Not to be missed: a legend in Maryland fastpitch softball is retiring.
A 5-foot-6 funny guard with wild, flowing hair was the program’s face before Maryland women’s basketball stars like Alyssa Thomas, Crystal Langhorne, Kristi Toliver, Marissa Coleman, and many more emerged. Tara Heiss was her name, and she set the standard for all other female athletes.
Heiss pioneered women’s basketball while she was a player for the Terrapins from 1975 to 1978. With her stunning passes, quick reflexes, and ability to score from wherever on the floor, she astounded large audiences.
Heiss was a multisport star at Walter Johnson High School, and several of her old teammates said she possessed flawless basketball skills. Her abilities and influence are frequently compared to those of NBA greats Allen Iverson and Bob Cousy.
With unmatched skill and passion for the game, Heiss was the one who popularized women’s basketball in Maryland.
Martha Hastings, who teamed up with Heiss in the backcourt at Walter Johnson and Maryland, stated, “I think what made her so great was she had incredible speed and at top speed could maintain control.” “She could be as successful as Allen Iverson.” She would finish once she reached the hoop. She could also pass all the insane, no-look passes that appeal to large crowds. Crowds adored her in part because of this. I believe that for many, it was the first time they had ever seen a woman with this level of skill on a court achieved program records at the end of her career with 1,350 points and 504 assists, becoming the first woman in the history of the Maryland program to reach 1,000 career points. But this is only one indicator of her accomplishments over her brilliant basketball career.
In 1978, as a senior, Heiss led Maryland to the first-ever ACC title, defeating NC State 89-82. She finished the game with 30 points and was chosen as the tournament’s MVP by all of the judges.
Heiss guided the Terps to the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) title later that season. In the championship game, Maryland defeated Wayland Baptist 90-85 behind 21 points from Heiss.
Throughout her career, she attracted the interest of numerous legends in the basketball circle for professionals. Attending the Terps’ unexpected victory, Wilt Chamberlain gave her performance high marks, stating, “That little guard for Maryland (Tara Heiss) was up and down the floor all night long.” She did not give up.
She was a fantastic player at Maryland who attracted a lot of fans. She helped the team win the ACC championship and get to the Final Four. Thus, Hastings, who was an assistant coach on the Maryland staff that year, stated, “she meant a lot at Maryland.” “Although there had been other excellent players at Maryland, she was arguably the school’s first well-known celebrity.”
