Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Orlando Bloom
Donovan Clingan comes from a close-knit Connecticut family whose influence has been central to his rise from Bristol Central High School to UConn and eventually the NBA. Born on February 23, 2004, in Bristol, Connecticut, the Portland Trail Blazers center is the son of Bill Clingan and the late Stacey Porrini Clingan.
Basketball carries especially deep meaning in the Clingan family because Donovan’s mother was an accomplished college player before her death from breast cancer in 2018. Donovan also has a younger sister, Olivia, while his longtime relationship with Madeleine “Maddie” Ross entered a new chapter in 2026 when the couple announced their engagement.
Who Is Donovan Clingan’s Girlfriend?
Donovan Clingan’s longtime girlfriend is Madeleine “Maddie” Ross, although girlfriend is no longer the most accurate description of their relationship. Donovan and Madeleine became engaged in February 2026, making Ross his fiancée.
The couple have known each other since their teenage years in Bristol, Connecticut. Both attended Bristol Central High School, where Clingan became one of the best high-school basketball players in the state while Ross participated in soccer and lacrosse.
Their relationship began during their high-school years and continued as Clingan’s basketball career rapidly developed. Ross remained an important presence as he went from Bristol Central to the University of Connecticut.
She attended UConn as well, allowing the couple to remain close while Donovan helped the Huskies win consecutive NCAA national championships in 2023 and 2024.
Ross was regularly seen supporting Clingan during major moments in his career. She attended UConn games and was part of his support system during the NCAA Tournament, when national media frequently noted the presence of Clingan’s girlfriend and family in the stands.
She was also alongside him at the 2024 NBA Draft, where the Portland Trail Blazers selected Clingan with the seventh overall pick.
Donovan Clingan and Madeleine Ross Get Engaged
Donovan Clingan and Madeleine Ross took another major step in their relationship in February 2026 when they announced their engagement.
The couple shared photographs from a beach proposal, including an image of Clingan on one knee proposing to his longtime partner. Ross captioned the announcement “Forever love.”
The engagement represented another milestone in a relationship that had already survived the transition from high school to college basketball and then the move into the NBA.
As of now, Madeleine Ross is Donovan Clingan’s fiancée. There has been no reliable public announcement confirming that the couple have already married.
Does Donovan Clingan Have Children?
Donovan Clingan does not have any publicly known children.
Neither Clingan nor Madeleine Ross has announced the birth of a son or daughter, and reliable reporting about their 2026 engagement did not indicate that the couple already had children.
As of now, Donovan Clingan and Madeleine Ross have no publicly confirmed children.
Who Are Donovan Clingan’s Parents?
Donovan Clingan is the son of Bill Clingan and the late Stacey Porrini Clingan. Both parents played important roles in his upbringing, but Stacey’s basketball career and her death when Donovan was still young have had an especially profound influence on his life and career.
Donovan Clingan’s Father: Bill Clingan
Donovan Clingan’s father is Bill Clingan, who raised Donovan and his younger sister Olivia in Bristol, Connecticut.
Bill has remained closely involved in his son’s basketball journey and has frequently attended important games throughout Donovan’s high-school, college and professional careers.
Unlike Stacey, Bill is not known primarily for a major competitive basketball career. Professionally, he has worked in electric field operations for Eversource in Connecticut.
After Stacey died in 2018, Bill had the difficult responsibility of helping Donovan and Olivia navigate the loss of their mother while continuing to support their education and athletic ambitions.
His presence became particularly visible during Donovan’s career at UConn. Bill regularly attended Huskies games and was there as his son helped Connecticut win back-to-back national championships.
He was also among the family members who attended the 2024 NBA Draft in Brooklyn when Portland selected Donovan seventh overall.
The father and son were photographed celebrating together after UConn’s national championship success, reflecting the close relationship they maintained throughout Donovan’s rise in basketball.
Donovan Clingan’s Mother: Stacey Porrini Clingan
Donovan Clingan’s mother was Stacey Porrini Clingan, an outstanding basketball player whose athletic accomplishments created a powerful family connection to the sport Donovan later pursued professionally.
Stacey attended Bristol Central High School, the same school Donovan would later attend. She was an exceptional multi-sport athlete who competed in basketball, swimming and track and field.
Basketball became her most prominent sport. Standing around 6-foot-4, Stacey developed into a dominant interior player and established school records for rebounds and blocked shots during her time at Bristol Central.
She continued her basketball career at the University of Maine, where she played for the Black Bears from 1993 to 1997.
Stacey became a three-time all-conference player and helped Maine reach three consecutive NCAA Tournaments. She finished her college career with more than 1,100 points and more than 900 rebounds and served as a team captain during her senior season.
Her accomplishments eventually earned her induction into the University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame and the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
How Did Donovan Clingan’s Mother Die?
Stacey Porrini Clingan died from breast cancer on March 27, 2018, at the age of 42.
Donovan was only 14 years old and in eighth grade when his mother died. His sister Olivia was also still a young student.
The loss had a profound effect on Donovan. He has repeatedly explained that his mother became one of his greatest motivations for continuing to improve as a basketball player.
Rather than walking away from the sport that reminded him so strongly of her, Clingan decided to use basketball as a way to honor Stacey’s memory.
Why Did Donovan Clingan Wear Number 32?
One of the clearest tributes Donovan Clingan made to his mother was wearing jersey number 32.
Stacey wore No. 32 during her basketball career, and Donovan adopted the same number while playing at Bristol Central and later at UConn.
