Welcome back readers to another edition of Husky History, the column that highlights a former UConn athlete and their accomplishments both in Storrs and throughout their professional careers.
It’s no secret UConn field hockey is among the most prestigious programs in the entire country, the program has seen five national championships and 15 appearances in the Final Four. But those championships aren’t given; some of the best players of all-time have come through Storrs to deliver those titles.
One player that deserves some recognition is Karlie Kisha. Kisha was a member of the program from 2014 to 2017 and cemented her legacy as nothing short of a winner.
Prior to UConn, Kisha was a standout for Hamburg Area High School. She swept her team MVP honors all four years while serving as team captain in her junior and senior seasons. By the end she was awarded Regional All-America honors and tallied 73 goals and 58 assists.
With her talent and under the guidance of the great head coach Nancy Stevens, there was no better match for Kisha than UConn. Her freshman year was one for learning and it was the best possible year for it as the Huskies captured their second consecutive national title and fourth overall.
Sophomore year was Kisha’s breakout season and where she grew into a full-time starter. She netted her first career goal against Villanova and came back to score another in the Big East Championship to help clinch the Huskies’ fourth straight conference title.
The Huskies made their way to yet another Final Four, but unfortunately came up short against Syracuse. Nonetheless, Kisha was named to the All-NCAA Tournament Team, All-Mideast Region First Team and All-Big East Second Team for her tremendous season.
Kisha spent most of her junior season as a defensive midfielder for a team that established themselves as one of the best defenses in the country. The team allowed an outstanding 1.22 goals per game and battled their way into another Final Four appearance. Similar to the previous year, they fell short of the ultimate goal. Kisha was still honored for her star play with another All-Big East Second Team and All-Mideast Region Second Team selections.
Some may not admit it, but most senior athletes give a little extra effort in their final season to make sure they finish out on the highest note. Well, Kisha did exactly that. As team captain, she guided the Huskies in the championship game against Maryland to clinch UConn’s fifth national championship.
After four incredible seasons, Kisha confirmed she is one of the most successful winners the school has seen. She finished her career with an 87-6 record with two national championships and two Final Four appearances. It doesn’t get much more dominant than that.
The awards flooded in, the most important being Third Team All-American honors. The senior was also named to the 2017 All-NCAA Tournament Team, making her one of six Huskies to have multiple selections.
Following her collegiate career Kisha went to Villanova to serve as an assistant coach in 2018. For three years she helped guide the Wildcats before she had to move to North Carolina to train with the U.S. Women’s National Team. Her presence was missed in 2021 as the Wildcats went 6-12.
Most recently Kisha returned to the bench for Villanova in the 2023 season to serve as a volunteer assistant coach, with her role being to study film and prepare the team for upcoming opponents.
If there’s one thing that separates some UConn athletic alumni from the rest, it is their ability to represent their former program and university on the highest level — Kisha is no different in this regard. The Husky will be representing Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics this coming summer. The U.S. defeated Germany in the qualifier round in India to clinch an Olympic bid.
Husky fans are excited to see Kisha on the world’s biggest athletic stage this summer. The winning culture she provides should blend well with Team USA on their quest for gold.