Trinity has a rich history of alumni who go on to do remarkable things after leaving Hiller Hall. Out of all these incredible stories, 2016 graduate Mary Dunn may have one of the most unique journeys as she continues her basketball career as a professional athlete in Ireland. 

Dunn has signed on to play center for Brunell SuperValu Singleton located in Cork, Ireland. Her team plays in the Superleague, the highest-level professional women’s league in Ireland. Additionally, the team is part of Eurovision basketball which includes all professional basketball programs in Europe, meaning that the team may have the opportunity to compete for the Irish National Cup. 

Dunn’s season officially began on October 2, 2022, with an overtime win and final score of 102-101. All future games can be viewed with a subscription at www.basketballireland.tv. 

Prior to her professional career, Dunn attended Youngstown State University (YSU) for five years. This is where she made some of her lifelong best friends and had many amazing experiences on and off the court. In fact, her most memorable moment comes from her time here. 

“My favorite basketball memory was my YSU team’s comeback win against Eastern Michigan where we were down twenty points going into the fourth quarter and I scored the game-winning point,” says Dunn.

After leaving YSU, Dunn was a graduate transfer to the University of Pittsburgh where she had the opportunity to play in the Atlantic Coastal Conference (ACC). In her year with Pitt, Dunn traveled the country and played under an incredible coaching staff.

In her time playing collegiate basketball, Dunn attracted the attention of multiple sports agencies. She chose the right agent who did the work of finding teams that she could continue with. While moving abroad was a huge change, Dunn is thrilled about this opportunity to explore new parts of the world and make memories with teammates and coaches. 

“The process was very nerve-wracking but also very exciting! This was something I dreamed about for so long that it almost seemed surreal at first,” explains Dunn.

Dunn’s team practices four times and plays one game each week. A typical team practice consists of training for two hours per night, and Dunn puts in additional time lifting, conditioning and shooting in the team-sponsored gym. With the rest of the day to herself, she enjoys walking around her city and exploring new parts of it. 

Despite playing basketball in an entirely new country, Dunn has not forgotten her Trinity roots. She looks back fondly on all of her successes in high school, such as playing at the Petersen Events Center at the University of Pittsburgh, and achieving big upset wins. 

“I had great teammates along the way who helped me become the player I am today. I always like to emphasize how important teammates are in your success and I have been blessed with the very best over the years,” says Dunn. 

Above all, Dunn is proud to be a Hiller and shares some words of encouragement for current Trinity students:

“High school is all about finding who you are and sports was a great way for me to do so. I hope everyone has the opportunity to find something they love because your passions can truly take you places.”

Congratulations, Mary, on all of your accomplishments so far. Hiller Nation is cheering you on!