Spoiled by success? UConn women’s latest national title spawns smaller celebrations

Ho Hum? UConn’s latest title spawns smaller party

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — A crowd greeted the champs at the airport and another waited inside the home arena of a UConn women’s basketball team that hasn’t lost a game in more than two years.

But this was no delirious victory rally — 90 percent of the seats were empty.

UConn officials estimated about 1,000 fans were inside Gampel Pavilion on Wednesday to celebrate with the Huskies a day after UConn defeated Stanford for its 78th straight win and back-to-back national championships.

In an arena that seats just under 10,200, the atmosphere was something less than electric.

“It was so disheartening,” said Dawn Riquier-Shayer, who arrived two hours before the rally. “It upset me that there were so few people here. Almost embarrassing. I think No. 1, the students don’t support it and it’s really disheartening. I think the other thing with a lot of the fans, I think they’re taking (the team) for granted.”

The celebration drew more fans to Gampel than the game itself. Only about 650 people showed up to watch the game being televised from San Antonio.

“I was kind of surprised because I came last year and I think it seemed a little bit more full,” said Sam Simons, 19, a sophomore. “I think people feel sometimes they don’t even have to watch the women’s games because they already know what’s going to happen, but this was the national championship.”

There were no bonfires or impromptu parades on campus Tuesday night after the game, in which UConn rallied from a horrible first half to win, 53-47.

Is UConn’s dominance — seven national titles since 1995 — causing even the Huskies’ fans to lose interest?

“I think it’s decreased over the years with these championships,” said Mary Duprey of Tolland, Conn. “In ‘95, the place was packed. Maybe it’s complacency.”

Joan Schulte from Prospect, Conn., wasn’t going to miss the victory rally, but found the low attendance disappointing.

“I think that’s very sad,” Schulte said. “I think these girls and the coach put a lot of hard work into it. They make it look easy. They’ve accomplished things that no other teams have accomplished, and they deserve all the praise and encouragement that they could get.”

At the airport, even coach Geno Auriemma joked about the size of the crowd — about 175 fans waiting in summer-like heat for the Huskies’ plane to land.

“I know there would be a lot more people but they’re probably hospitalized,” Auriemma said, referring to UConn’s rally after the Huskies scored only 12 points in the first half. “So if you see any of your friends, tell them we won.”

Sue Lindgren of East Longmeadow, Mass., made her first trip to Bradley International Airport to cheer her favorite team.

“I thought there would be more people here,” she said. “This is kind of special, back-to-back and how long its gone without losing.”

Anita Clinton-Briley drove nearly the entire width of Connecticut, a 72-mile trip from Bridgeport on Long Island Sound to Windsor Locks near the Massachusetts line to see the Huskies, as she has done in past years.

“I remember when the boys came here,” she said, referring to UConn’s men’s team, which last won a title in 2004. “I have the time. It’s a beautiful day.”

Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell, mingling with the airport crowd before the team arrived, said it didn’t matter how many well-wishers showed up.

“Five people, 500 people, 5,000 people. We’re the best fans, the best supporters.”

At the celebration inside Gampel Pavilion, stars Maya Moore and Tina Charles wore the nets from the Alamodome around their necks. Moore wasn’t concerned about the size of the crowd.

“I appreciate the people who are here today for our homecoming,” Moore said. “We had a great time in San Antonio with the crowd there. In that championship game, we really felt that we had a lot of fans there and there was a lot of blue in the crowd.”

Devoted fans didn’t let the lack of a throng diminish their party. Riquier-Shayer held up a sign that read “Got Champs” on the front and “Simply the Best” on the back. When players walked around the arena giving fans high-fives, she handed the sign to senior Kaili Maclaren.

The national championship trophy sat on a small table on the stage where Auriemma and the rest of the team gathered. Highlights of the team’s second straight perfect season were shown on the video board.

“Great teams have great fans. Give yourself a round of applause,” UConn president Michael Hogan told the crowd.

The crowd gave Auriemma a 20-second standing ovation when he was introduced.

“People say, ‘Does it ever get old to win the national championship?’” he said. “No, it never gets old because the seniors on my team, whenever it happens, and especially this group, aren’t going to ever let it get old and aren’t going to ever take it for granted.”

AP contributor David Heuschkel in Storrs, Conn. provided details for this report.