National Champion Huskies Return Home to Warm Welcome

Nearly 7,000 fans show up in Gampel Pavilion to congratulate UConn.




Connecticut women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma holds up the NCAA Women's Division I basketball championship trophy at a homecoming celebration for the team.

April 1, 2002

AP Photos

By DONNA TOMMELLEO
AP Sports Writer

STORRS, Conn. (AP) - The national champion Connecticut Huskies took a final lap around Gampel Pavilion on Monday night, high-fiving fans who waited for hours to welcome them home.

The Huskies beat Oklahoma 82-70 on Sunday night in San Antonio for the third national title. They finished 39-0, the second perfect season in school history.

"I realize what we've done and what we've accomplished, but at the same time it's kind of weird that I've played my last game. That part hasn't sunk in yet," said Sue Bird, the AP Player of the Year.

Senior starters Bird, Tamika Williams, Asjha Jones and Swin Cash took turns thanking the crowd and their coaches. Sophomore starter Diana Taurasi captured most of the action with a video camera.

They and coach Geno Auriemma watched with the nearly 7,000 fans as highlights of the championship game played on scoreboard screens.

Dawn Riquier-Shayer, a wheelchair-bound fan from nearby Willimantic, handed Jones a sign as the 6-foot-2 forward greeted the crowd. Jones couldn't agree more with its message, "We didn't shock the world, we were simply the best."

"There was never one moment in the season where I thought we were going to lose," Jones said.

Riquier-Shayer called Jones the "heart and soul" of the team and grew tearful as she remembered the much-heralded senior class and its past four years.

"You put those girls with any other coach and you wouldn't have this result," she said. "Anybody can coach basketball, but Geno Auriemma molds them as people."

The group hug started hours earlier when the team arrived at Bradley International Airport. About 1,000 fans gathered for that homecoming that had all the feel of a festival - music, painted faces and lots of folks out for a good time.

The Huskies' plane touched down shortly before 5 p.m. and taxied to the gathering place. The fans burst into applause and cheers as the team got off the plane. Among those waiting was Gov. John G. Rowland.

"On behalf of the state, we want to thank you for a wonderful season," Rowland said. "Thank you for all you do on the court. Thank you for all you do off the court."