‘Nova Nation no longer has to imagine a 2023-2024 women’s basketball program in the total absence of Maddy Siegrist, the star forward who brought her talents to the WNBA after graduating last year.
On Oct. 26, Villanova Vice President and Director of Athletics Mark Jackson released news that Siegrist would be joining the Villanova Athletics staff as the Special Assistant to the Senior Women’s Administrator (SWA).
Siegrist’s duties in this newly created role will focus on the promotion, branding and marketing of women’s basketball. Siegrist will work to grow both the program and its fan base alongside SWA Lynn Tighe, while collaborating with Athletics Marketing, Ticket Office, Legends, Villanova Athletic Fund and Alumni Relations.
“We warmly welcome back to campus one of the best ever to wear the Villanova uniform,” Jackson said to Villanova Athletics. “Maddy is a generational talent who we had the privilege to watch in the Blue and White, but she is an even better person than she is a player. I am eagerly looking forward to watching her grow into this role as an ambassador for our women’s basketball program and for our department.”
Siegrist will be a highly valued member of the women’s basketball staff after an illustrious Villanova career and her recently completed rookie season with the Dallas Wings.
Siegrist led the Wildcats through a historic 2022–2023 Sweet 16 run. Her record-breaking four years with the program resulted in a total of 2,896 points and recognition as the Big East conference’s all-time leading scorer.
While returning to Villanova to take on this new position, Siegrist will continue playing for the Wings, where she began her professional career earlier this year. She appeared in 39 games, averaging 3.7 points. The WNBA offseason lasts from September until May. Many players choose to play abroad during the offseason, but Siegrist has instead chosen to return to the Main Line.
“It is a very exciting day for our entire program to have Maddy joining Villanova Athletics in this new role,” women’s basketball head coach Denise Dillon said to Villanova Athletics. “Even while we were watching her set one record after another these past few years, we knew that her accomplishments on the court were only the beginning of the lifelong connection she will have to Villanova Women’s Basketball. Maddy is as special off the court as she is on it, and I can’t wait to see the contributions she will continue to make to our University.”
Just days before the announcement, Siegrist surprised fans with an appearance at the Finn during Hoops Mania to unveil the Sweet 16 2022 banner. As cheers erupted the stadium with Siegrist’s entrance, it is certain that ‘Nova Nation will be excited to see the return of a Wildcat legend.
