A defining figure in Staples Girls Basketball history, Lisa became the program’s first 1,000-point scorer, finishing her career with 1,248 points in just three seasons and setting a single-game scoring record of 42 points that still stands. She was inducted into the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame and went on to an extraordinary collegiate career at Yale University, where she was a four-sport athlete from 1977–1981, earning two All-Ivy League basketball selections and Third Team NCAA All-America honors. Today, she continues to shape the game at the highest level as a co-owner of the Seattle Storm of the WNBA.

A defining figure in Staples Girls Basketball history, Jessica Gelman is the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,636 career points and a key contributor to two FCIAC championship teams. She went on to play collegiate basketball at Harvard University, where she also became a 1,000-point scorer in the Ivy League. Following her playing career, Jessica built an influential career in professional sports, currently serving as CEO of Kraft Analytics Group, a leading sports analytics firm. Her path from Staples to the highest levels of sport leadership reflects the lasting impact of the program on and off the court.

One of the most prolific scorers in Staples Girls Basketball history, Stefanie Goettsche averaged a school-record 26 points per game during her senior season and finished her career with 1,485 points. She was a First Team All-State selection and a key contributor to Staples’ 1990 FCIAC Championship team. Stefanie went on to play BIG EAST basketball at Providence College, where she became a 1,000-point scorer for the Friars. Following college, she enjoyed a long professional career in Germany and represented the German National Team in 86 international games from 1994 to 2002.

A cornerstone of Staples Girls Basketball’s 1995 CIAC Class LL State Championship team, Carolyn Center was a dominant presence in the post and one of the most accomplished players in program history. A three-time All-FCIAC selection and First Team All-State honoree, she finished her Staples career with 1,278 points and was named the Connecticut Post Female Athlete of the Year in 1995. Carolyn went on to play four years of Division I basketball at the University of Richmond, earning All-CAA honors and team MVP recognition during her collegiate career. After college, she played professionally for the Northampton 76ers in England and continues to impact the sports world today as General Manager of Richmond IMG Sports Marketing.

One of the most dominant and versatile players in Staples Girls Basketball history, Courtney Sutherland-Petti set the standard for excellence during her career in the 1980s. She finished her Staples career with 1,272 points and 1,041 rebounds and, at the time of her graduation, held the program records in both scoring and rebounding. A three-time All-FCIAC selection and First Team All-State honoree in 1987, Courtney went on to compete collegiately in both basketball and tennis at Saint Leo University. Her rare combination of scoring ability, rebounding dominance, and multi-sport success cements her place as a foundational figure in the program’s history.