Swin Cash can still dominate the floor at McKeesport High School’s Neenie Campbell Gym more than 30 years after she played her first varsity game for the Tigers.
When she stood in front of the packed bleachers on Monday night in a stylish grey suit, she did so like she owned the place. But this time, her signature move wasn’t a crossover dribble-drive to the basket. It was her actual signature on the floor.
Nearly 30 years after Cash led McKeesport’s girls basketball team to its only WPIAL Class 4A title as a senior in 1998, the WNBA Hall of Famer had the school recognize her by naming the court after her. The facility will now carry the moniker Swim Cash Court at Neenie Campbell Gym at McKeesport Founders Hall Middle School.
Cash has her actual signature on both sides of the court, which is something she was proud to share with her community, family and former teammates, as the 1998 WPIAL championship team reunited for the event.
“It’s so crazy. That team was special,” Cash said. “It makes me want to find a way to get together and celebrate because it’s been a long time. I’m glad the high school was able to do this and bring us together because it makes you realize how much you have to tap back into your roots.”
One of the first people Cash spoke with when the school was putting this together was athletic director Charlie Kiss, who graduated with Cash.
“We were most athletic male and female in the Class of ’98, and it was cool that she mentioned that in her speech,” Kiss said. “It is all about where you came from and the people that you grew up with. You kind of lose touch a little bit from time to time, but that kind of brings it full circle.”
It's not like Cash has ever drifted far away from her roots. When she was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022, she brought the McKeesport girls basketball team with her to the ceremony.
“The biggest things in my life came about when I was exposed to other things,” Cash said. “Being able to partner with the city and have the ladies come to the Hall of Fame, hopefully it planted a seed and they continue to water it. Coming back here and seeing the girls go so hard and playing Lady Tiger basketball, it brings pride and joy to my heart.”
Even 27 years after graduating from McKeesport, Cash remains one of the greatest WPIAL players to ever lace them up.
When she graduated, her 2,678 career points were second in WPIAL history behind only Monessen’s Gina Naccarato. She still ranks eighth all-time — she dropped down a spot last week after she was passed by Clairton senior Iyanna Wade — was a three-time Post-Gazette Fab 5 pick (1996-98) and was selected No. 1 on the Post-Gazette 40th anniversary all-time Fab 5 team in 2020.
As a senior on the court now named for her, she averaged 29.6 points, 17 rebounds, 5.7 blocks 3.1 assists, four steals and scored 40 in the team’s 69-52 win against North Allegheny in the WPIAL championship game.
After leaving McKeesport, she went onto a stellar career at UConn, where she won two NCAA women’s basketball titles under Geno Auriemma and was the No. 2 pick in the 2002 WNBA draft. She played 15 years in WNBA, where she won three titles as well as Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2012.
She currently works as the senior vice president of basketball operations and team development for the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans.
Now, in the very place where her retired No. 32 hangs on a brick wall high above the entrance to the locker rooms, she has the home court at her high school named after her.
“I couldn’t think of a better person to name it after because her accolades and her accomplishments speak for themselves,” Kiss said. “We should probably name more stuff after her, to be honest with you.”
Panthers silently prowling
It’s not a stretch to say Class 5A may be the best classification in the WPIAL this year.
Don’t believe it? Think about this: Penn-Trafford is one of only three undefeated teams in the WPIAL and is the only one that is not ranked No. 1 in its classification. The Warriors are actually No. 3 behind South Fayette and Peters Township.
As tight as things are top to bottom, surprisingly, each of the four sections has a first-place team that has not lost to a section opponent in Peters Township, South Fayette, Penn-Trafford and Franklin Regional, which may be one of the best kept secrets in the classification.
“I love the underdog role so much. I’ll take that any day of the week,” Franklin Regional coach Bernie Pucka said. “Being undefeated in the section are words I didn’t want to use all season because I didn’t want to jinx us, but we’ve been in that underdog role all season.”
Franklin Regional doesn’t have anyone averaging more than 15 points per game but has a solid team built around senior point guard Madison DeRiggi.
“I can’t say enough about her,” Pucka said. “Her creativity with the ball makes her fun to watch.”
A very busy week
There are times when things get moved around and rescheduled, but very few teams put together a week like Greensburg Central Catholic.
In a six-day span from Jan. 23 to Jan. 28 the Centurions played five games — their only off day was Sunday — and put together five consecutive victories in that stretch.
Not only did Greensburg Central Catholic win, it dominated. The Centurions averaged 62.0 points, held three of their opponents under 20 points and only allowed more than 30 once, in a 59-40 Class 3A Section 2 win against Avonworth.
Down to the wire
With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, there are still playoff berths to be had a section titles to be decided.
With that in mind, here are a few huge games that could have a huge impact on the standings in the last days of the regular season:
• Mt Lebanon at Norwin, Thursday at 7:30 p.m. If Norwin wins out, it will win the Class 6A Section 2 title. But the Blue Devils are always a tough out and have a tendency to play well in a spoiler role.
• Thomas Jefferson at Peters Township, Monday at 6 p.m. The Indians won the first meeting between the two, 52-39, on Dec. 12 and it wasn’t even that close. The Jaguars are 10-1 since that time with their only loss coming against Upper. St. Clair.
• Shady Side Academy at Greensburg Central Catholic, Monday at 7:30 p.m. This one will be for the Class 3A Section 2 title and, possibly, the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. The unbeaten Bulldogs won the first meeting handily, 62-33, but the Centurions have won their last six.
• Franklin Regional at Shaler on Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m. The Panthers took the first meeting, 54-48, on Jan. 13, but the Titans have reeled off five consecutive victories since. Shaler coach Tony Grenek always has something up his sleeve for such occasions.
First Published: January 29, 2025, 2:17 p.m.
