For Megan Walker, the game of basketball was a world she was surrounded by for as long as she can remember. Growing up in Chesterfield, Virginia, Megan quickly became interested in playing the sport after watching her brother play and dad coach him. She had no idea that in just a few years, she would be living out her dream of playing basketball at the highest level. As she deepened her passion for the game, her skills on the court continued to strengthen more and more. Throughout her career at Monacan High School, Megan not only helped lead the team to three state championships, but she also earned an array of accolades that led her to become the nation's No.1 high school basketball player. This was only the beginning. She was determined to raise the bar on what was possible. She was committed to making her dreams of playing in the WNBA a reality. After graduating from high school, Megan continued her career at the University of Connecticut (UCONN)—an institution with the nation’s top basketball program. It wasn’t all smooth sailing though. During her freshman year, Megan faced a series of challenges that impacted her performance on the court. From having to adapt to the intensity of play at the collegiate level to learning how to balance life as a student-athlete, her transition from high school to college tested her resilience. Yet, she was locked in. She was committed to pushing through adversity and growing both on and off the court. Sure enough, she did just that.
By her junior year, Megan became the team’s leading scorer and had developed her skills on the court tremendously. Her hard work had paid off. It was then when she decided to take that next step in her career. She was ready to take that leap of faith and pursue her lifelong dream of playing in the WNBA. Megan decided to forgo her senior season at UCONN and enter the Draft. The rest is history! With the ninth pick in the first round of the 2020 WNBA Draft, the New York Liberty selected Megan. She had done it. She had achieved her dream of playing basketball at the highest level. Since then, Megan has completed her first season in the WNBA after heading to the bubble in Bradenton, Florida. As she continues her professional career, she is looking forward to elevating her game on the court, giving back to the community, and fostering a legacy in the league that will last for years to come. Her time is now.
During your time in high school, you won three state championships. Could you share more with us about what that experience was like as you continued your journey in the game?
Yeah! It’s kind of funny because I didn't go to my zone’s high school—I was in a specialty program for health and physical therapy. I went to Monacan (High School), and you know, they already had a great team and a great system so that really attracted me to the program and made me want to be a part of it. My freshman year we lost in the state semifinals, and then my sophomore, junior, and senior year we won (back-to-back titles) all three years. That experience was amazing. Just having all (of) my family, friends, and the community around me, you know, rallying and really pushing for us to win was great.
As you took that next step in your career and continued your collegiate journey at UCONN what went into making that decision? How do you think your game elevated throughout those three years?
That decision was kind of the same thing. You know, I always wanted to win. Having the opportunity to go to the No.1 program in the nation was definitely a no-brainer. Coach (Geno Auriemma) has an awesome program and an awesome system. He knows how to turn the best high school players into the best college players in the world, so that definitely attracted me (to UCONN). My game grew in a lot of ways—I slimmed down, I got quicker, faster, and stronger. One thing that grew the most there though was my mental space. I learned how to dominate, compete, and outwork my opponent.
"Having the opportunity to go to the No.1 program in the nation was definitely a no-brainer. Coach (Geno Auriemma) has an awesome program and an awesome system. He knows how to turn the best high school players into the best college players in the world, so that definitely attracted me (to UCONN)."
- Megan on what went into making the decision to take the next step in her basketball career and begin her collegiate journey at the University of Connecticut.
You decided to forgo your senior year and enter the WNBA Draft. What was the process of arriving at that decision to take that leap and pursue your dreams of playing professional basketball like?
Well first, it was really just conversations with my family. Then it was like, “You know you’ve put in the work this far and you’ve increased every year.” After that, it was just about wanting to fulfill my dreams—I didn’t want to leave anything on the table. Things aren’t promised, so I wanted to take advantage of that (mentality), fulfill my dream, and start building at the next level.
We have to talk about Draft Night! With the ninth pick in the first round of the 2020 WNBA Draft, you were selected by the New York Liberty. Could you take us through that experience of what it was like to finally achieve your dream of playing basketball professionally?
Looking back on it, it was a crazy experience. You know, just not having the traditional Draft Night in New York City (was crazy), but I was thankful that I could be at home with my family and my close friends. It was a hectic day, but at the end of it, I was excited that New York drafted me. I had a lot of fun. It really didn’t kick in until the next day (though) when I realized, “You just got drafted. You achieved one of your biggest goals.”
Not only are you embarking on your first year in the league, but you are also playing in the bubble. How has that transition of going from college to the league been like for you? What are some of the challenges that you have faced early on?