Lady Lion legend Tanisha Wright will serve as Penn State Homecoming’s 2023 grand marshal, the organization announced at the annual “Be A Part From The Start” pep rally Sunday night.

Wright, a Lady Lion from 2001 to 2005, was a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-American throughout her time in Happy Valley.

Following her graduation from Penn State, Wright was drafted into the WNBA with the 12th overall selection by the Seattle Storm. Wright spent 14 seasons in the WNBA and averaged 7.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists across her career. She rostered with the Storm for 10 seasons, followed by stints with the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx.

The Brooklyn, New York, native jumped into coaching in 2017 with the Charlotte 49ers, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s women’s basketball team. Then, she moved into coaching in the WNBA in 2020 as an assistant with the Las Vegas Aces, where she remained for one season.

Wright was named the head coach of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream in 2021 and was named the AP WNBA Coach of the Year under a year later.

Homecoming 2023 will kick off on Sunday, October 8, and conclude on Saturday, October 14, at Penn State football’s matchup with UMass. The game is slated for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 14. This year’s theme, “Illuminate The Lion Within,” was announced at THON 2023. The logo was also unveiled at the Blue-White Game in April, too.

Wright will succeed David Taylor as last year’s Homecoming grand marshal.