College and WNBA basketball star Heidi Burge Horton dies at 54

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 12:48 · Archive

Heidi Burge Horton, a college and WNBA player whose career inspired a Disney Channel movie, has died following a battle with brain cancer.

Heidi Burge Horton, a women's basketball star at the University of Virginia and later a WNBA player, has died at 54. The New York Post reports that she died Monday following a battle with brain cancer, with tumors returning in July after initial remission.

Horton and her twin sister Heather played for Virginia from 1989 to 1993, leading the Cavaliers to three Final Four appearances. The Daily Mail reports they also won three ACC championships. Virginia reached the national championship game in 1991, losing to Tennessee in overtime. The twins were born in Harbor City, California, and played together in high school before attending Virginia on scholarships. The New York Post reports they played alongside Basketball Hall of Famer and current South Carolina women's coach Dawn Staley.

After college, Horton played basketball overseas before joining the WNBA, spending time with the Sparks and the Mystics from 1997 to 1998. After retiring from professional play, she worked for the Houston Comets as a press and media broadcasting intern, and later became a physical therapist and private basketball coach. The 2002 Disney Channel movie 'Double Teamed' was based on Horton and her sister's basketball careers. Tributes came from the Virginia women's basketball program and Staley, who called Horton a cherished member of the Virginia family.

How it is being reported

• Former college basketball star Heidi Burge Horton, whose career inspired Disney movie, dead at 54A former University of Virginia women's college basketball player, who inspired a Disney Channel original movie, has died at the age of 54.Daily Mail Sport · 10 Oct, 12:29
• Heidi Burge Horton, college and WNBA star who inspired Disney movie, dead at 54She was 54.New York Post · 10 Oct, 03:36

In this story: Heidi Burge Horton · Heather Burge Horton · University of Virginia · WNBA · Dawn Staley · Disney Channel · Tennessee

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