L O R I  R I L E Y, CONNECTICUT

Since the early 1980s, Lori Riley has used her platform as a journalist to influence society’s understanding and awareness of the achievements and challenges faced by girls and women in sports. Her award-winning journey in sports journalism began in 1983 as a student writer at the Rutgers University’s Daily Targum, with stops at the Trenton Times and Asbury Park Press before arriving at the Hartford Courant in 1989.

For the last 34 years, Lori has been a  consistent voice for both high school girls’ and women’s college athletics at the Hartford Courant. Her steadfast coverage and advocacy for coverage of women’s college basketball gave voice to the story of athletic excellence at the University of Connecticut. She was a primary  beat writer for the UConn women’s basketball team from 1997 to 2008, including chronicling their first appearance at the Final Four in 1991. In 2005, the Big East Conference recognized Lori’s contributions with a media award for Outstanding Contributions to Big East women’s basketball.

In recognition of her years of work as a sportswriter and columnist, Lori has been inducted into both the Connecticut Field Hockey and the Connecticut High School  Coaches Association Hall of Fames, while also being named the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame spotlight recipient. The Connecticut Field Hockey Coaches Association presented her with their Award for Service and Dedication to the Sport of Field Hockey. She is also a four-time winner of the Associated Press Sports Editor award and has received several recognitions for her work from the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference.

Outside her work as a journalist, Lori is proud that her children grew up watching her cover sports and going to sporting events with her. Her son currently carries her legacy through his work and service as a coach of girls’ high school basketball and soccer and as a fierce advocate for girls’ sports in Arizona.