Merissah Russell

MBA student
Class of 2024
Cardinals Basketball guard

Merissah Russell ’24 leads her life with purpose, grit and heart. At UofL, she’s worked hard to succeed both on and off the court, paving her path to academic achievement, athletic excellence and community service.

Russell, a key player for the women’s Cardinals basketball team from 2020-2025, uses her competitive edge to help her team win, to succeed in the classroom and to empower others in the community to follow their passions.

Though she has many accomplishments, Russell says what she is most proud of from her UofL career are her bachelor’s degree and her upcoming MBA.

“I’m the second person in my family to earn a degree. My sister beat me because she was born first,” Russell said with a smirk. “But to have these two degrees is everything. Education is power, that’s how I was raised, and to have that is huge for me.”

A student-athlete from Ottawa, Ontario, born to Jamaican immigrants, Russell was raised on strong values and a service mindset. “My mom immigrated to Canada when she was about 12 and my dad came over in his mid-20s,” Russell said. “My parents worked so many jobs because they didn’t have any money, and they had to work really hard. They met playing intramural volleyball, fell in love and had two kids, my sister and me.”

That humble (and sports-related) beginning spiked Russell’s own determination and future as an athlete.

Russell was recruited to play basketball at UofL, where she earned her undergraduate degree in health and human performance with a focus on exercise science and a minor in communications and graduated with a 4.0 GPA in 2024.

On the basketball court, her journey wasn’t a slam dunk.

“When I first started here, I didn’t get a lot of playing time,” she said. “I basically rode the bench for like a year and a half.” Instead of giving up, Russell dug deeper. “I decided, if I’m not going to play, I’m going to be on the best team. I made sure I knew the plays, helped my teammates, did extra conditioning, whatever it took.”

Her persistence and determination paid off. She became a key player, starting games and contributing to multiple NCAA Tournament runs, including a Final Four and two Elite Eights. Russell’s selfless, team-first mentality made her invaluable to her teammates.

“I wasn’t the best scorer or defender,” she said, “so I found my niche…getting the ball to the scorers, taking charges when needed, talking loud on the court and hitting open shots. That’s how I carved my space.”

Her drive to succeed extends to the classroom where she thrives, despite having no background in business. “My mom tells me I don’t have to get a 4.0 in my MBA — but I still strive for that.” Russell currently boasts a 3.8 GPA in her MBA program, which she will complete later this year.

Russell’s persistence and her selfless mentality extend beyond the playing field, as she’s dedicated to making positive impacts in her community through service opportunities.

“My parents taught me that I have a responsibility to give back,” Russell said. “I’ve had so many gifts and opportunities, so I want to give back to those who don’t have the same and try to lift them up.”

Some of her proudest contributions are her work with Special Olympics Kentucky and Grace James Academy. “With Special Olympics Kentucky, we coach and play with the athletes,” Russell said. “It’s so great to go into the community and build connections. They’re huge fans of us and we’re huge fans of them. It’s amazing to meet their families and just connect as people.”

At Grace James Academy, an all-girls school in Louisville with a majority population of Black students,  Russell and her teammates visit students, host them at games and offer mentorship.

“Representation matters. Growing up, my mom always told me to be a confident young Black woman. That stuck with me,” Russell said. “It’s so important for them to see people who look like them doing great things. That could spark their own dreams.”

She is also a proud representative of her home country, playing basketball for Team Canada. She  worked her way up from youth tournaments to being an alternate for the Canadian Olympic team. “I’ve been playing with the national team since eighth grade. I’ve played in Argentina, Australia, Thailand, you name it.” Russell now has her sights set on playing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

As she prepares to finish her MBA, Russell has a clear vision for her future. She’s shooting for a professional basketball career, followed by a role in sports marketing or broadcasting, and maybe even coaching. “I want to enjoy basketball without school for the first time in 12 years and just be a basketball player for a little bit to cultivate that part of me,” Russell said. “But long-term, I’d love to stay in the sports world, maybe in an NBA front office or with ESPN.”

Russell will walk away from UofL with her competitive edge intact, and with more than her degrees and basketball stats.

“I’ve been so empowered here,” Russell said. “From my undergrad professors challenging me to think from different perspectives and learning to advocate for others to my MBA professors always having an open door and opportunities for us to meet and connect with mentors and peers to make sure we’re as successful as we can be.”

“At UofL, people care about each other, not just the goals. I want to take that spirit with me wherever I go.”