Keller's Korner - Abby Meyers

Abby was practically born with a basketball in her hand. At just seven years old, she was already competing in a rec league for Carderock Springs Elementary School in Bethesda, Maryland. Her love for the game? Abby credits her father:

“I definitely credit my dad in teaching me the fundamentals and patience for the game. I also credit my high school varsity coach Peter Kenah for teaching me a lot about how to operate and succeed in organized team offense and defense.”

By middle school, Abby was turning heads in a “Rising Stars” league. Her parents, Steve and Valerie, raised three daughters—all of whom played for Walt Whitman High School. Abby is still the all-time leading scorer—male or female—in Whitman history. She led the Whitman Vikings to a Maryland State Championship and earned First-Team All-State honors.

Abby also excelled in soccer and explained, “I absolutely loved playing soccer. I credit my good pivot and foot skills to soccer helping me with basketball.”

Abby took her talents to Princeton University in New Jersey, where she led the Tigers to three consecutive Ivy League titles. In 2022, she was named Ivy League Player of the Year and earned a spot on the Associated Press All-American team.

That same year, she starred for Team USA at the Maccabiah Games in Israel, leading the squad in scoring and capturing the gold.

“Playing for USA that year made me appreciate my Jewish heritage more than I ever have before. The connections I made will last me a lifetime and are a big reason why I chose to play in Israel professionally.”

For the 2022–2023 season, Abby returned home, choosing Maryland over Michigan and Connecticut.

“I chose Maryland because it is close to home, and their coaching staff were extremely supportive of me during the decision-making process.”

She quickly became a key contributor, helping the Terps reach the Elite Eight before falling to top seed South Carolina. I had the pleasure of meeting Abby before that game in Greenville, South Carolina—armed with my collection of Abby Meyers Maryland bobbleheads to cheer her on and to amaze the entire Meyers family! She was named Second-Team All-Big Ten.

April 10, 2023, was a dream come true: Abby was selected 11th overall in the first round of the WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings.

“It was a dream come true. All those hours put in behind the scenes paid off—playing for hours on end on my driveway every evening before dinner.”

Though her time with the Wings was brief, she soon joined her hometown Washington Mystics before heading overseas to play for the London Lions in the women’s British Basketball League.

“Playing in London was the best thing that could have happened to me in my first year overseas. I played alongside some incredible WNBA talent and learned a lot about the game. The culture, food, and history in London were phenomenal—so many fun stories from that season.”

Abby was in Israel when Hamas attacked on October 7, 2023.

“The attacks were a huge tragedy, and many lives were lost that day and since then in both Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon. I hope that peace can be found as soon as possible.”

How do Abby’s parents feel about their daughter playing in Israel during war time? Abby said, “My family was nervous at first because the US news always painted the worst picture of the political situation in Israel. However, I have a great community here and felt very safe in Ashdod.” She added that she has had to go to bomb shelters on a few occasions.

This past season, Abby played for Maccabi B’not Ashdod and led the team to an Israeli League title. She was named league MVP, averaging:

• 17.4 points

• 7.4 rebounds

• 3.8 assists per game

After the season, she took a well-earned 12-day vacation to the Himalayan Mountains with her twin sister, Olivia.

Returning from her vacation, Abby decided her next chapter will be to play basketball in Spain, where she will compete in the EuroLeague. What is Abby’s ultimate goal? A return back to the WNBA.

Abby is a great role model, especially for girls who enjoy basketball. She added, “I unconditionally love this game, and it gives me a purpose.” What is one thing that fans might not know about Abby? She perfected a half-court shot behind her back. She said,” I started this at Princeton when I would get extra shots up by myself at night. I wanted to find new fun ways to shoot a ball, and I guess the shot stuck with me.”

Neil Keller is a Jewish historian. Visit his website: www.NeilKeller.com to learn who is Jewish.