Aileen McManus was one of the most dominant all-around high school athletes ever to emerge from the state of Washington. She helped elevate girls’ sports from novelty status to the mainstream, setting new standards for excellence. At Reardan High School, Aileen was a four-year varsity letter winner in both volleyball and basketball, and a three-year letter winner in track and field. In 1982 and 1983, she led Reardan to back-to-back State B Volleyball Championships, showcasing her powerful hitting and blocking skills.

It was on the basketball court, however, where Aileen left her greatest mark. A four-year starter, she never scored fewer than 10 points in a game, averaging 18.5 points per contest over her career. As a senior, she raised that mark to 23.3 points per game, earning a place on the USA Today Honorable Mention All-American team. She was a four-time all-state selection, directing both offense and defense with authority, and guiding Reardan to a state championship, two runner-up finishes, and a third-place trophy during her career.

Before focusing solely on basketball and volleyball, Aileen also excelled in track, competing in the javelin and 800-meter run at the state meet in her sophomore and junior years.

Aileen continued her athletic journey at the University of Washington, where she was a two-year starter for the Huskies. She helped the program advance to the NCAA Tournament in all four seasons, including consecutive trips to the Sweet 16, and served as co-captain her senior year as Washington captured the Pac-10 Championship.

Following her playing career, Aileen turned to coaching, spending nine years at Roosevelt High School, where she built a respected program and was honored as the KingCo 4A Coach of the Year in 1997–98.