Earlier this year, Fenwick girls basketball alum Katie O’Grady (Class of 2000) was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Next year, she’ll have company as another Fenwick great recently got word of her impending induction.
The IBCA announced its 2026 Hall of Fame class. Erin Lawless, who graduated in 2003, is among the incoming members. In an interview with Wednesday Journal, Lawless expressed excitement about the honor.
“To receive this kind of recognition so many years after playing at a competitive level is incredibly meaningful,” she said. “It’s humbling to know that the time, effort, and passion I put into the game are still remembered and valued. This honor really highlights how special those years were and how grateful I am to be a part of this legacy.”
Lawless, a Berwyn native, scored over 2,000 points in her four-year varsity career and helped lead Fenwick to a 126-12 record and three Class AA state trophies: 2000 (third place), 2001 (championship), and 2003 (second place). In her senior season, she averaged 21.6 points per game and was named to the McDonald’s and Nike/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-American teams. Moreover, Lawless received the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year, was runner-up for 2003 Illinois Miss Basketball, and made the IBCA Class AA All-State First Team in both her junior and senior seasons.
She still holds the single-game school record for points in a game as she scored 51 against St. Ignatius on Jan. 24, 2003. Her #34 jersey number was retired in 2018 and hangs in Fenwick’s gym rafters alongside the numbers of Johnny Lattner (#50), Tricia Liston (#32), Corey Maggette (#50), and Deveraux Peters (#14).
Upon graduation, Lawless played collegiately at Purdue University. In 2007, her senior year, she helped lead the Boilermakers to a 31-6 record, a Big Ten tournament title, and an appearance in the NCAA Elite Eight. Then Lawless embarked on an eight-year professional career, mainly in Europe, though she also spent a year with the WNBA’s Indiana Fever.
“I started playing organized basketball in seventh grade, when sports were just starting to become a bit more competitive for girls back in the late ’90s. It didn’t take me long to fall in love with the game,” Lawless said. “I knew it was something special when waking up at 5 a.m. on a weekend to go to practice or an AAU (American Amateur Union) game felt exciting instead of like a chore.”
Lawless’ first experience with Fenwick came during a 3-on-3 middle-school tournament held in historic Lawless Gymnasium, named after late coach and athletic director Tony Lawless (no relation to Erin). She thought it was an interesting omen about where her future would take her.
“What ultimately influenced my decision [to go to Fenwick] was the combination of strong academics and outstanding athletic programs,” Lawless said. “At that age, my goals were simple but important: I wanted to have fun playing the game I loved while also getting the best education possible. Fenwick offered both, and that made the choice clear for me.”
Lawless said she enjoyed playing for legendary coach Dave Power and credits him for her success on and off the court.
“He altered my life in the best way possible. He believed in me more than I believed in myself. He pushed me beyond my limits to succeed and gave me the knowledge and confidence I needed to be successful on the court,” said Lawless.
“Very few coaches ever get the opportunity to coach a player like Erin,” Power said. “She helped make her teammates better and made the coaches look pretty good too. She played like a warrior with a lot of heart, and she cared more about her teammates and winning than her individual performance. We’re all so proud of Erin making it into the IBCA Hall of Fame.”
Lawless appreciates the lessons basketball has taught her – accountability, discipline, self-belief, and teamwork among other things.
“When I face challenges now,” she said, “I approach them with the same mindset I had on the court; stay focused, put in the work, and rise to the moment.”
Lawless, who currently lives in England, plans to be at the induction ceremony, May 2, at Illinois State University. She says it’s a surreal feeling that hasn’t sunk in yet and probably won’t until that day.
“What makes it most meaningful is knowing that this recognition represents so much more than just me. It reflects the coaches who believed in me, the teammates who pushed me every day, and the journey that shaped who I am today,” Lawless said. “This honor is incredibly humbling, and I’m deeply grateful.”