For years, Megan Frazee has known little but the cozy confines of a close-knit, Christian family.
One of triplets, she has enjoyed a built-in support network for virtually all of her 22 years, a path that has led her to the doorstep of professional basketball fame. The scenery might have changed a lot along the way — moving from Laredo, Texas; to Miller, S.D.; and to Xenia, Ohio — but the godly example of her father and mother and the tight bond between her siblings never did.
Bye-bye, comfort zone. Hello, big, new world.
Frazee, a 6-foot-3 guard/forward who earned Associated Press honorable mention All-America honors from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., last season, is suddenly being thrust into an unfamiliar existence halfway across the country from her loved ones. Drafted 14th overall in April by the San Antonio Silver Stars, she began her professional career in earnest June 6, when the Silver Stars opened their WNBA regular season in Phoenix.
In many ways, she is officially on her own.
Placing her faith in Christ at age 5, Frazee said she is thankful for her upbringing. “Ultimately my parents raised me the majority of my life. I really feel blessed. I think they did a great job of teaching us about the Lord and teaching us where our priorities need to be — the Lord No. 1, then family and then basketball.”
Evaluating Frazee strictly by her athletic skills, you’d never know basketball was that far down the list. She finished her career as a two-time Big South Conference player of the year who holds Liberty career records in double-doubles (50) and free-throw percentage (.805), is second in points (1,883) and is third in rebounds (951).
Last season, she averaged 19.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, earned the Big South tournament MVP award and helped the Lady Flames advance to their 12th NCAA tournament in the last 13 years.
“Not a lot of players get this opportunity,” Liberty head coach Carey Green said of Frazee’s entrance into the WNBA. “She’s a gifted and natural scorer; that is her strength. She’s got a great physique to play at the next level. With her development and playing career at Liberty, she had a huge impact on our success — and not only on our team, but I think she impacted the Big South overall.”
While San Antonio head coach/General Manager Dan Hughes is impressed with Frazee’s sturdy frame and her ability to “shoot like a male” from the perimeter, it likely will be her defensive acumen that gets her on the floor this summer. She will probably fill the roles of small and power forward.
“I would say she’ll have an opportunity to play off the bench, and if she defensively can get to a solid level, she’ll compete to play some,” Hughes said. “It will be a growing process this year and in her career.”
Even more important than Frazee’s on-court adjustments will be her spiritual maturation.
She was home-schooled in grades 8–11 and has never attended a secular school. When the triplets started their freshman year at Liberty, their parents and older brother moved to Lynchburg. Frazee and her sisters, Molly and Moriah, shared a dorm and a car at an institution — with its mandatory curfew and chapel attendance — that will never be confused for a party school.
Now her family is roughly 1,400 miles away. But Frazee is confident that her faith will remain strong because of her deep spiritual roots.
“Basketball has been a big part of my life, but I remember my dad always making sure I knew where my priorities were,” she said. “Having two sisters there was like two accountability partners. Being at Liberty solidified everything I learned growing up. I’m really excited to get out there and be a light for Him.”
All things considered, Frazee probably couldn’t have landed on a better team. At least seven of the 16 players on the roster are professing believers, not to mention some of the coaches.
“It’s going to be great help to Megan. … She’ll be with a group of people who will tell her, not only in words but actions — a purpose-driven life,” said Hughes, who has been a Christian for nearly 20 years. “She’ll see that in them. She’ll see them frustrated and working at it. That will be good for her.”
As she enters an exciting, new phase of her life, Frazee can’t help but reflect on the grace-filled path God has led her on.
“I spent four years at Liberty, and I learned a lot of things in all aspects of life,” she said. “I’ve been blessed with a great education and great parents. Transitioning to San Antonio will be another challenge but I’m excited. I’m blessed.” (BP)
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