Why We Give: Victor and Lynne Brick

Victor and Lynne Brick became a part of the Maryland Women’s Basketball family in the late 1990s when their daughter, Victoria Brick-Zupancic, joined the team as a freshman following a storied career at local McDonogh High School. Now more than 25 years later, Victor and Lynne strengthened their connection to the Terps program with a $1 million donation to name the Vicki Brick-Zupancic Women's Basketball Locker Room at the Barry P. Gossett Basketball Performance Center and create the Vicki Brick-Zupancic Memorial Endowed Scholarship for Women’s Basketball. 

Brick-Zupancic, a staple of the women's basketball team for five years from 1999-2004, was a warrior both on and off the court. She passed away in April 2025 from ovarian cancer, surrounded by her family.

Now, because of the generous donation from her parents and their continued support of Maryland basketball, Victoria’s legacy will live on in the Vicki Brick-Zupancic Women's Basketball Locker Room.

“We thought, what better way to build on Vicki's legacy than to tie Vicki's name to the basketball program that she loved so much and that gave so much to her as she was giving so much to it,” Victor Brick said. “Hence the Vicki Brick-Zupancic Women's Basketball Locker Room at the new Barry P. Gossett Basketball Performance Center. After all, it was at Maryland that Vicki developed her credo, ‘Doubt is the killer of dreams’.”

It was a slogan her mom said she used not only at Maryland, but in her professional life, too. Lynne described the credo as Vicki’s “compass” and helped her focus on constantly improving every aspect of her life. 

“What we hope is that people get a little glimpse into the heart of Vicki Brick,” Victor said. “We think we may be able to accomplish this by having the locker room named after her.”

Both Lynne and Victor were on hand to celebrate the opening of Maryland’s new Barry P. Gossett Basketball Performance Center and were able to celebrate the stamp the Brick family has placed on Terrapins basketball. 

“We are so honored and excited to be able to have the naming rights for the women’s locker room,” Lynne said. “Vicki’s legacy will live on forever, not just for this year, but for every single season and every team. We are just thrilled to have this opportunity to make a living legacy for our daughter.”

As Maryland’s women’s basketball team got a look at its new facilities and locker room, head coach Brenda Frese took a moment to tell her roster about the legacy Vicki continues to make. 

“I want us to understand, even at a higher level, the significance of this locker room,” Frese said. “I think it’s important for us to understand who Vicki Brick was. I had the luxury of being able to coach her for two years. A rockstar. A winner. A warrior. I want us to understand every time we come into this locker room the significance of it and the impact she has on our Terp legacy.”

Brick played for the Terrapins from 2000-2004 and was named to the All-ACC Academic Team in all four years. She shot over 40 percent from the field in her career, averaging 5.7 points per game with 364 career assists. She was captain of the Terrapins in her senior year, helping them reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

“There are so many emotions that we feel,” Victor said. “We’re so proud of what Vicki did here and how she was thought of and how she will be remembered. We’re so proud that she was a Maryland Terp. We’re so invested in the University. Neither one of us went here, but we feel reconnected with the program.”

“If I had one message for the women’s basketball team this 2025-26 season, I would say ‘Never give up. Never give up. Never never never give up,” Lynne Brick said.

The love that Vicki had for Maryland basketball was shared with her family. Her time in College Park meant so much more to her than a college education or career.

“Vicki loved everything about the University of Maryland student-athlete experience,” Lynne said. “From academics to athletics and beyond, her beloved Terps became part of her DNA. Vicki also shared her U of M passion with her daughter, Jordan, who knows the Terp’s fight song by heart. Go Terps!”

Thanks to Victor and Lynne’s hearts for giving and love for Maryland Athletics, Vicki Brick-Zupancic will continue to be a staple of the program that’ll be able to press her “doubt is the killer of dreams” mantra on to future generations of Terps.