Former WNBA Champion Inspires KHS Students With Championship-Level Insights to Kirkwood High School: “Learn to Pivot”

On a recent trip to the St. Louis area to reconnect with a college friend, Morgan Tuck, general manager of the Connecticut Sun, made a stop at Kirkwood High School to speak with students in the boys’ and girls’ basketball programs as well as members of the Black Achievement Culture Club.

 Students heard about her experiences as a student-athlete, her transition to executive leadership, and her journey rooted in perseverance, teamwork, and resilience.

 The timing of her visit coincided with the first week of winter sports tryouts, including basketball.  Nelson Taylor, KHS boys’ head basketball coach, coordinated the visit with Tuck and opened the session with remarks.

“Morgan Tuck has seen the world and has a massive impact on women’s sports,” said Taylor. “Bringing a championship culture to KHS is something I am aspiring to do. Morgan Tuck has experience in that culture, both as an athlete and businesswoman, and I want to invite all of you to learn from her today.”

Tuck shared the message of being able to pivot as a key to success. “Pivoting isn’t a stat that is tracked, but it’s one of the most important things I learned in basketball,” she said.

She shared how her first major injury came at age 15 and how those moments of adversity became crucial learning opportunities. “Anytime I’ve had a down moment, I just think, don’t stop. Pivot. When you hit hard moments, pivot.” She shared with students that the hard moments are when you learn the most. “When you are in those moments when things get hard, stay focused.”

After visiting multiple colleges, she ultimately decided on the University of Connecticut. “I was impressed at how much they respected women’s basketball. When I think back about my time in college, I think back how hard it was, but I also think about how much I learned,” she shared.

She also talked about the importance of an education, staying in school, and the life skills you learn about being a member of a team. “Get that degree. It doesn’t matter what it is. Get a degree. Being a high school and collegiate athlete, I learned time management skills and how to work as a teammate. Both on the court and in life at work, you can go over every scenario, and ultimately, something can go wrong. The best thing you can do as a teammate and colleague is when a person makes a mistake, address it and move on. The same applies at work. You address it, fix it, and move on. Working in the real world is a lot harder than you think. Enjoy where you are right now and don’t wish it away. You have a lot of life ahead.”

After the opening marks and keynote message, a panel of KSD students asked Tuck questions about her experiences both off and on the court.

How do you create a championship culture? A championship culture is built by coaches who create a high standard. They retain people who are talented but also buy into the system and strive for perfection. Coach Geno (Auriemma, University of Connecticut Women’s Head Coach) would always tell us to strive for perfection, because if you strive for perfection, you’ll play even higher.”

Why does team chemistry matter? Chemistry on your team is your glue. Successful teams have chemistry. It’s something you can feel. You’re locked in. That doesn’t mean you don’t make mistakes. It’s just natural that you want to spend time together.

How did your coaches’ mentally prepare you for the Final Four games? We always had a list of goals that didn’t involve the score. Coaches kept us humble, and we always wanted to prove to them that we could do it.

What advice would you give someone who wants to be a general manager? You need to put yourself out there, become a people person, and find something you love. My job is big on building relationships, being organized, self-confidence, and leading by example. It’s a very public job, so you also need to be able to take criticism. Also, networking is an important part of success.

What’s the best type of leadership style? It’s whatever is most authentic to you. I am a leader by committee, and I trust the people I have in charge of their jobs.

How do you go about recruiting for the Sun? Recruiting is about more than just their ability. We talk to their managers and trainers. We look at how people present themselves on social media. We look at the holistic person. Who people are is what we pay attention to. We want to know who we are investing in.

What are some of your favorite memories as a player? My first championship at U Conn. We

got to complete what we set out to do. I’m so proud of how we played and how we jelled together as a team. There really is nothing like March Madness. For the WNBA, it was winning the championship in Seattle. It was during COVID, and we were in the player bubble in Florida. It was a great way to end my playing career.

What type of culture are you trying to build for the Connecticut Sun? One that makes a positive impact. Integrity is important. Don’t lose the human element of what we’re doing. We are taking care of people.

How do you make a team successful? Some of the most successful teams I have been on were those with teammates who led by example, and not necessarily by what they said. I would see Moriah Jefferson motivate people with her work ethic. We showed up and did the work.

Tuck closed out the meeting with a final message before taking photographs and signing autographs. “Keep your goal in mind. Don’t stop what you’re doing, just pivot.”

More about Morgan Tuck:

Morgan Tuck grew up in the Midwest in a basketball-loving family.

A standout on the court and now in the office, Tuck was a key player for the University of Connecticut from 2013-16, winning four NCAA National Championships. As a player, she amassed a 151-5 record, the most victories for a college basketball player.

After college, Tuck played in the WNBA, spending four seasons with the Connecticut Sun, and finishing her professional career with a WNBA Championship with the Seattle Storm in 2020. She played internationally in many countries, including Spain, China, and Turkey.

She then returned to the Connecticut Sun front office team. She currently serves as the General Manager.

Caption: WNBA star and Connecticut Sun General Manager Morgan Tuck sits with a group of student panelists for a Q&A session. Pictured left to right:

Niah Brooks - 8th grade Nipher student

Cruz Wise - 10th Grade  KHS basketball player

Morgan Tuck – Connecticut Sun General Manager

Brooke Rose - 12th grade KHS Basketball player

Noah Taylor - 11th Grade KHS Basketball player

Janell Burgett - 12th Grade KHS - BACC