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April 2004 was both an exciting and sad chapter of my life.
We had just cut the nets down in New Orleans. I was on top of the world.
There is nothing better than ending a season on a win — especially when the end of that season is also the end of your collegiate career. What could be sweeter than a senior season finished off with a national championship?
Thinking back right now it all seems to be a bit of a blur.
When I was a little girl growing up in the Valley I had always dreamed of being part of a national championship team. I am sure many girls were dreaming the same thing. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be part of three consecutive championships at the highest possible level.
With that feeling of excitement also came sadness. Sadness because it was all coming to an end. The family I had built at UCONN for four years would all be going in different directions. The long practices and hours in the weight room were over. The amazing life lessons taught from a great coaching staff were ending.
When you’re part of a program and time period as unique and special as I was, you never want it to end, so the taste in my mouth was bittersweet.
After we won that April, my coach had received a call from Michael Cooper, head coach of the LA Sparks. That phone call sent me on a six-hour flight and three hours backward to attend training camp. After weeks of practice I was cut on the last day.
I came back to CT and was determined to still play, so I continued to work hard. I returned to Storrs in the fall to finish a few more credits. It was weird to be on campus and not have basketball.
In October, coach Auriemma invited me to be a graduate assistant with the team. I accepted. I had always thought about coaching and this gave me the perfect opportunity to see what it was like. I enjoyed my time with the team that year and I learned a ton.
That next summer I was extended an offer to attend the CT Sun training camp, where I again made it to the last cut.
At this point I decided it would be an amazing experience to go and play professionally overseas. So I contacted an agent and got my name out there. A month later I got a call that sent me to Gottingen, Germany.
I enjoyed my time there and eventually went on to play in Iceland where I made first team all Icelandic, my team won the cup games and I was recognized as MVP.
In the championship game, I ran out to contest a shot, landed on a girl’s foot and essentially split my ankle in half.
This injury sent me on the LONGEST flight of my life back to the U.S.
Nothing is worse than being on an airplane with a swollen ankle.
When I returned home I saw a specialist and a few weeks later I had surgery, which was followed by a lengthy recuperation.
At this time of my life I was really at a loss. I was not prepared to end my basketball career, which the injury was forcing me to do. I decided to fill my spare time with something meaningful and productive.
I found myself volunteering at the children’s hospital in New Haven and in the classroom studying for my real estate license.
It was during this time that I truly learned the value of giving back.
During a charity function I attended that fall with former teammate and friend Diana Taurasi I met Joe Lopresti and Paul Blanco, managing director for Barnum Financial Group, an office of MetLife.
During our conversation at the event they invited me to interview at the firm.
After listening to what they had to say I knew it was the career I wanted to have and the place where I should be.
While I was really excited to start the process over at Barnum Financial Group I was also excited about the women’s basketball assistant coaching job I had just started with Southern Connecticut State University.
It was a great year at Southern and we went on to win the division two national championship. After that I wanted to dedicate all of my time to start my career at Barnum Financial Group and to still stay around the sport.
I took a side job as a color analyst for the Fairfield University women’s basketball team.
In September of 2008 I got married to Carmine Giuseppe Rinaldi, a nice Irish boy (ha ha).
Currently I am in a leadership role at Barnum Financial Group in Shelton, Connecticut where I get to lead, coach, mentor, recruit and hire young professionals.
It is a perfect caveat to being a point guard on the court.
I am a radio commentator for Fairfield University women’s basketball games and involved in several charitable organizations.
I started the Maria Conlon Humanitarian Donor Advised Fund at the Valley Community Foundation in 2009 so I can give back to others in
the Valley and leave a legacy.
I’m looking forward to sharing stories, experiences and answering any questions you may have.
The Valley is, always has been and always will be close to my heart and I look forward to being a fixture for the Valley Independent.
Now that you are all caught up on where I am and what I have been doing what do you want to know next?
