BBC Homepage
  • Skip to content
  • Accessibility Help
  • Your account
  • Notifications
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • More menu
More menu
Search BBC
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
Close menu
BBC News
Menu
  • Home
  • InDepth
  • Israel-Gaza war
  • War in Ukraine
  • Climate
  • UK
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Culture
More
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Health
  • Family & Education
  • In Pictures
  • Newsbeat
  • BBC Verify
  • Disability
  • BBC Trending

This 98-year-old sports mascot nun is captivating Americans

  • Published
    27 March 2018
Share page
About sharing
Sister Jean celebrates her team win after defeating Kansas State Wildcats last weekendImage source, Getty Images
BBC UGC
& Social news

This is Sister Jean. She loves basketball. She is 98. And she is America's new darling.

Her full name is Sister Jean Dolores-Schmidt and she is the chaplain for American college basketball team Loyola University Chicago Ramblers.

The team are enjoying an unexpected run of wins in March Madness, the national university basketball tournament.

The nun, who leads the players in prayer from her wheelchair before a game, has been well-loved by Loyola fans for years, but gained the nation's attention during the team's success this season.

Her dedication to the team, the way she acts like the grandma everyone wants, but most of all her sass, are the keys to her stardom.

She does not just give spiritual guidance but doles out advice, coaching and analysis to the players, who reached the final four teams in the competition on Sunday.

Former US President and Illinois senator Barack Obama tweeted his congratulations to the team, name-checking Sister Jean of course.

This X post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on X
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip X post by Barack Obama

Allow X content?

This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of X post by Barack Obama

Tweets about Sister Jean routinely receive thousands of shares and likes. When she was named a "national sensation" last week, she pithily corrected the journalist, external: "Really, if I can correct you, international."

On Monday Loyola announced a series of merchandise bearing the Sister's name and image. You can now buy socks, t-shirts, bobbleheads, collectible toys, external and more emblazoned with her face and slogans.

You might also like:

  • Is the new anti-gun movement too white?

  • Russian girl becomes poison protest meme

  • US senators have snowball showdown

The nun's sweet appearance is a core part of her appeal.

This X post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on X
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip X post 2 by Whitney Medworth

Allow X content?

This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of X post 2 by Whitney Medworth

Many are interested in the chaplain's pre-fame life, as just a regular basketball fan and player. She was there the last time Loyola won the National Collegiate Athletic Association prize, more than half a century ago, in 1963.

This X post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on X
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip X post 3 by Timothy Burke

Allow X content?

This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of X post 3 by Timothy Burke

Some are concerned about what will happen to Sister Jean should Loyola Chicago not win the tournament.

This X post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on X
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip X post 4 by Adam Stites

Allow X content?

This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of X post 4 by Adam Stites

Her popularity is even adding to the popularity of Catholicism online, a phenomenon which Twitter account Lit Catholic Memes is keen to cash in on.

This X post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on X
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip X post 5 by Lit Catholic Memes

Allow X content?

This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of X post 5 by Lit Catholic Memes

In the absence of her own profile (Sister Jean reportedly does not have a social media account, external), parody pages are blossoming, some imagining the shade Sister Jean might throw at critics of her team, or the gifs she might tweet of herself.

This X post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on X
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip X post 6 by Sister Jean

Allow X content?

This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of X post 6 by Sister Jean

There are also the memes - some less kind than others - although most others tweet her motivational quotes.

This X post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on X
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip X post 7 by Madeline Kenney

Allow X content?

This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of X post 7 by Madeline Kenney

Some people have warned her to slow down - nightly TV appearances are bit much for your average person approaching 100 years old. But the nun doesn't show any signs of giving up the spotlight.

As long as Loyola-Chicago are still in the running to win March Madness, Sister Jean is going nowhere.

We'll find out on Saturday, external.

More on this story

  • What are the secrets of the superagers?

    • Published
      18 December 2017
  • Meet the housemates with a 68 year age gap

    • Published
      23 December 2017
    Alexandra and Florence
  • The UK's first male basketball cheerleader. Video, 00:02:14The UK's first male basketball cheerleader

    • Published
      24 February 2018
    2:14
    Terrell Lawrence

Top stories

  • Netanyahu divides Israelis and allies with plan to occupy Gaza

    • Published
      1 hour ago
  • Homelessness Minister Rushanara Ali quits over rent hike claims

    • Published
      30 minutes ago
  • Interest rates cut to lowest level in more than two years

    • Published
      6 hours ago

More to explore

  • Faisal Islam: Why has the Bank of England cut rates?

    Andrew Bailey, Bank of England governor, looks straight at the camera. he's wearing glasses and a dark suit.
  • Why Trump-Putin talks unlikely to bring rapid end to Ukraine war

    A composite image of Donald Trump on the left and Vladimir Putin on the right. Both men are wearing suits.
  • Extra-strong nicotine pouches packaged like children's sweets

    A photo of three small tubs of nicotine pouches. One is orange and has a picture of a smiling orange on the cover with loads of small oranges under neath the word Millions. It does not mention the word nicotine. The Candys pack is pink with colourful gummy bears on it. It says "Sweet nicopods".
  • The secret system Hamas uses to pay government salaries

    Armed members of Hamas stand in camouflage uniforms in front of a white car. Their faces are covered by balaclavas.
  • My 30-year-old world record 'not a good sign for athletics' - Edwards

    • Attribution
      Sport
    Jonathan Edwards celebrates after setting the triple jump world record in 1995
  • On Ukraine's front line, twisted wreckage shows sanctions haven't yet stopped Russia

    Dymtro Chubenko stands in front of a pile of Russian missile and drone parts
  • I have complex PTSD but waiting list means I've only seen psychiatrist once in 10 years

    Amy
  • How Europe is vying for rare earth independence from China

    Storage tanks and overhead pipes amid a bright blue sky at Solvay's rare earths processing facility in La Rochelle, western France
  • Summer Essential: Your family’s guide to the summer, delivered to your inbox every Tuesday

    concentric circles ranging from orange to yellow to represent the sun, with a blue sky background
loading elsewhere stories

Most read

  1. 1

    Waterstones apologises after readers brand event 'utter chaos'

  2. 2

    Homelessness Minister Rushanara Ali quits over rent hike claims

  3. 3

    Netanyahu divides Israelis and allies with plan to occupy Gaza

  4. 4

    Ex-Superman actor says he's becoming an ICE agent

  5. 5

    Cacio e pepe: Good Food pasta recipe sparks fury in Italy

  6. 6

    Daily weight loss pill could help patients lose 12% of body weight

  7. 7

    UK says British Steel's Chinese owners demanding millions

  8. 8

    Pair arrested after water sprayed at Orthodox Jews

  9. 9

    Faisal Islam: Why has the Bank of England cut rates?

  10. 10

    Interest rates cut to lowest level in more than two years

BBC News Services

  • On your mobile
  • On smart speakers
  • Get news alerts
  • Contact BBC News

Destination X

  • Your latest reality TV obsession has landed on iPlayer

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Destination X
  • Rob Brydon welcomes you to Destination X

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Destination X
  • Get on board and play along at home

    • Attribution
      Game
    Destination X Game
  • Where the X are they off to next?

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Destination X
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • Terms of Use
  • About the BBC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility Help
  • Parental Guidance
  • Contact the BBC
  • Make an editorial complaint
  • BBC emails for you

Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.