Tanisha Wright was named the seventh head coach in the history of the Penn State Basketball program on March 19. Wright enters her first season at the helm of the Lady Lions in 2026-27.
The Lady Lion legend returns to her alma mater after a decorated playing and coaching career in the WNBA. Most recently, she served as an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky in 2025. Prior to her stint in the Windy City, Wright spent three years as the head coach for the Atlanta Dream from 2021-24. With the Dream, she led her squad to back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 2013 in addition to three consecutive double-digit win seasons. Wright was named the AP Coach of the Year in 2022 following a 14-win season, the organization’s best mark since 2018. The four-year PSU letterwinner mentored Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray to consecutive All-Star appearances in 2022-23 and 2023-24 respectively. Along with Howard’s All-Star nod, Wright guided her to earning the 2022 WNBA Rookie of the Year, marking only the second in franchise history.
Wright secured her first coaching position in the WNBA as an assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces from 2020-21. During her time with the Aces, she helped lead the team to the WNBA Finals in 2020 and the semifinals in 2021, before landing her first head coaching position with the Dream.
Wright also has experience coaching at the national team level. She made her first appearance with USA Basketball as a court coach for women’s national team at the 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Antwerp, Belgium. Wright then served as a scout for the 2024 USA Basketball Women’s National Team at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The Pennsylvania native got her start in the coaching world as an assistant for University of North Carolina Charlotte, while still competing professionally. With the 49ers, she oversaw the development of the perimeter players and the guards.
Wright is a 19-year veteran spent 14 years playing in the WNBA after being drafted no. 12 overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2005 WNBA Draft. She spent 10 seasons in the Emerald City, helping her team to nine-straight playoff berths including a championship in 2010. The PSU icon made stops with the New York Liberty (2015-16, 2019) and the Minnesota Lynx (2018), before retiring from the league in 2019. Throughout her professional career, Wright secured multiple accolades, including WNBA All-Defensive first team honors on five occasions (2009-10, 2011, 2013-14) with the Storm and All-Defensive second team twice with the Liberty (2015-16). She helped the Storm to a WNBA Championship in 2010 and was recognized as one of the league’s elite perimeter defenders. The Lady Lion alumna also had stints playing professionally overseas in Israel, France, Poland and Turkey.
One of the most decorated players in program history, Wright led the Lady Lions to back-to-back Big Ten regular season titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances from 2001 to 2005, including trips to the Sweet 16 (2003) and Elite Eight (2004). In all four of her seasons in Happy Valley, Penn State finished ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, with a program-high No. 5 ranking in 2003-04. A three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Wright also earned three All-Big Ten First Team selections, Academic All-Big Ten honors, First Team USBWA All-American recognition and three AP All-American Honorable Mention accolades.
The West Mifflin, Pa. native suited up in a Blue & White jersey 134 times, the second-most games played by a Lady Lion in program history. She compiled 771 field goals throughout her collegiate career, which ranks fifth in the PSU record book in addition to 439 free throws. Wright was a renowned defender for the Lady Lions, grabbing 621 rebounds, 267 steals and 61 blocks. Throughout Wright’s sophomore and senior campaigns, the team went undefeated (16-0 in 2002-03 and 12-0 in 2004-05) at home in the Bryce Jordan Center.
Wright graduated from Penn State with a degree in elementary education in 2005.
THE WRIGHT FILE
Personal
Year at Penn State: 1st
Hometown: West Mifflin, Pa.
Education: Penn State, 2005 - B.A. Elementary Education
Coaching Career
2026-present: Penn State [Head Coach]
2025: Chicago Sky [Assistant Coach]
2021-24: Atlanta Dream [Head Coach]
2020: Las Vegas Aces [Assistant Coach]
2017: UNC Charlotte [Assistant Coach]
Playing Experience
2002-05: Penn State
2005-14: Seattle Storm [WNBA]
2015-16: New York Liberty [WNBA]
2018-19: Minnesota Lynx [WNBA]
2019: New York Liberty [WNBA]