Maddy Siegrist’s return to the Dallas Wings roster caused quite a stir in a team that had few returning players already. The third overall draft pick has quietly and consistently carved out her place in the league, proving to be a valuable asset for head coach Chris Koclanes and his staff. While her on-court achievements are well known, what about her life off the court?

Is there someone special cheering her on from the stands during the regular season? Who’s the one person who makes her feel truly seen? Who helps Maddy navigate her emotions, keeps her motivated, and supports her unconditionally, besides her parents and siblings? Let’s find out.

Who is Maddy Siegrist engaged to?

Maddy Siegrist is engaged to her long-time boyfriend, Stephen Perretta. He is an assistant coach as well as the Director of Basketball Operations for the Drexel women’s basketball team. Perretta oversees logistics for the program and primarily focuses on team practices, game scheduling, and overall team travel. 

“We are very excited to have Stephen join us for this upcoming season. The experience he will bring along with his tremendous work ethic will truly impact our program,” Drexel University head coach Amy Mallon said. “I am excited to guide Stephen as he continues to grow in the game.”

The two announced their engagement on social media last October and sent the entire basketball fraternity into a frenzy. Maddy and Stephen shared beautiful proposal pictures. The surprise proposal was arranged by Stephen with the help of Drexel women’s basketball coach Denise Dillon at Villanova’s Carriage House, a place close to the couple’s hearts. And what was supposed to be a dinner turned into a full-blown engagement party.

Who are Stephen Perretta’s parents?

While there are no verifiable records that provide details regarding Perretta’s mother, what we do know is that Stephen Perretta’s father, Harry Perretta, was the head coach of the Villanova women’s basketball team. As one of the longest-serving coaches in history, Harry served the program from 1978 till his retirement in 2020.

In fact, the head coach played an important role in the love story of his son and his to-be daughter-in-law. Maddy Siegrist was associated with Villanova while HC Harry coached the team. Therefore, it was only natural when the HC was taken aback. On learning about the proposal, Harry asked his son, “Wait, Maddy who? The one that played for me? But while Siegrist was nervous about dating her former coach’s son, the fact that the two started dating after Harry’s official retirement made things easier for the player.

What Does Stephen Perretta do?

Stephen started his official career with the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights as a graduate assistant in 2021. He was later promoted to the post of an assistant coach, where he was responsible for developing guards and planning practice sessions for the roster. Stephen largely contributed to the team’s success as the program clinched over 15 wins in the Northeast conference division under him.

Prior to his stint at Drexel University, Perretta was associated with the Iona Gaels for one season. As a recruiting coordinator for Iona, his responsibilities included developing guards, scouting for the roster, and ensuring that the program followed NCAA compliance at all times.

How did Maddy Siegrist meet Stephen Perretta?

Maddy Siegrist and Stephen Perretta met during their college days at Villanova. While Maddy played basketball under Harry Perretta, Stephen would often accompany his father during practice at the program. And as a practice player, Stephen would help out Maddy during practice sessions. But the two started bonding during the summer after Harry’s retirement in 2020.

Siegrist also recounted the incident where she refused to accept Perretta as her boyfriend, only because she had not been officially asked. “We were at the beach, and someone asked him, ‘Oh, is this your girlfriend?” Siegrist said. “I remember I was like, ‘No,’ and then he was like, ‘What do you mean, no?’ I remember I was like, ‘Well, you never asked me!’” And the rest is history.

The two signed up for communication classes at the program in 2020. And when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it did not stop the lovers from meeting. Perretta often traveled to Poughkeepsie, New York, to meet Siegrist. Moreover, the athlete also traveled all the way to Philadelphia and joined Stephen on a family vacation. It was here that the two officially started dating. And their love has blossomed ever since.