DURHAM, N.C. — Two of Duke University’s most celebrated senior student-athletes, Andrew McAdorey and Reigan Richardson, are closing out their collegiate careers with more than just athletic success. Honored for their commitment to leadership, service, academic excellence, and competitive greatness, both Blue Devils represent the gold standard of what it means to wear the royal blue and white. As they prepare to take their next steps—on and off the playing field—the university community, teammates, and fans alike are celebrating the legacies they leave behind.
Andrew McAdorey: The Lacrosse Leader Who Never Let Up
For Duke men’s lacrosse, few names in recent memory have carried the kind of respect and weight that Andrew McAdorey does. Hailing from Garden City, New York, McAdorey arrived in Durham in 2021 as a highly touted recruit. What followed was a career defined by unrelenting energy, competitive fire, and an unshakable devotion to team-first principles.
In his senior season, McAdorey served as team captain, leading a top-ranked Blue Devils squad in a year of high expectations. He played both midfield and attack—showcasing his versatility and deep understanding of the game. He finished the 2025 regular season with 41 points on 25 goals and 16 assists, often being the catalyst in Duke’s transition game and a calming presence during high-pressure moments.
But what set McAdorey apart wasn’t just his stats—it was his mental toughness and servant leadership. Teammates credit him with establishing a locker room culture built on accountability, hard work, and a brotherhood that extended far beyond game days.
“Andrew is the guy who stays late, picks up cones after practice, and sends that extra text to a freshman who had a rough day,” said head coach John Danowski. “He’s the heartbeat of this program.”
Beyond the turf, McAdorey thrived in the classroom. A political science major, he consistently made the ACC All-Academic Team and earned departmental honors for his senior thesis, which examined leadership development through collegiate athletics. In spring 2025, he was one of only a handful of student-athletes awarded the Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship by the ACC, a distinction recognizing superior academic and athletic performance, as well as intent to pursue graduate education.
McAdorey has already been accepted to Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, where he will begin a Master of Management Studies program in fall 2025.
“It’s not about what I’ve done,” said McAdorey during his senior ceremony. “It’s about who I’ve been able to do it with—and who I’ve been able to become because of Duke. This place changed my life.”
Reigan Richardson: The Blueprint of Modern Duke Women’s Basketball
When Reigan Richardson transferred to Duke from Georgia ahead of her sophomore year, the Blue Devils knew they were getting a gifted scorer. What they couldn’t have predicted was just how integral she would become to the rebranding of Duke women’s basketball.
A Charlotte native and former five-star high school recruit, Richardson developed into the team’s most consistent performer, clutch scorer, and vocal leader over her final two seasons. In 2024–25, she averaged 17.2 points per game, adding 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Known for her silky-smooth mid-range jumper and fearless drives to the rim, Richardson was often the difference-maker in conference play, helping Duke earn a top-four finish in the ACC and secure their first Sweet 16 berth since 2018.
Along the way, Richardson surpassed the 1,000 career-point milestone, joining an exclusive club of Duke greats. She was named to the All-ACC First Team, selected as a finalist for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (given to the nation’s top shooting guard), and was recognized on both the Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy watch lists.
But more important than her accolades was her evolution into a player-coach—a calming presence for younger teammates and a tireless advocate for women’s sports on campus. She was a frequent panelist at Duke’s Gender Equity in Sports forums and served as a student representative on the Duke Athletics Advisory Council, helping shape future policy around NIL opportunities, nutrition access, and academic resources for female student-athletes.
“She’s a pillar of what this program is all about,” said head coach Kara Lawson. “Not just excellence in basketball, but excellence in purpose.”
Richardson majored in psychology, with a minor in African & African American Studies. She recently completed a year-long senior capstone project that explored the correlation between athletic identity and academic motivation in Division I female athletes. Her findings are expected to be published in a forthcoming issue of the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology.
Off the court, she has accepted a prestigious fellowship to work with Nike’s global community impact division in Portland, Oregon—a role that will allow her to continue advocating for equity and youth development through sport.
“I came to Duke looking to compete,” Richardson said. “But I leave here knowing that my impact can be bigger than the box score.”
A Celebration of Duke Values
The recognition of McAdorey and Richardson is not merely about stats or banners. It is a validation of the mission that Duke Athletics strives to uphold: to mold student-athletes into world-class leaders, thinkers, and change-makers.
Both athletes exemplify the “4E” Philosophy embraced by Duke Athletics: Excellence in Athletics, Education, Engagement, and Ethics.
- Athletically, they elevated their teams to new heights—McAdorey as the glue of a national title contender in lacrosse, and Richardson as the cornerstone of Duke’s basketball resurgence.
- Academically, both maintained high GPAs while tackling rigorous coursework, earning university-wide praise and support from faculty mentors.
- In community engagement, they gave back in meaningful ways—from McAdorey mentoring Durham middle schoolers to Richardson leading basketball clinics for underserved girls across North Carolina.
- Ethically, they carried themselves with class, sportsmanship, and a tireless commitment to doing things the right way, on and off the field.
These honors were formally presented at the 2025 Duke Athletics Senior Banquet, where both athletes delivered brief but powerful speeches reflecting on their growth, expressing gratitude to teammates and mentors, and challenging future Blue Devils to uphold the legacy of integrity and perseverance.
Looking Ahead
As McAdorey and Richardson prepare to enter their post-Duke lives, their futures shine as brightly as their pasts.
McAdorey has expressed interest in eventually entering the world of sports management or leadership development, combining his playing experience and business training to mentor the next generation of athletes.
Richardson, meanwhile, will spend the next year working with Nike but has not ruled out playing professionally. She’s been in contact with several WNBA scouts and agents, and a path to the league remains open, particularly as the WNBA continues to expand.
Their coaches, teammates, and administrators agree: whether it’s in the boardroom or back on the court, these two are destined to lead.
Final Thoughts: More Than Athletes
What makes McAdorey and Richardson’s stories so compelling is not just what they did—it’s how they did it. They didn’t take shortcuts. They didn’t chase only personal glory. They built bridges, lifted others, and represented Duke in the truest sense of the word.
In a college sports era often marked by chaos—conference realignment, NIL drama, and transfer portal whirlwinds—it’s refreshing to see two individuals who stayed the course, embraced their roles, and made their communities better.
Duke will move on. New stars will rise. But the imprints left by Andrew McAdorey and Reigan Richardson won’t fade. They’re not just graduating seniors—they’re architects of culture. And for that, Duke—and college athletics as a whole—should be grateful.
