This weekend, three legendary University of Virginia athletes will be officially inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. Craig Littlepage, Monica Wright Rogers, and Chris Long are all accomplished individuals who have left a lasting impact on the school.
Littlepage dedicated 35 years to the athletic department and an additional 9 years working with the men’s basketball program. During his time as Athletic Director from 2001-2017, he oversaw numerous accomplishments for the Cavaliers, including 13 National Championships and 76 ACC titles. He made key coaching hires that have continued to lead Virginia to success, such as Tony Bennett for men’s basketball and Brian O’Connor for baseball.
Wright Rogers was a standout player during her college career at Virginia. She was named the Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year in 2006 and went on to have an impressive professional career in the WNBA. Her performance earned her accolades such as ACC Player of the Year and National Defensive Player of the Year. In 2010, she was drafted second overall by the Minnesota Lynx.
Chris Long is another prominent athlete who has achieved great success during his time at Virginia. He is also a son of NFL Hall of Fame inductee Howie Long. Long excelled in football both on and off the field, earning him multiple Super Bowl wins throughout his career with teams such as New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys. His contributions to sports philanthropy earned him the Walter Payton Man of the Year title in 2018.
The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame aims to celebrate athletic excellence in the Commonwealth of Virginia by highlighting philanthropy through sports and providing engaging entertainment for sports fans. These three individuals are among
