Meet Rebecca Lobo, former WNBA star now ESPN personality, who called NCAA Tournament Final Four Posted on April 6, 2024April 6, 2024 by Alexa Connes Rebecca Lobo, an ESPN talent, gained notoriety during March Madness for her insightful analysis and jabs at the city of Albany. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer’s perceptive analysis has elevated this year’s NCAA women’s basketball tournament. However, when the former UConn and WNBA player made fun of Albany during the LSU-Iowa game on Monday, she received a lot of negative feedback. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rebecca Lobo (@promise50) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rebecca Lobo (@promise50) The Iowa star instructed her parents and brother to “just go find something to do in Albany,” according to a narrative told by play-by-play announcer Ryan Ruocco when the broadcast featured Caitlin Clark’s family in the stands. She would wait for the game in her room, according to Clark. “Good luck finding something to do in Albany,” With a laugh, Lobo said. Many people took offense at the joke, and the mayor of Albany even responded in kind. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ryan Ruocco (@ryrukes) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rebecca Lobo (@promise50) Even on Twitter, Lobo defended herself, writing, “I’ve spent many fun-filled weekends in the Albany area over the years coaching my kids’ AAU teams. “No shade intended towards the capital city and the outstanding job they did hosting the regional.” The former collegiate basketball legend, who has effectively made the move to become a top sports commentator, made a rare mistake with the poorly placed joke. With a 35-0 unbeaten record, the 6-foot-4 center guided UConn to the national championship in 1995. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rebecca Lobo (@promise50) View this post on Instagram A post shared by New York Liberty (@nyliberty) A national celebrity, Lobo competed for Team USA in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and won the gold medal. But throughout the competition, she had trouble getting into the game. “There was very little about that national team experience that I enjoyed,” on ESPN she stated. “The person I am now would have handled it a lot differently. I would have stood up for myself more. “But how I handled it at the time is exactly how I needed to handle it then. We didn’t need it to be a distraction for that team.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rebecca Lobo (@promise50) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rebecca Lobo (@promise50) After that, Lobo played a key role in the WNBA’s founding in 1997 and had a distinguished career with the New York Liberty until suffering a string of injuries. “I tore my ACL twice, and I didn’t get to be the WNBA player I probably could have been,” Added the WNBA All-Star. “But I’m completely OK with that. Could my career have been longer? “Maybe, but then I wouldn’t have had my oldest daughter when I did. I’m not a person who has a lot of regrets.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rebecca Lobo (@promise50) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rebecca Lobo (@promise50) After her playing career ended, the mother of four children transitioned smoothly into broadcasting, working with both the WNBA and collegiate basketball. Lobo began working for ESPN in 2004 and in 2022 he inked a new multiyear contract agreement. “I always thought, ‘If this becomes too much, I’ll stop. My family is going to come first,'” Lobo said. “But we’ve been able to do it. I started out doing sideline reporting, and it’s evolved. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rebecca Lobo (@promise50) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rebecca Lobo (@promise50) “I just love this job so much and have worked with people who understand balancing it with family. “I don’t have to be on the road so much that it would make it impossible. “I’m home a lot to take my kids to school and put them to bed at night. “I can coach their teams, and that is the kind of coaching I really do enjoy.” In 2017, Lobo, now fifty, became a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. More News Angel Reese had the “brilliant” idea of taking Vogue executives to the Hood Randi, Patrick Mahomes’ mom, faces new vulnerability a year after her major loss.