Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Stephanie Kaloi

Athletes bring colleges prestige and money. What are they owed when they graduate?

Hakeem Olajuwon’s attempts to celebrate Houston’s Final Four win gained widespread publicity.
Hakeem Olajuwon’s attempts to celebrate Houston’s Final Four win gained widespread publicity. Photograph: Logan Riely/NBAE/Getty Images

Two very different scenarios – a long-awaited title and a dramatic upset – unfolded in San Antonio and Tampa last weekend. UConn’s women’s basketball team won their first national title in almost 10 years and Houston’s men pulled off a stunning comeback victory over Duke in the Final Four.

Both teams were well supported by alumni, including former Huskies Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, and Sue Bird. Taurasi and Bird were on broadcast duties, but Moore and Stewart were in the stands during UConn’s victory and breezed on to the court to celebrate the win. Meanwhile, Hakeem Olajuwon, who played college basketball at Houston before embarking on his Hall of Fame NBA career, was in town to cheer on the Cougars. But unlike the former Huskies, Olajuwon was denied permission to celebrate with his former college on court after their win over Duke.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.