Badgers juniors Serah Williams and Ronnie Porter discuss their 91-61 loss to the Bruins in Wednesday’s regular season home finale.
It’s a true family affair with the Grzesk family and UW-Green Bay.
Gracie Grzesk will now add her own chapter with the Phoenix women’s basketball team after the University of Wisconsin freshman transfer committed to UW-Green Bay on March 23.
“It’s definitely special and kind of surreal getting to live on the family tradition and play in a Phoenix uniform. I’m really excited,” Grzesk said.
Gracie Grzesk’s father, Gary, was a four-year standout for the Phoenix from 1992-96, helping lead the Phoenix to three NCAA Tournament appearances, and later was an assistant coach during the 2001-02 season. Liz Hauger Grzesk, Gracie’s mother, also coached at UW-Green Bay, serving as an assistant under former Phoenix coach Kevin Borseth from 2002-04.
That familiarity with the Phoenix stems beyond Gracie Grzesk’s parents, though. Upon entering the transfer portal on March 13, Phoenix coach Kayla Karius (Tetschlag) was quick to reconnect with the former Green Bay Notre Dame standout.
It’s fitting, given Karius recruited Grzesk when she was part of the Badgers coaching staff from 2018-21 under former coach Jonathan Tsipis.
“Obviously a lot of the people that recruit you when you’re in the portal are familiar faces, and Kayla was super familiar to me,” Gracie Grzesk said. “I’ve talked to her for years, wherever she recruited me, so I obviously knew who she was right away and it just made everything so much easier.”
Grzesk, who averaged 4.4 minutes per game while scoring 10 total points in 16 games during her only season with the Badgers, didn’t state specifically why she chose to leave Wisconsin, stating her decision was “what was best for me and my situation.”
When she entered the transfer portal, numerous schools contacted her, both from the Power Four and mid-major level, as well as some Division II schools, with Drake and UW-Green Bay becoming the final candidates.
Gracie Grzesk1
Former Wisconsin guard Gracie Grzesk races after a loose ball against UW-Milwaukee’s Sophia Rampulla during a nonconference game on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. Grzesk committed to UW-Green Bay on March 23. SEAN DAVIS, LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
While Grzesk said she “really could have seen myself happy at either place,” the Phoenix won out for two reasons.
“Ultimately, Green Bay is home, and the level of sustained success that the program has had is hard to beat,” Grzesk said.
That winning culture continued under Karius, a 2011 Phoenix grad, in her first season this winter, finishing 29-6, including 19-1 in Horizon League play, and winning both the conference regular season and tournament titles. UW-Green Bay fell to Alabama 81-67 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the program’s 20th appearance all-time.
Grzesk will feel plenty comfortable on the court in the Phoenix’s read-and-react offense. It’s the same system Grzesk’s high school coach, Sara Rohde (Boyer), ran at Notre Dame, and the same one Rohde played in under Borseth from 2000-03.
The 5-foot-11 guard feels her versatility and size will play right into the system’s strengths.
“They post up their guards a lot, which is something that I’ve always done, and then just my IQ and their read-and-react offense, I think it just fits my style of play very well,” Grzesk said.
“Gracie is the prototype Phoenix women’s basketball player — great size, versatile skillset, strong IQ, and the ability to defend multiple positions,” Karius added of Grzesk in UW-Green Bay’s announcement of the latter’s signing.
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Wisconsin guard Gracie Grzesk said a chance to play for her father’s alma mater and the program’s success was “hard to beat” in her choosing to transfer to UW-Green Bay. SEAN DAVIS, LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Grzesk will also mesh well with the returning players, having competed against some of the players and met everyone else. She’ll also have plenty of opportunity to put that on display, with the Phoenix set to lose seven seniors to graduation.
Grzesk said Karius likened her to outgoing guard/forward Maddy Schreiber, the Phoenix’s second-leading scorer last season who averaged 12.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 25 games. Grzesk also understands that doesn’t guarantee her anything, and she’s eager to earn her place.
“I mean, no coach really promises playing time, so obviously there’s opportunity to play there, but at the same time, you have to work for it as well,” she said.
: Wisconsin women’s basketball hosts No. 2 UCLA in home finale
Halle Douglass
Wisconsin guard Halle Douglass attempts a 3-pointer during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Lily Krahn
Wisconsin guard Lily Krahn shoots over UCLA’s Elina Aarnisalo during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Natalie Leuzinger
Wisconsin guard Natalie Leuzinger looks for an open teammate during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Carter McCray
Wisconsin center Carter McCray drives against UCLA’s Lauren Betts during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
UCLA’s Lauren Betts
UCLA’s Lauren Betts, right, high-fives Angela Dugalic after making a basket through contact during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Tess Myers
Wisconsin guard Tess Myers follows through on a 3-point attempt during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Ronnie Porter
Wisconsin guard Ronnie Porter fires a pass up court during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Serah Williams
Wisconsin forward Serah Williams was named to the All-Big Ten first team and the all-conference defensive team on Tuesday. SEAN DAVIS, LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Alie Bisballe
Wisconsin forward Alie Bisballe looks for an open teammate during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
UCLA’s Angela Dugalic
UCLA’s Angela Dugalic looks for an open teammate while being guarded by Wisconsin’s Carter McCray during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Wisconsin coach Marisa Moseley
Wisconsin coach Marisa Moseley directs her team during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Halle Douglass
Wisconsin guard Halle Douglass tries to drive by UCLA’s Timea Gardiner during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Lily Krahn
Wisconsin guard Lily Krahn drives against UCLA’s Gabriela Jaquez during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Natalie Leuzinger
Wisconsin guard Natalie Leuzinger drives to the basket against UCLA’s Timea Gardiner during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
UCLA’s Timea Gardiner
UCLA’s Timea Gardiner tries to back down Wisconsin’s Halle Douglass during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Carter McCray
Wisconsin center Carter McCray shoots over UCLA’s Timea Gardiner during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Tess Myers
Wisconsin guard Tess Myers drives into the lane during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Ronnie Porter
Wisconsin guard Ronnie Porter drives around UCLA’s Londynn Jones during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
Serah Williams
Wisconsin forward Serah Williams shoots over UCLA’s Lauren Betts during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
UCLA’s Kiki Rice looks to drive by Wisconsin’s Natalie Leuzinger during a Big Ten Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. SEAN DAVIS LEE SPORTS WISCONSIN
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