Michelle Marciniak

Michelle M. Marciniak (born October 29, 1973) is a former All-American collegiate and professional basketball player who played point guard in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). As a floor general, Marciniak competed for two national championships during her three-year career at the University of Tennessee. She led the Tennessee Lady Vols to their fourth national championship and, in 1996, was named most valuable player in the Final Four Women's Tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina.

She later was the recruiting coordinator/assistant coach of the women's basketball team at the University of South Carolina from 2003 to 2008. Marciniak was responsible for two back to back top recruiting classes, rated #18 in 2007 and #7 in 2008, the highest ranked class ever recruited at South Carolina.

Marciniak is currently the co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Sheex in Marlton, New Jersey, a performance fabric bedding company.

Early years and education Marciniak was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, on October 29, 1973.

Marciniak attended Allentown Central Catholic High School in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where she played high school basketball in the highly respected East Penn Conference. In 1991, as an Allentown Central Catholic High School senior, she was named National Player of the Year by Parade magazine, Naismith National Player of the Year, and Gatorade National High School Player of the Year. In February 1991, Sports Illustrated profiled Marciniak in an article titled "She's the Ponytailed Princess of the Hoop," which covered her performance as a high school junior at Allentown Central Catholic High School. She scored 3,025 points for Allentown Central Catholic High School, and the school later retired her number 23 jersey number in recognition of her extraordinary high school basketball achievements.

Collegiate career

After a year at Notre Dame, Marciniak transferred to Tennessee, where she quickly became a leader in its dominant team under head coach Pat Summitt. Summitt had recruited her at Allentown Central Catholic High School, where she went into labor as she was sitting in the Marciniaks' home on a recruiting trip. Summitt quickly wrapped up the visit and flew back to Knoxville, where she gave give birth to her son, Tyler. "Spinderella", as Marciniak was affectionately known because of her free wheeling, spinning, and slashing style, became a crowd favorite at Tennessee. She scored over 1,000 points and remains ranked among Tennessee's top ten all-time in assists and three-point scoring, despite only playing three seasons.

With Marciniak at point guard, the Lady Vols won consecutive Southeastern Conference championships in 1995 and 1996. In the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship, Tennessee came in second to the Connecticut Huskies. In the 1995-1996 season, Tennessee wasn't expected to be as strong, but the team lost just four games during the regular season and returned to the Final Four, where they faced a rematch with Connecticut. In the game, Marciniak led the team to an 88-83 overtime victory, then avenged an earlier loss to Georgia to claim Tennessee's fourth national championship. During the season, Marciniak became the focused leader and played a methodical style of basketball that Pat Summitt demanded from her point guards. Marciniak was chosen the NCAA Division I basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player for her play. She graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1996 with a degree in psychology.

Career USA Basketball Marciniak was named to the USA U18 team, then called the Junior World Championship Qualifying Team, in 1992. The team competed in Guanajuato, Mexico, in August 1992. The team won their first four games, then lost 80–70 to Brazil, finishing with the silver medal for the event, but qualifying for the 1993 world games. Marciniak averaged 6.8 points per game during the event. Byears intentionally threw a ball at Marciniak's face, and Marciniak, in response, charged the much larger and stronger Byears.

Marciniak retired at 29 years old, after the Storm's 2002 season, to become an assistant coach for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in the powerhouse SEC Conference, where she had played as a collegian. Marciniak served as an assistant on the staff of head coach Susan Walvius from 2003 to 2008. She is also an occasional color analyst for WNBA and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball games on ESPN Radio and other media outlets.

SHEEX

In 2007, she co-founded SHEEX, a Cherry Hill, New Jersey-based performance bedding and sleepwear company, with Susan Walvius, a former collegiate basketball coaches and athlete. The company introducied what it describes as the world’s first athletic-performance sheets, using fabric technology traditionally found in sportswear. SHEEX products are designed to improve sleep quality through enhanced breathability, moisture-wicking properties, stretch, and temperature control.

The concept for SHEEX was developed when Marciniak and Walvius identified a gap in the bedding market. Drawing on their backgrounds in athletics, they noted that the materials used in high-performance athletic wear could be applied to bedding to create a more comfortable and functional sleep environment. Rather than traditional cotton, SHEEX bedding is made from a proprietary blend of advanced performance fabrics that mimic the qualities of workout gear. These materials help regulate body temperature, wick away moisture, and allow for increased airflow, making them suitable for individuals seeking cooler and more breathable sleep solutions.

The inspiration behind the company was rooted in personal experience. As a former professional basketball player, Marciniak was familiar with the physical demands placed on athletes and the essential role that rest and recovery play in peak performance. The idea was to create a product that would support better sleep for athletes and active individuals, ultimately helping them to recover more efficiently and perform at higher levels. Over time, the appeal of SHEEX products extended beyond athletes, attracting a broader audience that includes hot sleepers, individuals in warm climates, and consumers interested in innovative sleep technology.

Initially focused on bed sheets, the company later expanded its product line to include pillowcases, duvet covers, mattress toppers, and sleepwear, incorporating the same performance fabric principles. The brand has been featured in several media outlets and has partnered with athletic organizations and wellness-focused retailers to expand its reach.

The company operates primarily through its e-commerce platform but has also distributed products through select retail partners. The company employs between 11 and 50 people. Revenue figures vary depending on the source, with estimates ranging from approximately $3.5 million to as much as $30 million annually.

SHEEX has positioned itself as a leader in the performance bedding category, a niche market that blends athletic textile technology with sleep health and wellness. It addresses overheating and discomfort during sleep. The company continues to focus on innovation, product development, and expanding its customer base while maintaining its core mission: to improve sleep through scientifically designed materials inspired by athletic performance.

Career statistics

College

WNBA

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Playoffs