This weekend marks a special moment for sophomore Kaylee Heckel and her family.
Her parents, Donna and Walter, were both athletes at St. John’s University, but this Sunday they’ll leave their school colors behind as they head to Madison Square Garden to watch No. 1 UW play.
Haeckel, who hails from Westchester County, didn’t really attend many games at MSG during her childhood. Still, she’s always dreamed about the experience of playing in such a legendary venue filled with history.
“It’s going to be really cool, especially growing up watching the NBA playoffs and seeing the energy of the place,” Heckel shared. “You always see celebrities courtside. There’s a different vibe there, especially because it’s New York. Everyone comes to watch the games, which amps up the energy.”
She’s expecting “quite a few” family and friends to be there and has gathered as many extra tickets from her teammates as she could.
She’ll probably take a moment to absorb the theatrical atmosphere of MSG.
She’ll think of the legends who have passed through those halls.
These are the kinds of games Haeckel envisioned playing while organizing makeshift games for her brothers in their driveway in Port Chester, New York.
The competitive spirit in the Heckel family was fierce, helping to mold her into the tough guard she is today.
Kaylee used to team up with her dad to take on her two older brothers, Corey and Tyler. Her dad would help her practice shooting and bolster her defense against her siblings.
She described those games as “physical.” They often ended with scraped knees, heightened emotions, and sometimes even tears.
As she honed her skills, the games became tighter and more competitive.
“They’re really good too,” she said of her brothers, who played in high school. “They don’t let me get away with much, so when we play, it gets physical and they make their shots. It’s always close, but honestly, I think I win most of the time.”
Haeckel rose to prominence as a five-star recruit in high school, known for her speed, court vision, and elite scoring skills. She wrapped up her high school career at Long Island Lutheran with 2,400 points and over 500 assists.
During college recruitment, Haeckel was drawn to USC where the sunny campus felt almost magical compared to New York.
“Visiting there, I just felt like this was the place to be,” Haeckel said.
Last season, she played for the Trojans, appearing in 34 games, starting seven of them, and averaged 6.1 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
However, after USC made it to the Elite Eight, Haeckel entered the transfer portal to explore other opportunities.
Then she got a call from UConn. For Haeckel, who grew up admiring Sue Bird, it felt like a perfect fit.
“It didn’t work out at USC ultimately, and I believe I’m where I’m meant to be right now,” she reflected.
Despite a “great experience” at USC and maintaining friendships with teammates, Haeckel wanted a fresh start—a place that could better develop her game, and being closer to home was a nice bonus.
Haeckel felt UConn’s atmosphere eased her transition. She described herself as a supportive teammate, always encouraging those around her.
Yet, she’s faced the challenge of making an impact on the game without the ball in her hands, learning to make precise cuts and movements to navigate defenses.
In her 30 games this season, Haeckel has improved statistically, now averaging 6.8 points on 54.8% shooting, 2.9 assists, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals.
She even witnessed her idol, Bird, have her No. 10 jersey retired at Gampel Pavilion.
Haeckel values the extra family time available now. They attempt to attend as many games as they can, and if they can’t, her mom is the first person she calls. Sometimes her siblings swing by to give her unsolicited critiques after games.
She wouldn’t change it for anything.
This Sunday, Haeckel returns to New York for the second time this season, as UW looks to finish the season undefeated at the iconic arena.
“Playing in a venue like that is really special,” Haeckel said. “I’m really looking forward to it. It’s New York, after all, so it’s bound to be an amazing experience.”
