UCONN Women Break Winning Streak With 89

The University of Connecticut Women’s Basketball team has not lost a game since April 6. April 6, 2008 that is.

Last night, the UCONN women beat Florida State for their 89th win in a row. That is the longest winning streak in NCAA basketball history. I didn’t say NCAA women’s basketball history. I said NCAA basketball history. The NCAA Division I basketball record.

Last night The University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball team surpassed the record held by the UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team. The Bruins won 88 games in a row 37 years ago. That was a John Wooden coached team.

Coach Geno Auriemma and his star player, Maya Moore, have led this team to 89 wins in a row. That is an amazing number. I’ve never won anything 89 times in a row. Neither has any other Division I basketball team. Ever.

I watched the press conference after the game last night. This win was such a big deal that Geno Auriemma received a call from President Obama congratulating him on winning the game and breaking the record. I guess that is what happens when you make history. I almost cried watching the phone call. I don’t know if it was a weird surge of patriotism or pride in a team that I have been watching win for over three years in a row now, but I suspect that it had more to do with the fact that The President of the United States of America was probably watching women’s college basketball last night.

If this is what it takes to have women’s sports get press time and visibility, then let’s keep breaking records.

89 wins and counting.

Congratulations to Maya Moore, Tiffany Hayes, Caroline Doty and the entire University of Connecticut team. You ladies are amazing.

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Originally written for and published on BlogHer.com