Carol “The Blaze” Blazejowski is best known as a trailblazing women’s basketball player who was a three-time All-American (1976, 1977 and 1978) during her time at Montclair State University.
Following her record-setting tenure in college, Blazejowski became the leading scorer on the 1979 U.S. Women’s National Team that won the world championship. A year later, she was chosen for the U.S. Olympic Team as a captain (Blazejowski was an alternate on the 1976 Olympic Team), but due to the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics, “The Blaze” was unable to take the court.
Following her playing career, Blazejowski served as NBA director of women’s basketball programs and director of licensing for NBA Properties, Inc. She then spent 14 years as president and general manager of the Women’s National Basketball Association’s New York Liberty. In this capacity, she built one of the league’s most successful franchises, with 10 playoff appearances, three Eastern Conference Championships, and four appearances in the WNBA Finals.
In 1994, “The Blaze” was inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame, she is also a member of Montclair State University’s Hall of Fame.
Blazejowki is now the Associate Vice President for External Relations and University Advancement at Montclair State University. She oversees the university’s efforts in the areas of communications, marketing, community relations and events.