Sun center, is given to an outstanding woman who has distinguished themselves while positively impacting the local community. Previous recipients of the award include PGA of America Vice President Suzy Whaley, former Connecticut governor M. Jodi Rell and former WNBA star Rebecca Lobo.
Dydek was a former Connecticut Sun All Star who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 37 in 2011.
“I first met Margo in 1994 when we took our team on a foreign tour to France and Italy and we played against her,” Dailey said in a release. “Margo was an imposing and skilled young player and it was not surprising to see her have success in the WNBA. It is humbling to receive an inspirational award and I am honored to be the recipient of one that recognizes Margo for her contributions to the Connecticut Sun Community, both on and off the court.”
There was more UConn related WNBA news today as Stefanie Dolson and Breanna Stewart swept the WNBA Player of the Week awards marking the second time this season that UConn grads swept the awards. More honors could be coming as the reserves for Saturday's WNBA All-Star Game will be announced tomorrow night. UConn grads Bird, Tina Charles, Tiffany Hayes, Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi will start in the game. Stewart would have to be considered close to a lock to be selected while Dolson and Moriah Jefferson could also be selected to play in the game.
Since the WNBA went from awarding one player of the week to giving out awards to players in each conference in 2007, this is the 17th time the honorees came from players who attended the same college. Thirteen times it was a UConn sweep led by the duo of Charles and Maya Moore who swept the awards five times.
The first time it happened came on June 29, 2008 when Asjha Jones and Diana Taurasi were the winners. Sue Bird and Jones were honored on July 26, 2009 (marking the only time players in the same recruiting class won the award the same week).
Also, the U.S. U-19 team played its first exhibition game. UConn's Crystal Dangerfield had 17 points and three assists in the 84-72 victory over Spain. Megan Walker added six points and five rebounds.
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