It was a winter night in 1996, inside a community college gym, and who could’ve known that this would be the first crossing of paths for two Pittsburgh sports legends? Their story involved a playoff berth and a playoff birth.
Swin Cash was a super sophomore girls basketball player who led the McKeesport High School Tigers to a WPIAL playoff berth in 1996 as a section champion, only two years after the team won only four games. Suzie McConnell Serio was Oakland Catholic’s coach and the Eagles met McKeesport in a WPIAL first-round game at Community College of Allegheny County South.
Cash scored 27 points and hit the 1,000-point milestone in the process. Oakland Catholic won the game, 60-48, but McConnell Serio wasn’t around to see the finish. She went into labor during the contest, left for the hospital after the third quarter and later gave birth to her third child.
“Coaching against Swin put me into labor,” McConnell Serio said with a laugh recently.
Twenty-four years after that game, McConnell Serio and Cash cross paths again — at the top of the list for the greatest girls basketball players in Western Pennsylvania history.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first Post-Gazette Fabulous 5, an all-star team picked every year from all players in the WPIAL and City League. To celebrate the 40 years, the P-G decided to pick an “all-time” Fab 5 team. A committee of 13 current high school coaches in the district and seven current and former P-G scholastic sports staff members picked the team, voting for the top 20 players in order of preference. The No. 1 player got 20 points, the No. 2 received 19, and so on.
Either Cash or McConnell Serio (she was Suzie McConnell when she played at Seton LaSalle) finished No. 1 on every ballot. Cash had 13 first-place votes and McConnell Serio 8. Cash finished with 407 points and McConnell Serio 401.
Both Cash and McConnell Serio accomplished plenty in high school, but also did big things the rest of their careers — in college, in the WNBA and even on the international stage in the Olympics.
But the all-time Fab 5 is one special group of players who did plenty of winning. The other three are West Mifflin’s Tanisha Wright, Hopewell’s Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Allderdice’s Edna Campbell. How’s this for a successful group?: All five played in the WNBA, three won WNBA championships (Cash, Wright and Walker-Kimbrough), two won Olympic gold medals (Cash and McConnell Serio), one won two NCAA titles (Cash) and two are in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (Cash and McConnell-Serio).
Here is a look at the “all-time” Fab 5 (in parentheses are the years they made the Fab 5) in order of voting:
1. SWIN CASH, McKEESPORT (1996-97-98)
Swintayla Cash was once a finalist for homecoming queen at McKeesport High School and she went on to win many crowns in basketball. It’s not an overstatement to say Cash is one of the most accomplished players in the history of women’s basketball. She is one of only six women to ever win NCAA, WNBA and FIBA world championships and also an Olympic gold medal (she actually won two). She also was selected this year to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
But it all started for Cash back in those McKeesport days. She was so athletic that she tried track for the first time as a McKeesport senior — and won a WPIAL hurdles championship.
Growing up in the projects, Cash went on to become a freshman phenom at McKeesport in the 1994-95 season, averaging 18 points a game. She was a Post-Gazette Fab 5 pick as a sophomore and finished her career with amazing statistics: 2,678 points, 1,782 rebounds, 566 blocks and 399 steals. She had 15 triple doubles, scored 50 in a game and had 40 in a WPIAL championship. As a senior, she averaged 29 points, 17 rebounds, 5 blocks and 4 steals.
Then came two NCAA championships at Connecticut. She was the No. 2 pick in the 2002 WNBA draft, won three WNBA titles and was a five-time WNBA All-Star.
Cash went on to do some modeling, television work and was hired last year as the vice president of basketball operations and team development for the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans.
2. SUZIE McCONNELL, SETON LASALLE (1982-83-84)
Gloss over McConnell’s many accomplishments and statistics, and maybe one fact gives the best indication of how unique McConnell was as a player. Until a couple years ago, McConnell was tied for the most triple doubles in the history of NCAA Division I basketball. This from a 5-foot-4 point guard.
“Some of those triple doubles were points, rebounds and assists, but sometimes they were with steals,” said McConnell, who had seven career triple doubles at Penn State.
In the past few years, Lamar’s Chastadie Barrs and Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu passed McConnell on the triple double list. But McConnell still holds NCAA records for career assists (1,307) and assists in a season (11.8). In 2007, Sports Illustrated named her the best 5-4 basketball ever, male or female.
At Seton LaSalle, McConnell was the first three-time Fab 5 selection. She had 1,898 career points (20.9 average as a senior), 909 assists, 766 steals, won WPIAL titles and a PIAA title, and was a Parade All-American.
“I do remember going to the Post-Gazette to get pictures taken and I remember it definitely being a special honor being selected [to the Fab 5],” McConnell said. “But when you look at individual awards, you don’t accomplish them without good teammates or coaches.”
