Card, Basketball
Object number2023.175.2
Manufacturer
Fleer Corporation
Date2000
OriginUnited States of America
MediumPaper; Ink
Credit LineHeinz History Center Collection
DescriptionRectangular paper basketball collecting card in portrait orientation. Front depicts full body color photographic image of player in basketball uniform dribbling an orange and white basketball; background is basketball court with fans and seats in the background; player, team, and maker names along bottom. Reverse has bust color photographic image of player on the viewer's left with team logo, card number, and player name and stats on the viewer's right half; maker information printed along the bottom; background is blue and white with radiating white gridlines.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 3.5 x 2.5 x 0.031 in. (8.9 x 6.4 x 0.1 cm)InscriptionsFront has printed text along the bottom "SUZIE / McCONNELL SERIO / CLEVELAND ROCKERS G".
Front has text on player's jersey "ROCKERS / 4".
Reverse has text on the viewer's right half including "Cleveland / ROCKERS / 76 / Suzie / McConnell Serio / [player blurb and stats for 1998 and 1999 seasons] / ...College: Penn St. Born 7/29/66, Pittsburgh, PA".
MarksFront has printed text in the viewer's bottom right corner "FLEER / ULTRA".
Reverse has text along the bottom "FLEER ©2000 WNBA Enterprises, LLC ©2000 Fleer/SkyBox International LP, Printed in U.S.A. WNBA/Ultra 2000 [WNBA logo]".
Historical Notes2000 Fleer Ultra WNBA Suzie McConnell Serio Cleveland Rockers basketball card. Her family name has become synonymous with basketball - playing it, coaching it, and winning while doing both. Raised in the city's Brookline neighborhood, Suzie McConnell had her first success with the game at Seton LaSalle High School. A volleyball, basketball, and softball player, she and her sister Kathy contributed to the school's PIAA state championship in basketball in 1984. After starring as a point guard at Seton LaSalle High School, she became an All-American at Penn State where she set NCAA career records for assists with 1,307, assists in a season (355 in 1987), and season assist average (11.8 in 1987). After college she represented the United States at the Seoul Olympics in 1988, bringing home a gold medal. She competed for the U.S. again in Barcelona, earning bronze in 1992. McConnell Serio began her coaching career at Oakland Catholic High School in 1991. In her 12 seasons she compiled a 321-86 record and captured three state championships, in 1993, 2001, and 2003. A master motivator, her teams were twice runner ups at states and won four Quad A WPIAL titles. McConnell Serio balanced her growing family, she and husband Pete Serio have four children, her coaching responsibilities, with a return to the hardwood when she joined the Cleveland Rockers in 1998. She took home WNBA Newcomer of the Year honors and was named to the All WNBA First Team that year. In 2003, McConnell Serio returned to coaching, taking over the head job with the Minnesota Lynx. She turned the team around, taking them to their first ever playoff appearance and was named WNBA Coach of the Year after the 2004 season. McConnell Serio left the WNBA and came home to Pittsburgh. She coached first at Duquesne University, where she went to the WNIT five straight years, then for five seasons at the University of Pittsburgh which made it to the second round of the NCAA tourney in her second season, 2014-2015. Known for her drive and determination, her meticulous preparation, and her ability to motivate herself and others, McConnell Serio was inducted into the Woman’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. In a family of basketball champions, her star burns bright.
Related person
Suzie McConnell Serio
(born 1966)
Related institution
Cleveland Rockers
Related institution
Women's National Basketball Association
Related institution
Seton LaSalle Catholic High School
Related institution
Pennsylvania State University
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