Love, Abby: UConn Huskies' forever bond with one magical fan - ESPN

ONE SATURDAY AFTERNOON last April, a group of UConn women's basketball players texted back and forth about that evening's party: what time they were leaving, what to wear, what the feel of the night would be. There was a spirited discussion about shoes. Few of them had ever been to a bat mitzvah before.

Dressed and ready, they caravaned out of campus with Paige Bueckers' car leading the way. When they arrived at the Jewish Community Center of West Hartford, Connecticut, about 40 minutes down the road, the festivities were in full swing. The Mexican food station was delectable. The centerpieces were brilliant. The line for the photo booth, where you could pose with assorted masks, feather boas and tiaras, was buzzing.

Even though UConn players are royalty in Connecticut — Bueckers is arguably the most famous athlete in the state — there was little fanfare. The bat mitzvah girl, Abby Zittoun, ran up to them with happiness and hugs, but also apologetically informed them she had to keep bouncing around so she could spend time with aunts and uncles and cousins and classmates and her other friends who had come that night, too.

The players nodded enthusiastically. They understood. This wasn't an appearance or community event. There were no coaches present, no administrators from the UConn athletic department. There was no PR person or team photographer telling them they should play with the kids now. They were, like everyone else, simply there to celebrate someone special. They were guests. (Really, really tall guests.)

So, they played cornhole. They ate tacos. They barraged the photo booth and filled their Instagram stories. They cheered during musical chairs and the scavenger hunt. Azzi Fudd sat at a table with the