Join us in congratulating Michelle Edwards ’84 for being honored with this year’s Alumni of Distinction Award!
Michelle Edwards is a proud member of Cathedral High School’s Class of 1984 and one of the most accomplished athletes in the school’s history.
During her time at Cathedral, she scored more than 2,000 career points, becoming the first girls’ basketball player in Massachusetts history to reach that milestone. A two-time league MVP, Michelle led the Panthers to back-to-back state championships and was named the Boston Globe Player of the Year in 1984. Her contributions to Cathedral basketball earned her a place on the All-Time All-Scholastic Team, cementing her legacy as one of the greatest prep players in Massachusetts history.
Michelle continued her basketball journey at the University of Iowa, where she enjoyed a legendary collegiate career. As a senior, she led the Hawkeyes to their first No. 1 national ranking and an Elite Eight appearance. That season, she was named National Player of the Year, a consensus First-Team All-American, and Big Ten Player of the Year.
By the time she graduated, Michelle ranked among Iowa’s all-time leaders in both scoring and assists and became the first women’s basketball player in school history to have her jersey retired. She was later named the Big Ten Conference Athlete of the Decade for the 1980s.
Michelle then took her talents overseas, earning three Italian League MVP awards before returning to the United States as one of the inaugural players selected for the WNBA allocation draft in 1997. She spent five seasons in the WNBA and was later inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
Following her playing career, Michelle dedicated nearly two decades to athletics at Rutgers University, where she coached, mentored, and served as an assistant athletic director. Today, she continues to invest in the next generation through mentorship while building a new chapter in her career at Nike.
In recognition of her profound impact on basketball and the South End community, the court at Sparrow Park was dedicated in Michelle’s honor—a lasting tribute to her legacy and an inspiration to future generations. Michelle Edwards will also make history as the first alumna of Cathedral High School to have her jersey retired. We can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor.
Celebrate Michelle at the 25th Annual Adopt-A-Student Foundation Gala on November 4th at the Seaport Hotel Boston. For tickets and more information, visit our Gala webpage.
