Massachusetts Governor-Elect Democrat Maura Healey didn't always sport a business suit while pounding high-heeled shoes into the marble floors of the Massachusetts State House.

There once was a time when Healey's work clothes included sneakers, shorts, and a jersey.

Maura Tracy Healey, born February 8, 1971, in Bethesda, Maryland, was a hoop star, first for Harvard and then for a professional women's basketball team in Austria.

Maura Healey: Massachusetts Governor And Pro Basketball Star
Maura Healey via Facebook
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Healey, the oldest of five siblings, grew up in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. Her stepfather coached girls' sports, including basketball, at Winnacunnet High School in nearby Hampton.

While majoring in government at Harvard, Healey played basketball. She was co-captain of the Harvard Crimson women's basketball team under longtime coach Kathy Delany-Smith from 1988-1992.

Maura Healey: Massachusetts Governor And Pro Basketball Star
Maura Healey via Facebook
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Yahoo Sports says, "With Healey playing point guard, Harvard won the Ivy League Championship in the 1990-91 season, and she was picked as co-captain in 1991-92."

"Healey's senior season saw her post the second-most assists in a season (150) in program history at the time, as well as win the team award for best defensive player," the site reported.

Maura Healey: Massachusetts Governor And Pro Basketball Star
Maura Healey via Facebook
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The Harvard Crimson reported on basketball "star" Maura Healey in a March 14, 1992 article about her success as a college player.

After college, Healey played two seasons of professional basketball in Austria for UBBC Wustenrot Salzburg.

Maura Healey: Massachusetts Governor And Pro Basketball Star
Maura Healey via Facebook
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Healey traded in her sneakers for a law degree at Northeastern University School of Law in 1998 and was eventually elected Attorney General of Massachusetts.

Healey, the first elected female and first openly gay Governor of Massachusetts, is also the first professional basketball player to hold that position.

30 famous people you might not know were college athletes

Stacker dug deep to find 30 celebrities who were previously college athletes. There are musicians, politicians, actors, writers, and reality TV stars. For some, an athletic career was a real, promising possibility that ultimately faded away due to injury or an alternate calling. Others scrapped their way onto a team and simply played for fun and the love of the sport. Read on to find out if your favorite actor, singer, or politician once sported a university jersey.

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