Standout leaders for Marian University women’s basketball, the seniors began the year chasing one final championship run together. But on New Year’s Day, their mother, Kathy McNally, died suddenly of a heart attack, transforming what should have been a story of triumph into one of grief, resilience, and the quiet strength of a family and team determined to keep moving forward.
The following story, originally reported by WTHR, captures how Abbey and Kiley have carried their mother’s memory with them through a season forever changed.
The Marian community has rallied around the McNally family in the weeks since, offering support in ways both visible and deeply personal, from white roses placed in the stands to the shared resolve to play on in Kathy’s honor.