Reports: Penn State hiring Tanisha Wright as coach

Field Level Media|published: Thu 19th March, 15:32 2026

Sep 22, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Atlanta Dream head coach Tanisha Wright during game one of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Penn State is hiring former Lady Lions star and current Chicago Sky assistant coach Tanisha Wright to be its next head coach, multiple outlets reported 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.

She 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.

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

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