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Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Who is Megan McConnell? TJ McConnell's sister and rising WNBA star
You might already know T.J. McConnell as the tenacious guard for the Indiana Pacers, but there's another McConnell making her mark on the hardwood: his younger sister, Megan McConnell. Megan's journey to the WNBA didn't begin with glitz or viral mixtapes. It started in the gyms of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where her family name was already legendary. Her father, Tim McConnell, built a reputation as one of Pennsylvania's most respected high school coaches. Her aunt? None other than Suzie McConnell-Serio—Olympic gold medalist, WNBA standout, and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee since 2008. Basketball didn't just surround Megan—it practically raised her. Growing up in that kind of environment, the game wasn't a choice so much as a calling. But Megan never leaned on her last name. She earned her stripes the hard way. After five standout seasons at Duquesne University, Megan left behind a legacy that's hard to miss. Despite standing just 5-foot-7, she racked up eye-popping numbers: 1,795 career points (second in school history), a record-breaking 660 assists, 370 steals, and a whopping 1,079 rebounds. She was the kind of player who did everything—and then some. Her accolades speak volumes. Four triple-doubles. Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year. Three-time All-Academic team selection. And perhaps most impressively, she became only the third Duquesne women's basketball player ever to make a WNBA roster, following in the footsteps of Korie Hlede (1998) and Candace Futrell (2004). In June 2025, Megan signed a rest-of-season contract with the Phoenix Mercury—her second stint with the team after turning heads during training camp earlier that year. It was a big moment for her and for the McConnell family. Mike White, a Pittsburgh sportswriter, summed it up perfectly on X: 'Another chapter to the McConnell family story. It just keeps going. Last night, T.J. McConnell and the Indiana Pacers earned a spot in the NBA Finals. This morning, T.J.'s sister, Megan, signed with the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.' Megan didn't wait long to make her debut. Facing the Minnesota Lynx, she checked into her first official WNBA game and made it count—scoring 3 points, dishing out 3 assists, and hitting 50% from deep off the bench. For a moment, it felt like the beginning of something big. But just as the buzz began, a knee sprain late in the fourth quarter paused her momentum. Cruel timing, to be sure. Still, the Mercury kept her on the roster—a clear sign of belief in what she brings to the table. Because players like Megan don't coast on hype or pedigree. They claw for every second on the floor. Megan McConnell isn't just 'T.J. McConnell's sister.' She's a fierce competitor, a Duquesne legend, and a rising pro with the kind of grit that's impossible to ignore. Her debut may have been brief, but the impact? Undeniable.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA Team Makes Final Decision on Undrafted Rookie on Tuesday
WNBA Team Makes Final Decision on Undrafted Rookie on Tuesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As of early June, the Phoenix Mercury sit at a promising 5-2, holding the second spot in the fiercely competitive Western Conference, behind only the undefeated Minnesota Lynx (7-0). Advertisement Under second-year head coach Nate Tibbetts, the Mercury have established a defensive identity, forcing 16.3 turnovers per game (the best in the league) and allowing just 75.3 points per game (second-best overall). While offseason additions Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally have led the offense with 21.3 and 15.2 points per game, respectively, the team's collective effort has led to Phoenix's early success, highlighted by rookie contributions from Kathryn Westbeld, Monique Akoa Makani and Lexi Held. On Tuesday, the Mercury officially signed rookie Duquesne's Megan McConnell, sister of Indiana Pacers' T.J. McConnell, inking her to a one-year, $66,079 rookie contract, per Spotrac. Over in Pittsburgh, McConnell closed out one of the most decorated careers in Duquesne program history, finishing with 1,795 career points (second in school history). Advertisement McConnell also became Duquesne's all-time leader in assists (660) and steals (370) while her 144 games played rank as the program record, as do her 136 career starts and four career triple-doubles. During the 2024-25 season, McConnell averaged 18.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists and a nation-leading 4.1 steals per game, earning Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference honors from 2022 to 2025. Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts.© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Despite going undrafted in the 2025 WNBA Draft, McConnell caught the attention of several teams. Shortly after draft night, she accepted a training camp invitation from the Mercury. Now, she's staying in Phoenix on a one-year deal. Advertisement Related: Lexie Hull's Mother Sends Indiana Fever Message After Third Straight Loss Related: Dallas Wings Get Bad News on Monday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBS News
15-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Megan McConnell gets training camp invite from WNBA's Phoenix Mercury
Duquesne University's Megan McConnell has received a training camp invitation from the Phoenix Mercury and will now be looking to earn a roster spot in the WNBA. While McConell wasn't selected in Monday's WNBA Draft, her dreams of playing professional basketball are still alive and will report to training camp with the Mercury on Sunday, April 27. McConnell, who played at Duquesne University and Chartiers Valley, finished her college career with the Dukes in second place on the program's all-time scoring list. During her recently completed senior season at Duquesne, McConnell led the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring per game, total assists, and assists per game and was named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year. McConnell also led the entire nation in steals and was one of three players in all of Division I women's basketball to have multiple triple-doubles this past season. Success on the basketball court runs in the family for the McConnells. While Megan McConnell is hoping to earn a roster spot in the WNBA, her older brother T.J. played college basketball at Duquesne and Arizona and has carved out a successful career in the NBA, now in his 10th year playing professional basketball. Megan's other older brother Matty, played four years of college basketball at Robert Morris. Tim McConnell, the patriarch of the family, was one of the most successful basketball coaches in WPIAL history, winning 662 games in 29 seasons at Chartiers Valley with nine WPIAL titles. Six of those titles were coaching the boys team and three were with the girls team. He also won a state championship while coaching the girls team, which included daughter Megan on the roster.
