Rebecca Lobo Siblings: Meet Jason and Rachel Lobo

Rebecca Lobo is a name synonymous with women’s basketball excellence.

From her standout college career at the University of Connecticut (UConn) to her role as a founding player in the WNBA and now a prominent ESPN analyst, Lobo’s journey is one of inspiration and impact.

However, beyond her achievements on the court, her family—particularly her siblings—played a significant role in shaping her life and career.

Siblings

Rebecca is the youngest of three children, growing up alongside her older brother, Jason Lobo, and older sister, Rachel Lobo, in Southwick, Massachusetts.

The Lobo household was one steeped in athletics and education, with both parents working as teachers—Dennis also coached basketball and track—and fostering a competitive yet supportive environment.

Jason Lobo, Rebecca’s older brother, was a talented basketball player in his own right.

He played college basketball at Dartmouth College, showcasing the athletic genes that ran in the family.

Now a judge in Connecticut, Jason’s influence on Rebecca was notable during their childhood.

It was at his urging that the Lobo family installed a basketball hoop at their home, sparking Rebecca’s early love for the game.

Rachel Lobo, Rebecca’s older sister, also embraced the sport, playing college basketball at Salem State College.

Like Rebecca, Rachel inherited a passion for athletics, and the two sisters shared a bond over their time on the court.

During her Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech in 2017, Rebecca humorously recalled playing high school basketball with Rachel in the late 1980s, noting their matching “big hair” reminiscent of Eddie Van Halen.

Career

Lobo’s journey began at Southwick-Tolland Regional High School, where she became the all-time leading scorer—male or female—in Massachusetts history with 2,740 points, a record that stood for 18 years.

Her dominance on the court attracted over 100 college recruiters, but she chose to stay close to home, enrolling at UConn to play under legendary coach Geno Auriemma.

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At UConn from 1991 to 1995, Lobo transformed women’s basketball.

Her senior year in 1994-1995 was nothing short of historic: she led the Huskies to their first NCAA National Championship with a perfect 35-0 record.

Known as “Lobo Cop” for her commanding presence at the center position, she averaged 16.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game over her college career, cementing her status as a UConn legend.

Following her college success, Lobo joined the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, contributing to their gold medal win in Atlanta, though she saw limited playing time as a younger member of a star-studded roster.

In 1997, she became one of the founding players of the WNBA, assigned to the New York Liberty.

Her rookie season was a standout, as she helped the Liberty reach the WNBA Finals and earned second-team All-WNBA honors.

However, her professional career was marred by injuries, including a torn ACL in 1999 that sidelined her for two seasons.

She later played for the Houston Comets in 2002 and the Connecticut Sun in 2003 before retiring that same year.

Since retiring, Lobo has excelled as a broadcaster, joining ESPN in 2004 as a women’s college basketball and WNBA analyst.

Accolades

During her senior year at UConn, Lobo swept nearly every major award, including the Naismith College Player of the Year, the Wade Trophy, the AP Player of the Year, the USBWA Player of the Year, the Honda Sports Award, and the WBCA Player of the Year.

She was also named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player and the Women’s Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year in 1995.

Her academic excellence earned her first-team All-American honors in both basketball and academics, a rare feat in the Big East Conference.

On the international stage, Lobo’s Olympic gold medal in 1996 added to her resume, while her WNBA tenure saw her selected to the inaugural All-Star team in 1999 (though she couldn’t play due to injury).

Her impact was recognized with inductions into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, alongside icons like Tracy McGrady and Muffet McGraw.

UConn honored her legacy by retiring her jersey number 50 in 2019, a fitting tribute to her role in building the program into a dynasty.