A Legend Gone too soon: Anne Donovan Dies at 56

By Taryn Plamann
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: June 21, 2018

Anne Donovan, the Indiana Fever’s first head coach, passed away on June 15, 2018. She was not only an incredible coach but also a remarkable player. She spent her years in Indianapolis establishing a team that could be serious contenders in the WNBA. Donovan was involved in the drafting of Tamika Catchings, quite possibly the greatest Fever player to ever play the game. She served as the interim head coach for the 2000 season, while Nell Fortner was coaching the Women’s USA Basketball team. This would not be the first time the two women have worked side by side to build a winning basketball program.

Playing with Team USA

Fortner isn’t the only one who found plentiful success with USA Basketball. Donovan found her success both as a player and a coach. She is a three-time Olympian, qualifying for the 1980, 1984, and 1988 Olympics. Team USA won the gold in two of the three Olympics they participated in. Due to the protests, Donovan was also a member of the 1983 team that competed in the World Championships against USSR. Although they lost to USSR from a buzzer beater shot, the Americans kept the score close throughout the game. This would not be the last time Donovan played USSR. They faced off in the 1986 World Championship match when some say Team USA was a clear winner and as it turns out, they were. Team USA won the match 108-88, and Donovan scored 16 points in that game.

Photo courtesy of The New York Times

Coaching Team USA

In 1998, Donovan was named an assistant coach for USA Basketball, under head coach Nell Fortner. The World Championship game of 1998 rolls around, and it is the USA against Russia once again fighting for the gold medal. Team USA was down by 9 points at halftime, and yet still won the game 71-65. Donovan took over as head coach for Team USA in 2006. Unfortunately for Donovan, the team was going through a hard transition as their top scorer, Lisa Leslie, was no longer on the team. In addition, many of the women on the squad could not practice with Team USA due to WNBA commitments. That year, USA faced Brazil in the bronze medal game and won 99-59.

Photo courtesy of Latestly.com

Awards and Honors

Donovan has been named to seven different halls of fame: ODU Sports Hall of Fame in 1988, CoSIDA All American Hall of Fame in 1994, Naismith Hall of Fame in 1995, Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999, New Jersey Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. In October of 2004, she was named the All-Time Women’s Basketball Player in the Sun Belt Conference. In addition to these honors on the court, she also received her honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Old Dominion University as a sign of appreciation for her work on and off of the court.