After Penn State, McConnell won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic Team in 1988 and went on to play three years in the WNBA, making first-team all-WNBA one season.
McConnell went on to become a high school coach and also coached at Duquesne University and Pitt. She spent the past season as an assistant coach for her husband, Pete Serio, with the Upper St. Clair girls team.
3. TANISHA WRIGHT, WEST MIFFLIN (2000-01)
Wright was still playing in the WNBA last year at age 35. She is now an assistant coach at North Carolina Charlotte. Wright, who played 13 years in the WNBA, is only the ninth player in league history with 3,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,200 assists.
“I think I’m done playing,” Wright said. “It’s not something I’m officially announcing because it’s not just my style. I enjoyed an amazing career at that level and done some things I’ll always remember. The things I’ve been able to experience, the lifelong friends I’ve made, I’m super thankful I’ve been able to live a lifelong dream.”
Wright is good friends with Cash, and Wright was a bridesmaid in Cash’s wedding five years ago. Wright and Cash were teammates in 2010 when the Seattle Storm won a WNBA championship.
“Without tooting my own horn, I’m not sure many people from [Western Pennsylvania] had the type of career I had, outside of the two [McConnell and Cash] ahead of me,” Wright said.
At West Mifflin, Wright had a memorable career — and a most memorable game. She finished with 2,477 points, 1,100 rebounds and 594 assists and scored a record 51 points in a WPIAL championship game as a junior.
She went on to play at Penn State, where she averaged in double figures all four years and averaged 19 as a senior.
4. SHATORI WALKER-KIMBROUGH, HOPEWELL (2011-12-13)
You could make an argument for Walker-Kimbrough being the most successful three-sport athlete in the history of the WPIAL. How many can say they won WPIAL team championships in two different sports and also individual titles in another sport?
Walker-Kimbrough won three WPIAL individual track and field championships in the long jump and triple jump. She also won team titles in volleyball and basketball. Walker-Kimbrough was recruited by Division I colleges for volleyball, but basketball eventually became her thing.
She was a two-time Post-Gazette Player of the Year, averaged 27.5 points a game as a senior and finished her career with 2,427 points. She was heavily recruited and went on to have a terrific career at Maryland, where she scored more than 2,000 points and was on two Final Four teams.
She was a first-round pick in the WNBA draft and won a WNBA title last year with the Washington Mystics.
5. EDNA CAMPBELL, ALLDERDICE (1985-86)
This should tell you how good Edna Campbell was playing for Allderdice in the City League: When Campbell was a senior, USA Today named her one of the top five players in the country. So, Campbell was an easy choice for the Fab 5 — twice. As a senior, she averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 7 steals and had 40 points in a PIAA playoff game against Seton LaSalle.
“I do remember the Fab 5,” Campbell said with a chuckle. “As a young player, to be seen that way and recognized, those were monumental highlights.”
Campbell went on to much success in basketball and life. She beat breast cancer — and then returned to playing in the WNBA.
“Any individual should be proud of their accomplishments,” Campbell said. “But here’s the real deal: Life is riddled with challenges and adversity. People who succeed demonstrate perseverance, will, desire — all those great adjectives — in order to achieve their goal. I’m thankful where I am and the people who have been in my life throughout the course of the journey.”
After high school, Campbell played at Maryland before transferring to Texas and leading the team to the Elite Eight of the 1990 NCAA tournament. She went on to play in the WNBA and averaged 13 points one season.
Campbell now lives in Sacramento, runs a breast cancer recovery program and is a nurse. She also has coached high school basketball and gives private workouts to players.
FAN VOTING FOR FAB 5
When a committee of coaches and media members voted for the top 20 girls basketball players in the WPIAL and City League over the past 40 years, former Blackhawk star Chassidy Omogrosso didn’t make the cut. But fans think much higher of Omogrosso.
This is the 40-year anniversary of the first Post-Gazette Fabulous 5 all-star team. To commemorate the anniversary, a committee of coaches and current and former P-G scholastic sports staff members picked an “all-time” Fab 5, as well as a top 20. The committee selections will be the “official” all-time Fab 5. But the P-G also had an online poll for fans to vote for five players, with no order of preference.
A total of 668 fans voted and Omogrosso finished No. 3 in the fan vote, behind only McKeesport’s Swin Cash and Seton LaSalle’s Suzie McConnell. Cash and McConnell also finished 1-2 in the committee vote. Omogrosso was third, appearing on 37% of the ballots.
