This story was written in collaboration with FanWord, the storytelling company for sports.

The NCAA Tournament is every athlete's dream.
For me, it's even more than that.
Playing for my home state, just miles from where I grew up, has made this journey even more special.
The tradition, the banners, the history—I grew up knowing what Green Bay basketball meant.
Now, I'm part of that legacy.
And we're not just playing for ourselves—we're playing for our city, our community, and the people who have supported us every step of the way.
To make the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back years?
That's beyond anything I could have imagined.
But we're not satisfied.
We know how hard it is to get here once. 
To do it twice? That's special.
Now, we're ready to compete on the biggest stage — to represent Green Bay and add another chapter to this program's storied history.

 

The Backyard Roots

I fell in love with basketball in the backyard of my childhood home.
My dad would coach me, and my sisters and I would play for hours and hours on end. 
Looking back, I couldn't have asked for a better introduction to the game.
It wasn't just about basketball either.
It was about family, competition, and love for something bigger than yourself.
That's one of the main reasons I transferred back home to Green Bay after my freshman year in St. Louis.
I didn't realize how much I missed my family—how much it mattered to have them in the stands, cheering me on, being part of this journey.
Their presence has been a blessing.
And they've had plenty to cheer about.
We've now won the Horizon League twice and are dancing in March Madness for the second year in a row.
I still can't wrap my head around it.
This game has given me so much.
But what I'll cherish the most is sharing this success with my teammates, including the seven seniors who have been by my side through everything.
The wins and losses.
The struggles and triumphs.
These are the moments we'll never forget.

 

Trusting the Process, Embracing the Journey

If there's one thing I've learned as a college athlete, it's that success isn't linear.
My path started in St. Louis before bringing me back home to Green Bay.
There were difficult moments—times when I had to remind myself to trust the process.
Times when I had to block out the doubt and just commit to the work.
It wasn't easy.
But standing here now, heading into another NCAA Tournament, I know it was worth it.
And I'm not the only one who's had to fight through the tough moments.
Every player on this team has had their own challenges, setbacks, and doubts.
That's what makes this season so special.
We know what it took to get here.
We know the work, the sacrifice, and the heart it took to earn this moment.

 

Playing for Something Bigger

Every time we step on the court, we carry more than just our own dreams.
We represent our city, our fans, and the legacy of Green Bay basketball.
And that support?
It never wavers.
Year after year, this community shows up for us. They believe in us, motivate us, and stand with us—on and off the court.
That's why we fight so hard.
That's why we give everything we have every single game.
Because we're not just playing for ourselves—we're playing for them.
And we will show that again this Saturday when we take on Alabama in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.