Clairton scoring sensation Iyanna Wade to play college ball at Slippery Rock

By: Liam Belan
Friday, April 25, 2025 | 11:17 PM

After one of the best basketball careers in WPIAL history, Clairton’s Iyanna Wade on Friday announced her decision to continue her academic and athletic career at Slippery Rock.

Wade, who also held offers from Robert Morris, Lander University, the University of Charleston and Valdosta State, decided on The Rock due to their family atmosphere that will allow her to step in and have an instant impact.

“I can’t wait to step in and make my mark on Slippery Rock,” Wade said. “I’m glad that this process is over because I was overwhelmed, so now that I have a home and it’s all settled, it means a lot.

“It feels like everything (in college sports) is more of a business now, but it wasn’t like that with Slippery Rock. They made me feel like they wanted me, so that definitely feels like home. I’m comfortable around them, they’re all great people, and the campus is really nice.”

Wade will join coach Ryenn Micaletti and former WPIAL players in Hannah Pugliese from Penn Hills, Regan Atkins from Laurel, Deryn Moye from Blackhawk, Central Valley’s Alyssa Gillin, Avonworth’s Rebecca Goetz and Neshannock’s Mairan Haggerty.

Wade’s decision was announced in the Clairton gym where she made a name for herself over the last four years with family and friends there to support her. She had her choice of staying at the school or looking to gain more notoriety on the recruiting trail by playing basketball elsewhere in her high-school career, but she always stayed true to Clairton.

“That’s probably the main reason that I stayed at Clairton all four years, because I take pride in having people around me that are willing to fight for me and want to see me win,” Wade said. “It means a lot to me that they’re all supporting me. At Clairton, everyone’s close and tight. For them to see the potential in me, it makes me go 10 times harder with them knowing what I’m capable of and holding me to that.”

Wade’s success with the Bears was well-documented as she finished second in WPIAL history with 3,119 career points, earning the 2025 Pennsylvania Class A Player of the Year award as a senior. In her final two seasons, she was the state and WPIAL scoring leader, and she is the only player in WPIAL girls basketball history to score over 50 points in two playoff games.

“Iyanna’s accomplishments are extensive and extend beyond basketball,” Clairton athletic director Alexis Trubiani said. “She is a three-year member of the National Honor Society, holds an impressive 4.019 GPA and is ranked third in the Class of 2025. She also gives back to our community through volunteer work in the elementary school and through the youth basketball programs.”

In a school and city that has shaped its fair share of legendary athletes, Wade is right up there with the best of them in terms of high-school production. Her career is one that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

She joined her father, Clairton coach Carlton Wade, in helping the girls basketball team flourish over the past few seasons. But she’s also excited to move on to Slippery Rock to pursue a degree in either criminal justice or sports medicine, saying that she wants to try to stay around sports as long as she can.

Tags: Clairton