Janel McCarville was born on November 3, 1982 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, the daughter of Terry and Bonnie McCarville. She has an older sister and three older brothers.

High School
Janel attended Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH) (Wisconsin), where she led her school to a 59-11 record over her final three years.

As a senior, Janel averaged 19.4 ppg and led her team to a runner-up finish in the 2001 Wisconsin Division I State Tournament. She shared the Wisconsin Player of the Year award with Mistie Bass (nee Williams) and was honored as an AAU All-American and a member of the 2001 all-state first team.

College
Janel attended the University of Minnesota and played basketball for the Golden Gophers.

She was a starter in all four years, playing alongside her teammate Lindsay Whalen.

Janel is in the top five of every major statistical category for the Golden Gophers' women's team: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. She also holds the NCAA record for most rebounds in the tournament, with 75 rebounds in five games. She also holds the NCAA record for tournament rebound average, with 15 per game.

WNBA
Janel was the #1 overall draft pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft, chosen by the Charlotte Sting.

Her rookie season was disappointing, however. Her statistics weren't that great and she also missed a number of games due to injury.

When the Sting went out of business in the spring of 2007, Janel claimed by the New York Liberty in the WNBA dispersal draft.

During the first half of the 2007 season she earned a place in the Liberty starting lineup, displacing rookie Jessica Davenport. On August 25, 2007, Janel was named most improved player of the 2007 season.

Personal
Janel was named an endorser of Peak shoes in February 2008 as part of the WNBA's multi-year marketing partnership with Fujian Peak Group Co. Ltd.