Omogrosso had a tremendous career at Blackhawk and finished her career at Duquesne University in 2019. Former Oakland Catholic standout Meg Bulger finished sixth in the fan voting, but also didn’t make the top 20 in the committee vote. Bulger’s sister, Katie, finished fifth in the fan vote.
Here are the top 10 players in fan voting, with the percentage of ballots they appeared on:
1. Swin Cash, McKeesport 72.6%
2. Suzie McConnell, Seton LaSalle 63.3%
3. Chassidy Omogrosso, Blackhawk 37%
4. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Hopewell 34.3%
5. Katie Bulger, Oakland Catholic 25.9%
6. Meg Bulger, Oakland Catholic 25.3%
7. Gina Naccarato, Monessen 25.3%
8. Makenna Marisa, Peters Township 16.6%
8. (tie) Kamela Gissendanner, Clairton 16.6%
10. Tanisha Wright, West Mifflin 14.4%
40 YEARS OF FAB 5s
The Post-Gazette started picking a Fabulous 5 girls basketball all-star team in 1980. It consists of the top five players in the WPIAL and City League. Here are the Fab 5 teams from the past 40 years.
2020: Lizzy Groetsch, North Allegheny; Megan McConnell, Chartiers Valley; Aislin Malcolm, Chartiers Valley; Mackenzie Amalia, Blackhawk; Tess Myers, North Catholic.
2019: Makenna Marisa, Peters Township; Tess Myers, North Catholic; Mackenzie Wagner, Chartiers Valley; Shamyjha Price, Bishop Canevin; Rachel Martindale, North Allegheny
2018: Alexa Williamson, Chartiers-Houston; Amani Johnson, East Allegheny; Makenna Marisa, Peters Township; Bella Posset, Beaver; Rachel Martindale, North Allegheny.
2017: Amani Johnson, East Allegheny; Amanda Kalin, Pine-Richland; Sam Breen, North Catholic; Desiree Oliver, Penn Hills; Sierra Kotchman, Trinity.
2016: Amanda Kalin, Pine-Richland; Sam Breen, North Catholic; Emily Anderson, South Fayette; Desiree Oliver, Penn Hills; Alayna Gribble, Norwin.
2015: Chassidy Omogrosso, Blackhawk; Brenna Wise, Vincentian; Sydney Bordonaro, Burrell; Connor Richardson, Carlynton; Alayna Gribble, Norwin.
2014: Brenna Wise, Vincentian; Chassidy Omogrosso, Blackhawk; Yacine Diop, Seton-LaSalle; Erin Mathias, Fox Chapel; Sydney Bordonaro, Burrell.
2013: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Hopewell; Ciara Gregory, Jeannette; Erin Mathias, Fox Chapel; Chassidy Omogrosso, Blackhawk; Shelby Lindsay, South Park.
2012: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Hopewell; Destiny Brown, Gateway; Naje Gibson, Seton-LaSalle; Erin Waskowiak, Bishop Canevin; Ciara Gregory, Jeannette.
2011: Madison Cable, Mt. Lebanon; Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Hopewell; Val McQuade, Shaler; Alexa Hayward, Blackhawk; Belma Nurkic, Baldwin.
2010: Belma Nurkic, Baldwin; Madison Cable, Mt. Lebanon; Olivia Bresnahan, Butler; Paige Alviani, Hopewell; Jen Papich, Fox Chapel.
2009: Emily Correal, Peters Township; Emily Miller, Mt. Lebanon; Markel Walker, Schenley; Olivia Bresnahan, Butler; Lily Grenci, Mars.
2008: Darche Jackson, Penn Hills; Emily Correal, Peters Township; Jamie Smith, Woodland Hills; Jackie Babe, Mt. Lebanon; Alex Gensler, Upper St. Clair.
2007: Ashley Henderson, Greensburg Central Catholic; Erica Prosser, Oakland Catholic; Vanessa Abel, Southmoreland; Jaleesa Sams, New Castle; Shayla Scott, Gateway.
2006: Jaleesa Sams, New Castle; Ashley Henderson, Greensburg Central Catholic; Amy Johns, McKeesport; Aysha Jones, Oakland Catholic; Joyce Novacek, Hopewell.
2005: Brianne O'Rourke, Oakland Catholic; Rachel Frederick, North Catholic; Eve Pyle, Oakland Catholic; Danielle Gratton, Bethel Park; Dominique Duck, Schenley.
2004: Charel Allen, Monessen; Jocelyn Chandler, Uniontown; Lauren Revesz, Chartiers Valley; Nia Capuano, Moon; Meagan Cowher, Fox Chapel.
2003: Charel Allen, Monessen; Loui Hall, Albert Gallatin; Erin Wigley, Moon; Kamela Gissendanner, Clairton; Meg Bulger, Oakland Catholic.
