At DePaul, Brittany Hrynko (LAS ’15) left her mark as BIG EAST Player of the Year and BIG EAST Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2015.

But this top shooter, who was initially drafted by the WNBA after graduation, chose a different path for her professional career.

Hrynko recently joined the Harlem Globetrotters, taking her place among the celebrated exhibition basketball team whose roots date back to the 1920s on the South Side of Chicago.

“I knew a couple of the Globetrotters, including Speedy, who is a friend of mine from growing up. The more I heard about it, the more I decided this was for me. I love kids, and just seeing them smile and having fun makes it fun for me,” says the 25-year-old Hrynko.

A native of Philadelphia, she caught the eye of DePaul Coach Doug Bruno (LAS ’73, MA ’88) while at the George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science.

“Britt Hrynko is one of the most impactful players in our program’s history,” says Bruno.

“What made Britt special was her ability to score from deep, get to the rim and facilitate-always making her teammates better. Her flair and gusto for the game make her a natural Harlem Globetrotter.”

At DePaul, Hrynko averaged 19.1 points per game and set the career record for assists. She is also the No. 2 all-time record holder in three-point baskets, No. 3 in steals and No. 5 in career scoring with 1,970 points.

“A highlight from DePaul is definitely beating Duke at the NCAA tournament,” she says. “DePaul was a great experience. I really liked being in the city; the team was just great and they made me feel like I was a part of the team even before I officially joined.”

She played with the Atlanta Dream, San Antonio Stars and Tulsa Shock in the WNBA and overseas in Israel, Slovakia and Italy. “This was such a great experience for me,” says Hrynko. “Just seeing another part of the world and how others live was really exciting.”

These days, Hrynko travels from city to city with the Globetrotters, wowing the audience with her tricks in between shots. “It’s so much fun! Everyone should come out and see us,” she says.

There’s even a historic connection between the Globetrotters and DePaul. “The Harlem Globetrotters and DePaul basketball grew up together, as DePaul Coach Ray Meyer and Abe Saperstein, who started the Globetrotters, were great friends,” says Bruno. “It is a great honor and achievement for Britt to make the Globetrotters.”