The number became much more than an ordinary jersey choice. For Clingan, it represented his mother and allowed him to carry a reminder of her onto the court every time he played.
At Bristol Central, Donovan even broke some of the rebounding and shot-blocking records previously held by his mother, creating another remarkable connection between their basketball careers.
When he entered the NBA with Portland, however, No. 32 was unavailable because the Trail Blazers had retired it in honor of Bill Walton. Clingan therefore began wearing No. 23 professionally.
Who Are Donovan Clingan’s Siblings?
Donovan Clingan has one publicly documented sibling, his younger sister Olivia Clingan.
Official biographies from both UConn and the NBA identify Olivia as Donovan’s younger sister, and the two experienced the loss of their mother together while they were still children.
Olivia Clingan
Olivia Clingan is Donovan Clingan’s younger sister.
Like her mother and brother, Olivia grew up around athletics. She attended Bristol Central High School and became a standout volleyball player while also establishing herself as a strong student.
After graduating from high school, Olivia attended Clemson University.
Although Donovan became nationally famous through basketball, Olivia has generally kept a much lower public profile.
The siblings appear to share a particularly meaningful bond because they experienced one of the most difficult periods of their lives together when their mother died.
Contemporary accounts of Stacey’s final days describe Donovan and Olivia being brought to the hospital to spend time with their mother, demonstrating how deeply the loss affected the entire family.
Olivia has continued to be part of the family support surrounding Donovan even while pursuing her own education away from Connecticut.
How Stacey Clingan Inspired Donovan’s Basketball Career
Stacey Porrini Clingan’s influence is one of the defining themes of Donovan Clingan’s basketball story.
Basketball was already part of his family identity before he became an elite prospect. Donovan grew up knowing that his mother had been one of Bristol Central’s best athletes and had gone on to become a successful Division I basketball player at Maine.
After she died, the sport became an even more personal connection between mother and son.
Clingan has explained that he wanted to take his basketball career to another level after losing Stacey because he wanted to accomplish things that would make her proud.
That motivation accompanied him throughout his extraordinary high-school career at Bristol Central, where he developed into one of the country’s most highly recruited centers.
He decided to remain close to home by joining UConn rather than leaving Connecticut for another major college program.
The decision eventually resulted in two NCAA national championships. Clingan won titles with Connecticut in both 2023 and 2024 before declaring for the NBA Draft.
Even during those championship runs, he frequently spoke publicly about his mother and his desire to honor her through his performances.
Donovan Clingan’s Family at the 2024 NBA Draft
The 2024 NBA Draft was one of the most emotional nights in Donovan Clingan’s life and another occasion when his family played a major role.
His father Bill, grandmother Deb Porrini, longtime girlfriend Madeleine Ross and other supporters from Bristol attended the event.
Clingan also found a special way to make sure his late mother remained part of the occasion. His draft suit included photographs honoring Stacey on the inside of the jacket.
The Portland Trail Blazers selected him with the seventh overall pick, completing a journey from local Connecticut basketball star to NBA lottery selection.
For Clingan, however, the accomplishment represented more than his individual success. It also reflected years of support from his father, sister, extended family, girlfriend and the memory of his mother.
Frequently Asked Questions About Donovan Clingan’s Family
Who is Donovan Clingan’s girlfriend?
Donovan Clingan’s longtime partner is Madeleine “Maddie” Ross. However, Ross is now his fiancée after the couple announced their engagement in February 2026.
Who is Donovan Clingan’s fiancée?
Donovan Clingan’s fiancée is Madeleine Ross. They have been together since their days at Bristol Central High School in Connecticut.
Is Donovan Clingan married?
No marriage has been publicly confirmed. As of now, Donovan Clingan and Madeleine Ross are engaged.
Does Donovan Clingan have children?
No. Donovan Clingan has no publicly confirmed children.
Who are Donovan Clingan’s parents?
Donovan Clingan’s parents are Bill Clingan and the late Stacey Porrini Clingan.
Who is Donovan Clingan’s father?
His father is Bill Clingan, who has worked in electric field operations for Eversource and has remained one of Donovan’s most visible supporters throughout his basketball career.
Who was Donovan Clingan’s mother?
His mother was Stacey Porrini Clingan, a former Bristol Central and University of Maine basketball star who later became an elementary school teacher.
What happened to Donovan Clingan’s mother?
Stacey Porrini Clingan died from breast cancer on March 27, 2018, at age 42. Donovan was 14 years old at the time.
Did Donovan Clingan’s mother play basketball?
Yes. Stacey was an accomplished basketball player at Bristol Central High School and the University of Maine. She helped Maine reach three NCAA Tournaments and later received multiple Hall of Fame honors.
Does Donovan Clingan have a sister?
Yes. Donovan has one younger sister named Olivia Clingan.
Does Donovan Clingan have a brother?
No brother is identified in Donovan Clingan’s official NBA or UConn biographies. His only publicly documented sibling is his younger sister Olivia.
Why did Donovan Clingan wear number 32?
Clingan wore No. 32 at Bristol Central and UConn to honor his late mother Stacey, who had worn the same number during her basketball career.
Orlando Bloom is a sports journalist and analyst specializing in in-depth NBA coverage, tactical breakdowns, and advanced player analytics. With a passion for professional basketball, he covers everything from trade deadline maneuvers and Draft prospects to team strategies and league-wide trends. Combining detailed stat analysis with game context, Orlando delivers sharp insights and compelling stories for avid basketball fans and casual followers alike.
