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WNBA Connecticut Sun

Jennifer Rizzotti: 2024 3x3 Coach of the Year

January 27, 2025 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Connecticut Sun News Release


The following was announced by USA Basketball Communications:

Jennifer Rizzotti: 2024 3x3 Coach of the Year

For over 50 years, a collection of the most prolific coaches in basketball history have paced sidelines, constructed halfcourt sets and motivated their platoons to strive for greatness with USA Basketball.

Jennifer Rizzotti 's red, white and blue coaching resume, however, is nearly incomparable.

Nearly 19 years ago, the current Connecticut Sun president ignited her USA Basketball coaching career as an assistant for the gold-medal-winning 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship squad. Over 20 coaching and scouting assignments later, the New Fairfield, Connecticut, product is one of the most decorated individuals in USA Basketball's storied history.

Her first head coaching responsibility arrived at the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. There, she guided Chinenye Ogwumike, Kayla McBride and Stefanie Dolson and the 2010 USA U18 National Team to gold a summer before captaining Breanna Stewart and the 2011 USA U19 World Cup Team to her second first place finish as a head coach.

The quick ascendance netted Rizzotti 2011 USA Basketball Coach of the Year nods for her contributions in the 5-on-5 space over a decade before her 3x3 career even began.

After serving as an advance scout/court coach for the gold-medal-winning 2016 U.S. Olympic and 2014 USA World Cup teams and court coach during USA national team training camps from 2014-17, Rizzotti returned to the sidelines as an assistant coach for nine events from 2018-21.

During that stretch, Rizzotti captured four more gold medals at the 2018 FIBA World Cup, the 2019 and 2021 FIBA AmeriCup and the 2020 Olympic Games.

In 2022, Rizzotti's coaching responsibilities expanded even further. The 2013 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee occupied the sidelines as head coach of the USA during the 2022 FIBA 3x3 Women's Series circuit and went 20-6 in six competitions ranging from venues in Poitiers, France, to Constanta, Romania.

In those six tournaments, Rizzotti absorbed the intricacies of 3x3 action up-close. Whether it be the 10-minute game clock, 12-second shot clock or 1-point and 2-point scoring system, the longtime 5-on-5 head coach learned what it meant to adjust to the newfound circumstances.

"I think 3x3 is so much more competitive because the margin of error is so small," said Rizzotti to USAB.com in 2023. "You're not allowed to have a bad quarter because that quarter is your game. Your attention, focus, effort and energy has to be on 100% right from the start. That's hard for any athlete."

She adjusted rather quickly. In 2023 alone, Rizzotti helped Cameron Brink, Hailey Van Lith, Linnae Harper and Cierra Burdick earn a batch of tow-colored hardware in Vienna, Austria, at the 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup.

Nearly four months later, the two-time WNBA champion secured another gold medal, this time 7,766 miles from her last golden pit stop, as head coach of the 2023 3x3 Women's Pan American Team in Santiago, Chile. Rizzotti pocketed her third and final gold medal of 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, after the 2023 USA 3x3 Women's AmeriCup Team sealed a triumph with a fadeaway as time expired.

She, alongside 2023 3x3 Men's National Team head coach Joe Lewandowski, was recognized as USA Basketball 3x3 Co-Coach of the Year.

That honor, coupled with her contributions to 3x3's recent explosion, culminated in a prolific head coaching assignment - a Feb. 5 nomination to lead the 2024 USA 3x3 Women's National Team at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

From July 30 to Aug. 5, Rizzotti watched Burdick, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard and Van Lith orchestrate a come-from-behind bronze-medal finish against a batch of the most competitive 3x3 crews across the globe. The USA women claimed victories in six of their final seven games and punctuated their stint in Paris with a wire-to-wire win against Canada for the bronze.

While not permitted in the huddles, Rizzotti's ability to disseminate the necessary adjustments to her quartet bridged the gap between an Olympic no-show and appearance at a medal ceremony. The team's 6-4 mark and bronze medal solidified the foursome's standing alongside 2020 USA 3x3 Women's National Teamers Dolson, Allisha Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, the first 3x3 crew to win an Olympic gold in USA Basketball history.

Simply put - Rizzotti's impact on women's basketball is boundless. With her third USA Basketball 3x3 Coach of the Year honor now attached to her portfolio, one of the most distinguished coaches in red, white and blue history continues to add to her legacy.

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