# Natalie McNeal

Natalie McNeal of Germantown, Wisconsin is an American collegiate basketball player, currently playing for the Green Bay Phoenix of the Horizon League.
Since transferring to Green Bay in 2022, McNeal has helped lead the program back to winning Horizon League Conference Championships, two regular season titles (2023, 2025) and two conference tournament titles (2024, 2025). These titles have led to postseason births in the 2023 WNIT, plus the NCAA Tournament in 2024 and 2025.

## High School Career

McNeal attended Germantown High School from 2016 to 2020. Playing varsity basketball all four years, McNeal finished her prep career scoring more than 1,500 points and averaging at least 13.8 points during each of her four seasons.
In addition, McNeal was twice named Greater Metro Conference player of the year and first-team all-state selection (Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association).

## College Career
### St. Louis Billikens (2020–2022)

After receiving numerous college offers, McNeal officially committed to the St. Louis Billikens of the Atlantic 10 Conference on Fall 2019 signing day.

#### Freshman season (2020–21)

McNeal played in 17 total games, including postseason play in the WNIT (reaching the quarterfinals). Natalie scored her season high of 13 points against St. Joseph's on February 8th.

#### 2nd Freshman season (2021–22)

McNeal appeared in all 27 games and started in 24. McNeal scored her season Billiken career high of 18 points against Florida Gulf Coast on November 27, while logging double-doubles against SIUE (11 points, 10 rebounds) on December 9th and St. Bonaventure (13 points, 10 rebounds) on January 19th. Overall on the season, McNeal averaged 9.4 and 5.3 rebounds.

### Green Bay Phoenix (2022–current)

After the completion of the 2022 season, McNeal departed St. Louis and entered the NCAA transfer portal. On April 22, Green Bay announced the addition of McNeal, one of two additions for the Phoenix from the portal.

#### Sophomore season (2022–23)

McNeal played in all 34 games off the bench, averaging of 5.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Natalie notched two double-doubles against Wright State on February 2nd (16 points and 16 rebounds) and against Cleveland State in the Horizon League Tournament Final on March 7 (18 points and 13 rebounds). The 2023 Green Bay Phoenix won the regular season title and reached the 2nd round of the WNIT.

#### Junior season (2023–24)

Named to the Horizon League All–League First Team, McNeal was Green Bay's leading scorer and rebounder at 13.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Natalie's first career 30-point game was at Cleveland State on February 3rd. She also tied a career high 16 rebounds vs. Northern Kentucky on February 8th. Natalie scored a career high 32 points in the Horizon League Championship Game win against Cleveland State (64–40), earning her Horizon League All-Tournament honors plus the Tournament MVP, ultimately giving the 2024 Green Bay Phoenix their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2018.
After the conclusion of the 2024 season, Kevin Borseth announced his retirement as Green Bay Phoenix head coach on April 10. A few weeks later on April 25, Green Bay officially hired Kayla Karius as the program's 4th head coach.

#### Senior season (2024–25)

McNeal entered the campaign as a Preseason All-League First-Team. On January 11, Natalie scored 22 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds against Robert Morris, one of her six double-double performances on the season. On March 1, Natalie's scored a season high of 27 points along with 13 rebounds in an overtime home win vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (68-63), helping clinch the league regular season title. On March 11, Natalie poured in 26 points in Green Bay's win over Purdue Fort Wayne 76-63 in the league tournament final. The tournament win sealed another bid to the NCAA Tournament for Green Bay. She lead the team in scoring with 14.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game which also ranked 6th and 4th in the league, respectively. Similar to her Junior season, Natalie was voted to the All-League First-Team and All-League Tournament Team (both alongside Green Bay teammate Maddy Schrieber) plus League Tournament MVP.