Washington, D.C. – Senior Megan McConnell of the Duquesne women's basketball team was named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year, announced by the league office Tuesday afternoon.

McConnell, a Pittsburgh, Pa., native, earned a place on the All-Conference First Team while also securing spots on the All-Defensive and All-Academic Teams, as voted on by the league's coaches. This marks her third consecutive season receiving All-Conference and All-Academic honors, as well as her second straight year being named to the All-Defensive Team.

The senior guard becomes the first player since Jocelyn Floyd in 2013 to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors. She established herself as one of the top defenders in the country, standing out as the only mid-major player named to the 2025 Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year Watch List. Leading all of NCAA Division I with 115 total steals, she averaged 4.0 takeaways per game and recorded 11 games with five or more steals, including two contests with a career-high nine.

Despite being a guard, McConnell ranks ninth in the league with 7.1 rebounds per game and has posted six games with double-digit boards. She has led the Dukes in rebounding 21 times this season and is one of just three players in the nation to record multiple triple-doubles. Against conference opponents, she averaged 6.8 rebounds and 3.8 steals per game, tallying 14 games with three or more takeaways and securing at least five rebounds in all but three league matchups.

"We celebrate Meg and all of her achievements," head coach Dan Burt said. "She has made our team better both on and off the court with her play and leadership. Meg is the best player I've ever coached and the most improved player I've had in 28 years. She truly deserves all the recognition."

McConnell's offensive performance has been just as impressive, leading Duquesne in nearly every statistical category. The only player on the team to start all 29 games this season, she tops the conference in points per game (18.8), assists (150), and assists per game (5.2). Remarkably, she is the only Division I women's basketball player this season to surpass 500 points, 200 rebounds, 100 assists, and 100 steals.

A dynamic playmaker, McConnell is one of just three players in the country to record multiple triple-doubles while also posting seven double-doubles. She has led the team in scoring 21 times, delivering 11 games with 20 or more points, including a 30-point performance, all while shooting an impressive 48.6 percent from the field. Consistently productive, she has scored in double figures in 28 games and recorded six contests with 10 or more rebounds. Additionally, she ranks fourth in the conference with 2.1 three-pointers per game, shooting at a solid 35.5 percent from beyond the arc.

The Chartiers Valley product has continued her ascent in the Duquesne record books, recently moving into third place on the all-time scoring list with 1,713 points. Her defensive prowess is equally impressive, as her 115 takeaways this season rank third in program history, while her 347 career steals place her second all-time. Earlier this season, she became just the second player in Duquesne history to surpass 1,000 career rebounds, now sitting at second with 1,041.

McConnell's excellence extends beyond the court, as she was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team for her outstanding performance in the classroom, boasting a 3.88 cumulative GPA. This marks her third consecutive season earning All-Academic honors, having also been recognized on the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll.

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