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NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2026 \u2013 Connecticut Sun President Jennifer Rizzotti has been named the recipient of the 2026 WNBA Business Executive Leadership Award presented by Deloitte*, the WNBA announced today.<\/p>\n
Now in its second year, the award recognizes a WNBA Team President, nominated by their organization, who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in driving meaningful business transformation. Golden State Valkyries President Jess Smith won the inaugural award in 2025.<\/p>\n
Teams submitted their business case for how the leader, and their team, excelled across four key business transformation categories including people and culture, revenue generation, stakeholder engagement, and innovation.\u00a0All submissions were reviewed and voted upon by WNBA Team Presidents.<\/p>\n
During Connecticut\u2019s final season in the state, Rizzotti guided the organization through a significant transition with a vision centered on celebrating the franchise\u2019s history, strengthening its connection with fans and creating a lasting community impact. Through the \u201cSunset Season\u201d campaign, she led a team that aligned storytelling, fan experiences and business initiatives to honor more than two decades of Connecticut Sun basketball.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was an incredibly unique and emotional season for our organization, and one of the most challenging of my career,\u201d said Rizzotti. \u201cWe had a responsibility to honor the history of the Connecticut Sun, acknowledge what this team and this community mean to one another, and make our final season in Connecticut something truly special. I\u2019m incredibly proud of what our staff accomplished together and grateful for the passion, creativity, and commitment they brought to this season. Most of all, I want to thank our fans, whose loyalty and support never wavered. They are such an important part of this franchise\u2019s legacy, and making this season meaningful for them was at the heart of everything we did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Under Rizzotti\u2019s leadership, the Sun delivered substantial growth across fan engagement and ticket sales initiatives. Through storytelling that highlighted players and staff, the organization increased social content engagement by 2,338% year over year, generating over 5 million interactions. Integrated marketing campaigns helped translate that engagement into attendance, with a 50% increase in sellouts, 67.5% growth in partial-plan ticket sales and an increase in group ticket sales. Connecticut averaged over 8,700 fans per game in 2026, exceeding its average attendance from the previous season.<\/p>\n
The Sunset Season campaign brought the franchise\u2019s history to life through the Sun Legends initiative honoring former players and coaches, a Homecoming game, commemorative gifts for original season ticket members and a docuseries preserving the organization\u2019s story. A commemorative logo and specially designed home court extended the celebration across merchandise, digital platforms and the game day experience. The season concluded with a home victory over the Toronto Tempo, followed by an on-court farewell in which Rizzotti thanked fans and the organization shared a video tribute celebrating its time in Connecticut.<\/p>\n
Community impact remained a central part of the season. Through the Connecticut Sun Foundation, the organization raised and reinvested $140,000 into local communities, supporting efforts that included a Habitat for Humanity contribution, a playground project in Groton alongside Brittney Griner and the Community Impact Legacy Awards. The Sun also announced a community court revitalization project intended to leave a lasting gift for local youth, families and fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m humbled that my peers voted to recognize me in this way,\u201d said Rizzotti. \u201cOver my six seasons with the Sun, I\u2019ve been fortunate to work alongside so many talented and dedicated people across the league. I\u2019m grateful for their support, collaboration, and shared commitment to growing the game and advancing the WNBA. This recognition means a great deal to me, and I share it with the people who made this season, and my time with the Sun, so meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Connecticut native and member of the Women\u2019s Basketball Hall of Fame, Rizzotti has built a distinguished career as a player, coach and executive. She helped lead the University of Connecticut to its first NCAA championship in 1995, won two WNBA championships with the Houston Comets and has coached USA Basketball teams to gold medals in international competition. As Sun president, she oversaw the organization\u2019s business operations and strategic growth. Rizzotti will join the Houston Comets as President of Basketball Operations for the 2027 season.<\/p>\n
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