Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the State of Connecticut, along with the City of Hartford, will host a victory parade and rally on Sunday, April 18, to congratulate and honor the University of Connecticut’s Women’s Basketball Team for winning their seventh NCAA Women’s National Basketball Championship, second perfect season in a row and making history with their 78-game winning streak.
The Huskies defeated Stanford 53-47 to win back-to-back national championships and become the first-ever NCAA women’s basketball team to have consecutive unbeaten seasons – and in the process beating their own NCAA Division I winning record of 70 games.
The victory parade, which will begin and end at the State Capitol, will start at 3:00 p.m. on April 18 and take place near the Bushnell Park, Main Street and Capitol Avenue areas of Hartford. A celebration rally with the coaches and players will take place on the north steps of the Capitol building immediately following the parade. Parade and rally organizers are relying on private funds to support both events.
Prior to the start of the parade and rally on April 18, the USA Basketball Women's National Team, which is coached by UConn's Hall of Fame Coach Geno Auriemma and includes current and former UConn greats, is anticipated to play an exhibition scrimmage against the USA Basketball Select Team at 12:30 pm at the XL Center in downtown Hartford. The USA Basketball Women's National Team, along with elite collegiate athletes on the USA Select Team, will be training in Hartford and Storrs between April 11 and April 18. It is expected that the weeklong training will conclude with this scrimmage between the USA National Team and the USA Select Team. More information will be announced by USA Basketball at a later date.
“Words cannot accurately convey the joy and pride we have in the UConn women’s basketball team. However, action speaks louder than words and I am inviting UConn fans of all ages to join us on April 18 in showing these young women and their coaches why we love the UConn Huskies so much,” said Governor Rell. “I cannot think of a better way to cap this historic basketball season and their back-to-back national championships. As diehard fans, let’s make history ourselves by lining the parade and attending the rally in record numbers.”
“The UConn women’s basketball players are more than just national champions. They are first class student-athletes and role models for all of us. This is why when it comes to the celebration events that are being planned for April 18, the players deserve it, the coaches deserve it and the best women’s basketball fans in the country who witnessed sports history deserve it.”
Additional parade and rally details, including information regarding the parade route, traffic, parking, order of participants, media credentials and more will be announced as they become available.
For parade sponsorship opportunities, please contact Michael Zaleski at the Hartford Business Improvement District (HBID) at (860) 728-2274.
