Sports

LeBron James dribbles the ball up the court while wearing a green Irish jersey with number 23 while in high school at St. Vincent-St. Mary

The Palestra featuring LeBron James

While a senior in high school in 2002, the NBA great played at the Palestra in a showdown pitting Akron, Ohio’s St. Vincent-St. Mary Fighting Irish against Philadelphia’s Strawberry Mansion Knights.

Greg Johnson ・

Wearing her white uniform at the Palestra, former forward Jewel Clark dribbles the ball up the court.

Jewel Clark: Where are they now?

The former women’s basketball standout chats about her Hall of Fame career, twice playing in the NCAA Tournament, her flair for getting to the free throw line, and why she’s still putting in work on the hardwood.

Greg Johnson ・



In the News


Philadelphia Inquirer

How Penn coaches and staffers are playing a vital campus role while budgets get slashed

Among the unique circumstances that the pandemic has brought to campus, up to a third of Penn’s 200 full-time athletic staffers, including coaches, took on COVID-related duties during the fall semester to avoid being furloughed amid deep budget cuts.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

These Penn basketball players have stories worth telling, even as their season is called off

When the Ivy League canceled their season Thursday night, changing their year and the trajectory of their basketball careers, Kayla Padilla and Mark Jackson knew it was what was best for the team, as team players. Even off the court, they remain worth talking about.

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Archdiocese of Philadelphia

AOP Spotlight Series: Mike McLaughlin, Father Judge—Class of 1984

The former AOP student-athlete has guided Penn women’s basketball since 2009-10, leading the Quakers to four Ivy League titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

Peggy Kowalski, who may have spent more hours in the Palestra than anybody ever, retires

For many of the last 38 years, as Penn Athletic’s director of special events, Kowalski  has to be on the short list, maybe even at the top of it, for people who spent the most combined lifetime time at the Palestra and Franklin Field. Her earliest work days were as an undergrad selling tickets and answering to her boss who was also her father, and in honor of the two, the front lobby box office will be named the Donohue-Kowalski Box Office.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

Penn football coach Ray Priore talks about no fall season, hope for spring

Penn football coach Ray Priore was game planning up until this past Monday, hoping his team might play this fall. Then the announcement came Wednesday: no sports in the Ivy League this fall semester. Now Priore is balancing his optimism with an understanding of the obstacles the pandemic brings to his sport.

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