(Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)

Penn State hired former Lady Lions star and current Chicago Sky assistant coach Tanisha Wright to be its next women's basketball coach on Thursday.

Wright, 42, starred at the school from 2001-05, winning three Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year awards and earning three all-conference first-team selections as a shooting guard while reaching four NCAA Tournaments.

'Penn State women's basketball has a proud history, a strong tradition and a standard of excellence,' athletic director Dr. Patrick Kraft said in a news release. 'Tanisha Wright embodies everything this program stands for. She is one of the greatest to ever wear a Lady Lion uniform, and she went on to spend 19 years competing and coaching at the highest level of women's professional basketball, including winning a championship as a player.

'She knows what winning looks like, she knows what it demands and she understands what our fans and this university expect on the court, in the classroom and in the community. As we begin this exciting new chapter with Coach Wright at the helm, her leadership, experience and deep connection to Penn State will be instrumental in building upon our proud tradition and returning this program to the national stage where it belongs.'

Wright replaces Carolyn Kieger, who was fired two weeks ago after compiling an 84-123 record in seven seasons at Penn State. The team was 11-18 this season, including 4-14 in the Big Ten.

'Penn State will always be home to me, and it is an incredible honor to return to this program as head coach,' Wright said. 'This University shaped me as a student athlete, and I understand the pride, tradition and expectations that come with wearing the Lady Lion uniform. I'm grateful to President Bendapudi, Pat Kraft and the entire Penn State community for their trust. I'm excited to invest in our student-athletes, compete at the highest level and build a program that reflects the values, toughness and excellence that define Penn State women's basketball.'

Wright was a first-round pick (12th overall) in the 2005 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm. She played 14 seasons in the league, averaging 7.3 points, 3.1 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 457 games (304 starts) with three teams. She made seven WNBA All-Defensive teams and won a title with the Seattle Storm in 2010.

Wright was the head coach of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream from 2022-24, compiling a 48-68 record with two playoff appearances.

After starting her coaching career in the collegiate ranks as an assistant at Charlotte (2017-21), she also worked as an assistant in the WNBA with the Las Vegas Aces (2020-21).

--Field Level Media