San Antonio sports fans are mourning the death of Sovia Lauriano, better known as “The Spurs Lady,” after media reports confirmed her death Saturday following a heart attack.
Lauriano was a staple at the Frost Bank Center and within Spurs fandom circles. She was known for her elaborate Silver and Black outfits and her unwavering loyalty to San Antonio’s NBA team.
In a Sunday tweet, the Spurs described the two-decades-long season-ticket holder as a friend to many on staff and a familiar face within the team’s community.
“Sovie embodied the spirit of a true fan with her big smile and even bigger heart,” the team wrote. “She brought joy to everyone she met and will be deeply missed by the entire Spurs Family. May she rest in peace.”
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a statement that the city had lost an “irreplaceable thread in the fabric of our community.”
“Her presence brought joy to so many, and we will deeply miss her,” Nirenberg wrote on social media platform X.
A San Antonio native, Lauriano became a Spurs after attending her first game some 30 years ago. She loved the atmosphere of the stadium and the action on the court so much that she became a season-ticket holder the next day … or so local legend goes, according to the Express-News.
From traveling 2,000 miles to watch head coach Gregg Popovich be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023, to celebrating her 70th birthday with an official ceremony at San Antonio City Hall, Lauriano was a pillar of the community, District 5 City Councilwoman Teri Castillo said in a Facebook post.
The Lauriano family hasn’t publicly shared details of her funeral arrangements.
However, Lauriano told the Express-News during a 2022 interview that instead of a traditional funeral service, she wanted a Spurs-themed rolling rally when she died. She asked to be ferried to her final resting place in the bed of her Spurs-autographed pickup truck.
“When I die, that’s my wish,” she told the daily. “They’ll rally me onto my next destination. I want to go out as I live.”
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This article appears in Jan 8-21, 2025.