When you hear the name Roethlisberger, your mind probably jumps straight to Ben Roethlisberger, the Pittsburgh Steelers icon and two-time Super Bowl champ. But athletic talent runs deep in the Roethlisberger family tree. Ben’s younger sister, Carlee Roethlisberger, carved out an impressive sports career of her own, particularly on the basketball court.

Carlee’s identity as a key player for the Oklahoma Sooners transcended her last name. She had her grit, hustle, and heart. And Oklahoma’s HC at that time, Sherri Coale, knew it all too well. “Carlee has handled it like she’s handled everything else. She’s very grounded. What is private is private. She goes about her business and doesn’t expect anything different because of her last name,” Coale once shared while talking about her.

Carlee never coasted on her famous last name. So now that we’re talking about it, here’s a closer look at Ben Roethlisberger’s younger sister.

Who is Carlee Roethlisberger?

After graduating from Findlay (Ohio) High School, Carlee Roethlisberger chose to take her talents to the University of Oklahoma. Though she had offers from Nebraska and Minnesota, it was Norman that felt like the perfect fit. Of course, when she first arrived, most people recognized her as ‘Big Ben’s’ little sister. But Carlee had no interest in living in the shadows. And it didn’t take long for her to prove she belonged on her own.

Back in 2010, her head coach, Sherri Coal, summed up her impact perfectly: “On the floor, she has been the glue for us. She is going to take the charge, dive on the floor for the loose ball, and then lately down the stretch she has made the big plays.” Standing at 6-foot-1, she played forward for the Oklahoma Sooners women’s basketball team from 2008 to 2011. Over her college career, Carlee appeared in 139 games, starting 53. She racked up 697 points and 447 rebounds. Her senior year was particularly notable; she started all 35 games, averaging 6.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Despite being Ben Roethlisberger’s sister, Carlee never asked for the spotlight. But she wasn’t about to shy away from earning it. Talking about how she handled the pressure that came with her last name, she once said, “You can’t complain about it. If you want out of it, you have to do it yourself. You have to do something to make it happen. You have to show what you are made of.” And that’s exactly what she did.

That one time when Ben drove Carlee to her prom…

When Ben joined the Miami RedHawks, Carlee would often attend her brother’s games. But by the time Carlee entered college, Ben was already playing with the Steelers. So, he was always kind of busy with his NFL duties. Still, the Steelers’ legendary QB made sure to be there in the stands for her whenever possible.

Carlee fondly remembers an incident from high school when Ben drove her to prom with her date. She recalled, “I remember for homecoming my freshman or sophomore year, he drove my date and me because neither of us could drive,” she laughed. “My date was like, ‘Okay, thank you, sir. I think I’ll just be quiet.“

When Carlee was about to graduate, Ben was present among her cheerers during her last two home games. “We were pretty far apart in age growing up, but we’ve gotten closer as we’ve gotten older. I wanted to see these last two games, especially to be there for Senior Night,” he shared. And even though the Oklahoma alum never liked to ride anyone’s coattails, that day, she proudly told the crowd that she was proud to be called her sister.

“No one wants to live in someone’s shadow their whole life. But when the shadow is as big as his, and he’s done such amazing things, you’re so proud of him… Big brothers, don’t let your head get big. That’s their job.” In 2017, they inducted Ben Roethlisberger and his sister Carlee into the Hancock County Sports Hall of Fame. 

So, while Ben’s NFL legacy is well-known, Carlee’s impact on the court proves she carved her own identity, standing tall beyond the shadow of her famous brother.