Maddy Siegrist was not always an “A-Team” player like she is now in the WNBA. A seventh grader, Siegrist, only made the B-team of the St. Martin De Porres basketball team. “I’m like, ‘It’s OK, honey, it will work out,’” her father, George Siegrist, later recalled. “And she’s saying, ‘No, Daddy, it won’t.’” Eventually, the father was proven right as Maddy made the A-team next year and hasn’t looked back ever since. As Siegrist continues her journey with the Dallas Wings and a comeback from her injury, let’s look at the pillars that stood behind her on rainy nights like these. 

Who is George Siegrist, Maddy Siegrist’s father?

Maddy Siegrist’s father, George Siegrist, played college basketball for Marist for four seasons from 1987 to 1991 before joining the team as an assistant coach. In his playing career, he was mostly a role player, snagging around 5 minutes per game while scoring 3.1 points and 4.1 rebounds as a center. The first memories for Maddy and basketball were attending Marist games as young as six months. In 2002, Siegrist moved on from being the assistant coach and got into construction, according to his LinkedIn account, and started his own company, Siegrist Construction Inc., and he has been running that since.

In July 2021, Siegrist was interviewed by BVM Sports regarding her breakout season with the Wildcats, during which she mentioned her father as one of the players who inspired her growth.

“He was just a role player, but growing up, I thought that was the coolest thing ever,” Siegrist said. “I used to ask him all the time if I could play in college. I wasn’t very good, just taller than everyone else, but he said ‘Yeah, if you work hard.’ I definitely was inspired by that.”

It did not matter that her father did not start or go on to pursue basketball as his career. But her gave her the first taste of basketball and she was hooked. He has supported her throughout her career and keeps appearing in the stands to cheer for his daughter. Let’s learn about his partner in crime, Maddy’s mother. 

Who is Ginna (Virginia) Siegrist, Maddy Siegrist’s mother?

Maddy’s mother, Virginia Siegrist, was also a Division 1 athlete, but not on the court. Ginna Siegrist, as she is called, was a varsity cheerleader. Virginia attended Marist from 1992 to 1998 and currently works in the Office of Accommodations and Accessibility. When thinking back to Maddy’s childhood, Virginia recalls her daughter’s resounding work ethic and constant desire to practice. “She decided that she wanted to practice that much. She begged for my husband to take her to the gym after hours and bring her to the Marist gym,” said Virginia. However, Virginia might have been the reason Maddy did not make it to the WNBA. 

Maddy had just finished her junior year in high school, and she was awaiting offers from the colleges she aspired to play for. She had some offers from mid-majors in conferences such as the Ivy League and Patriot League. However, Maddy wasn’t satisfied; she wanted to be better. She did not shovel heavy snow in that driveway to make way for practice to fall short of her potential. She received a Visa gift card worth $30 and paid for the St. John’s elite camp, but she had her cousin’s high school graduation to attend. That wasn’t going to get in her way as she signed up even when knowing that, and told her parents later on.

Ginna was hell bent on taking Maddy to the graduation. “I was just like ‘What?’” Ginna said. “I said, ‘Maddy, you’re not missing your cousin’s graduation for some basketball camp.’” However, her father, George, stepped in and handled the situation. He volunteered to accompany Maddy to the camp. “I think he was just trying to get out of going to the graduation too,” Ginna said with a laugh. And just a week later, she had an offer from St.John’s, which led to an offer from Villanova, where she became a legend, eventually playing in the WNBA.

What Values and Support did Maddy Siegrist’s Parents Instill In Her Growing Up?

While some parents prioritize studies and a conventional career, Maddy’s parents were the opposite. Siegrist’s parents wanted her to try every activity as a kid. She played soccer, softball, basketball, and even did ballet.  It was the seventh grade when they realised basketball was the chosen one for Maddy. Siegrist was seen shoveling snow around the net to practice.

“I go outside, and she had shoveled an arc around that dinky little net so she could play Around the World,” Ginna said. “I just thought, OK, this, this is a different level of loving a sport.’”

She has inherited the intensity and competitiveness from her athletic parents. “I hate losing in anything,” says Siegrist. “I’ll play it off, but when my family plays a game of Monopoly, I’ll cheat to win. Not as much now, but when I was younger, I’d definitely cheat to win.”

Siegrist’s relentless work ethic traces back to her childhood, where her parents instilled in her the drive to always give her best. Reflecting on those early years, Virginia vividly remembers Maddy’s unyielding commitment and insatiable hunger to practice, always pushing herself to the next level.

“She decided that she wanted to practice that much. She begged for my husband to take her to the gym after hours and bring her to the Marist gym,” said Virginia Siegrist. The family volunteered for causes such as the Adaptive Sports Foundation, Kids Give the World, and Wounded Warriors, instilling values of gratitude and giving back.

Siegrist has had a tough 2025 season as she missed 18 games with a right knee injury. She recently returned to full practice and was expected to play against the Indiana Fever, but she delayed her return by a game and is expected to get some minutes in their next game against the Liberty. Siegrist remains a vital part of the Wings’ rebuild alongside Paige Bueckers.