UConn’s Dailey to receive Margo Dydek Award from Sun on August 8

UConn’s Chris Dailey will receive the Margo Dydek Award from the Sun on August 8.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The Connecticut Sun will honor UConn women’s basketball associate head coach Chris Dailey with the Margo Dydek Award as its 2017 Woman of Inspiration on Tuesday, August 8, when Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird and the Seattle Storm return to Mohegan Sun Arena.

An iconic figure in women’s basketball, Dailey recently completed her 32nd season with UConn, teaming with head coach Geno Auriemma to build the Huskies into a national power. She will participate in a pregame reception and honored at halftime. In her name, a $1,000 donation will be made by the Connecticut Sun Foundation, through the Travelers Championship, to the Jay S. Fishman Fund at the Bruce Edwards Foundation to help find a cure for ALS.

The Margo Dydek Award, named after the former Sun center, is given to an outstanding woman who has distinguished themselves while positively impacting the local community. Previous recipients of the award include Suzy Whaley, the Professional Golf Association (PGA) of American vice president, M. Jodi Rell, former governor of the state of Connecticut, and Rebecca Lobo, the former WNBA star and Hall of Famer. 

Dydek was a former WNBA All-Star with the Sun, who passed away unexpectedly in 2011 at the age of 37.  She was an accomplished professional who finished her WNBA career as the career leader in blocks. But Dydek was better known for a warm and open spirit that endeared her to so many women’s basketball fans around the world.

“I first met Margo in 1994 when we took our team on a foreign tour to France and Italy and we played against her,” Dailey said. “Margo was an imposing and skilled young player and it was not surprising to see her have success in the WNBA.  It is humbling to receive an inspirational award and I am honored to be the recipient of one that recognizes Margo for her contributions to the Connecticut Sun Community, both on and off the court.”

From us + those around the @WNBA, thank you Chris Dailey for being our Woman of Inspiration.

We honor her on 8/8. https://t.co/Ni76HjObqo pic.twitter.com/SudDZ0c73D

— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) July 31, 2017

Join us in honoring @UConnWBB's Chris Dailey as our 2017 Woman of Inspiration on Tuesday, August 8th.

Get tix » https://t.co/Ni76HjObqo pic.twitter.com/6Kzan80ozu

— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) August 5, 2017