2002: Meg Bulger, Oakland Catholic; Carmen Bruce, Schenley; Kamela Gissendanner, Clairton; Loui Hall, Albert Gallatin; Erin Wigley, Moon.
2001: Tanisha Wright, West Mifflin; Amy Kunich, Oakland Catholic; Kacy O’Brien, Carlynton; Jess Strom, Steel Valley; Kamela Gissendanner, Clairton.
2000: Katie Bulger, Oakland Catholic; Jess Strom, Steel Valley; Tanisha Wright, West Mifflin; Ashlee Kelly, Mt. Lebanon; Jessica Brungo, North Allegheny.
1999: Katie Bulger, Oakland Catholic; Jen Sobota, Latrobe; Lisa Miller, Blackhawk; Brooke Stewart, East Allegheny; Beth Friday, Upper St. Clair.
1998: Christal White, Mount Alvernia; Val Zona, Blackhawk, Cindy Dallas, Schenley; Katie Bulger, Oakland Catholci; Swin Cash, McKeesport
1997: Swin Cash, McKeesport; Erin Huth, North Allegheny; Cindy Dallas, Schenley; Korie Morton, Woodland Hills; Val Zona, Blackhawk.
1996: Gina Naccarato, Monessen; LynnDee Howell, Penn Hills; Swin Cash, McKeesport; Kim Seaver, Mt. Lebanon; Michelle Katkowski, Mount Pleasant.
1995: Mandy West, Upper St. Clair; Catherine Jacob, Penn Hills; Shauntai Hall, Albert Gallatin; Gina Naccarato, Monessen; Jackie Porac, North Catholic.
1994: Mandy West, Upper St. Clair; Sherri Hannan, North Allegheny; Julie Moehring, Avonworth; Gina Naccarato, Monessen; Jackie Porac, North Catholic.
1993: Mandy West, Upper St. Clair; Gina Naccarato, Monessen; Erin Miller, Oakland Catholic; Monique McCoy, Penn Hills; Missy Thompson, West Mifflin.
1992: Elizabeth Proudfit, Washington; Lisa Vizzocca, Shaler; Kim Calhoun, Penn Hills; Colleen Brady, Moon; Denise Gallo, Connellsville.
1991: Shane Bartha, Apollo-Ridge; Kim Calhoun, Penn Hills; Stephanie Gonzales, Shady Side Academy; Kelly Malins, Ambridge; Elizabeth Proudfit, Washington.
1990: Carrie Bordas, Aliquippa; Carla Coleman, McKeesport; Jonna Huemrich, Bethel Park; Bonnie Rimkus, Carlynton; Jenine Joyce, Penn Hills.
1989: Shannon Davis, Sacred Heart; Jonna Huemrich, Bethel Park; Carrie Bordas, Aliquippa; Cathy Torchia, St. Francis; Molly Larkin, North Catholic.
1988: Shannon Davis, Sacred Heart; Julie Jones, Laurel Highlands; Molly Larkin, North Catholic; Leatha Dudeck, Butler; Karen Donley, Trinity.
1987: Shannon Davis, Sacred Heart, Wendy Brink, Butler; Angie Kirkland, Beaver Falls; Connie Hurt, Penn Hills; Tanya Garner, West Mifflin.
1986: Edna Campbell, Allderdice; Lorri Johnson, New Castle; Connie Hurt, Penn Hills; Diane Dobrich, Elizabeth Forward; Angie Kirkland, Beaver Falls.
1985: Maureen Conley, Mount Alvernia; Lorri Johnson, New Castle; Edna Campbell, Allderdice; Joy Jeter, Beaver Falls; Kathy McConnell, Seton-LaSalle.
1984: Suzie McConnell, Seton-LaSalle; Karen Hall, Mount Alvernia; Maureen Conley, Mount Alvernia; Stacey Williams, Westinghouse; Joann Beatty, Gateway.
1983: Suzie McConnell, Seton-LaSalle; Lisa Faloon, Brashear; Maureen Conley, Mount Alvernia; Vida Kernich, Baldwin; Mimi Reiber, Chartiers Valley.
1982: Suzie McConnell, Seton-LaSalle; Kim Tirik, Ambridge; Jane Plake, Serra; Kim Gannis, Brentwood; Allison Daniel, Langley;
1981: Kim Tirik, Ambridge; Diane Walker, Oliver; Karen Hosek, Shaler; Leigh Curl, North Hills; Sally Anderson, Thomas Jefferson.
1980: Mary Myers, Allderdice; Wanda Holloway, Sharon; Brenda Larrimer, Shaler; Shelly Klinek, Norwin; Nancy Dugan, North Catholic.
First Published: April 10, 2020, 10:00 a.m.