Allie Quigley was never one to bask in the limelight.
She didn’t when she was named the WNBA’s Sixth Player of the Year in 2014 and 2015 or when she earned her first All-Star nod in 2017. Not even when she became the first pro basketball player to win four three-point shooting contests or scored a game-high 26 points to bring the Sky their first WNBA title in 2021 did Quigley revel in her achievements.
On Friday night, however, she had no choice. As one of six inductees into DePaul’s Athletics Hall of Fame, Quigley was forced to celebrate her illustrious career. Also included in the 2024 class were Lindsay Chouinard Platt, Drake Diener, Melissa Fraser, Karen Loiacono and Tim Nedow.
‘‘When they called me, I was kind of shocked,’’ Quigley, 38, said. ‘‘I don’t know, I just thought I would be older. But it just makes me think about how lucky I was to accomplish everything in Chicago, an hour away from where I grew up [in Joliet].’’
Quigley’s career was a daily example of being excellent in all the ‘‘hows’’: how she practiced, how she persisted, how she committed to making her dream of playing in the WNBA a reality.
Quigley set all kinds of records at DePaul in 2004-08, including becoming one of four players to score at least 2,000 career points. She led the Blue Demons to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including their first Sweet 16 in 2006.
The first person Quigley thanked Friday was her coach at DePaul, Doug Bruno, who was in attendance for the ceremony at the Marriott Marquis in the South Loop.
‘‘There’s only one place to start for me when I reflect on my time at DePaul,’’ Quigley said. ‘‘That is coach Doug Bruno. I’ve missed you, Coach.’’
From there, Quigley talked about how Bruno first came to hear about a scrawny shooter southwest of Chicago and how he shaped the mentality that would help her make WNBA history.
After being drafted by the Storm with the 22nd overall pick in 2008, Quigley was cut and later signed as a free agent with the Mercury. Midway through the 2009 season, she was cut by the Mercury. She was cut by five times by four teams between 2008 and 2011 before landing with the Sky in 2013 after a year overseas that proved to be pivotal in her development.
‘‘She has that inner drive,’’ Quigley’s mom, Christine, said.
Former Sky coach/general manager Pokey Chatman saw Quigley’s overseas season in 2012 and signed her before training camp in 2013. Chatman’s system served Quigley well, but it was how Quigley prepared for that opportunity that changed the trajectory of her career.
In 10 seasons with the Sky, Quigley averaged 11.9 points, shot 40% from the field and became regarded as the best three-point shooter in the league.
‘‘I really loved [the game],’’ Quigley said. ‘‘I loved the process. Even when I look back at old film now from high school and college, I think, ‘I was not that great of a shooter.’ I really worked on it. I was always in the gym, overseas, in the WNBA. I had small goals. I never said, ‘I want to start; I want to be an All-Star.’ I just wanted to go one goal at a time.’’
Quigley unofficially retired after the Sky fell short in their quest at a repeat in 2022, but she never officially has said she’s done playing.
Maybe it’s her reserved nature, or maybe it’s the fact that she might have a little more left to give.
‘‘You never know,’’ Quigley said when she was asked whether the door was still open for her to return to the WNBA. ‘‘I’m probably going to make a decision in the next three or four months if that’s going to happen.’’