WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Final Four-bound UofL women get fitting welcome home

Final Four-bound UofL women get fitting welcome home

By Connie Leonard - bio | email
Posted by Charles Gazaway - email

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - The University of Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team is headed to St. Louis. The Cardinals got an impressive win over top-seeded Maryland Monday night and are making history with their first Final Four appearance. Louisville surprised a lot of people giving the nation's third ranked team, its worst tournament loss in 12 years. 

Tuesday, the Cardinals got a fitting welcome home. As a big crowd of fans began to gather outside the Student Activities Center, men's head basketball Coach Rick Pitino led his press conference with a salute to the ladies.

"We're real excited about what the women accomplished and the way they did it," Pitino told reporters.

Pitino said the women's road to the Final Four that included winning at LSU, beating Baylor and then taking down Maryland, one of the country's top teams, 77-60 has been impressive. Longtime fans agree. 

"I'm enjoying every minute of it, I love it," said Joyce Whittaker, who has followed the Cardinal women when people didn't even realize Louisville had a women's team. Whittaker said she is extremely proud of the women.

"This has been a long hard road, but this coach is really good," Whittaker said.

Right on cue, the team bus turned the corner. While Whittaker got hugs from the players, senior stars Candyce Bingham and Angel McCoughtry savored the moment. 

"This is great, it's the Final Four," said McCoughtry.

Bingham added, "It's great, I mean awesome you know, for Angel and I as seniors to be here and making history just to be a part of it this is great." 

UofL head coach Jeff Walz is a former Maryland assistant who was part of the Terrapins National Championship team 3-years ago. He says the effort he got from so many of his players Monday night was reminiscent of that time.

"It showed a lot of people out there that we're more than a one person team and that's what I was so excited for because a lot of our kids stepped up and played so well," said Walz.

Now, the Cardinal women are hopeful faithful fans like Whittaker will follow. 

"This would be great," Bingham said. "I hope they all come out to St. Louis and support us." 

Whittaker went to get her tickets. "Oh yeah, I'm going." 

Sunday night at Scottrade Center in downtown St. Louis, Louisville will play the winner of Tuesday night's Oklahoma/Purdue game. But first, they will get a proper Final Four send off Wednesday, beginning at 5:30 at Fourth Street Live. The pep rally will include the U of L cheerleaders, band, and the Lady Birds dance team.

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