Women’s Basketball Legend And Coach Dies at 56
The American women’s basketball player and coach, Anne Donovan, died on June 13, 2018, from a heart condition at the age of 56.
Anne Donovan played professional basketball after her college years from the years of 1984 to 1989, and she received a lot of recognition and fame through her years of playing basketball. She also was a three-time winning Olympian, earning gold medals in 1984 to 1988.
After many years of playing basketball, she later retired and dedicated her love for basketball towards becoming a coach for basketball teams. She coached basketball teams for different colleges and universities and later accepted the position to coach the WNBA team, the Connecticut Sun. She was later inducted into many different Hall of Fames and received many different awards for her hard work within the sport.
After the passing of Anne Donovan, many people wrote Tweets in mourning of the famous basketball player and coach’s recent death.
Anne Donovan, who won Olympic gold as a player and a coach, died suddenly Wednesday due to heart failure. She was 56. “Our family remains so very grateful to have been blessed with such a wonderful human being,” Donovan’s family said. https://t.co/hr3pDDX4dy
— ESPN Women’s Hoops (@ESPN_WomenHoop) June 13, 2018
We are deeply saddened by the loss of former Storm head coach Anne Donovan. She will be truly missed, and we extend our most sincere condolences to the Donovan family. pic.twitter.com/8HLNQvCoTz
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) June 14, 2018
Even her past athletes that she mentored during her years of coaching wrote on her unexpected and shocking death.
I’m in utter shock and disbelief right now. My heart literally has hit the floor with an overwhelmingly instant feeling of grief. Anne Donovan was #Legendary in so many ways. Anne was my Olympic coach and will never be forgotten. #sad😔 #RipAnne https://t.co/LCOtGStVui
— Delisha Milton-Jones (@DelishaMJones) June 14, 2018
Wow. I’m at a loss for words. Anne Donovan took a chance by drafting me and was my coach in Connecticut. It feels like we were just at the All-star game in Seattle talking about my basketball career. Such sad news today. Condolences to her family. https://t.co/rYDxhDbFVV
— Elizabeth Williams (@E_Williams_1) June 14, 2018
Donovan has made such a great impact and has empowered many female athletes to be great at whatever sport they choose to participate in. Anne Donovan will continue to be a role model for women through her legacy of basketball, and she will be missed by many for her dedication and hard work.
