Better Know A New Badger: Laci Steele interview
The newest member of the Wisconsin women's basketball team answered a few of my questions.
Not to be outdone by Greg Gard’s impressive haul in the portal this off-season, new Wisconsin women’s basketball head coach Robin Pingeton has already secured her first transfer commitment, former N.C. State guard Laci Steele.
Drew Hamm
Steele announced her commitment to UW on Saturday and was kind enough to take some time out of her schedule to answer my questions, sent via Twitter DM. Here is our interview, only edited slightly for clarity.
Badgers Ball Knower: I believe that Robin Pingeton offered you in high school when she was the head coach at Mizzou. Was that established relationship important to you when searching for a new school in the portal?
Laci Steele: Yes, she did offer me in high school, and I had the chance to first meet her at one of her camps back in 2019. Knowing her, and reconnecting [this off-season], definitely made a big difference in my search because when you enter the portal the process is a little crazy and the timeline is really short.
BBK: What drew you to Pingeton's style as a coach?
Steele: I really like how she communicates on and off the court and how invested she is in each of her players. I think that translates to a good team culture and trust.
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BBK: What drew you to Wisconsin as a school and/or Madison as a city?
Steele: I had already heard that the campus was beautiful and when we looked at the school, I really liked the size of the school, the city of Madison, and the fan base is amazing and really supportive. Also, the university had an exact match for my degree program, which was great.
BBK: Wisconsin WBB fans are excited, if a little bit wary, about all of the new faces that will be on the team next year. How would you describe your strengths on the court?
Steele: That’s understandable. I think fans will see my hard work, dedication, and versatility that I’ll bring offensively as a three-level scorer and defensively being able to guard 1-4 (editor’s note: basically every position but center). On or off the court I try to bring a very positive and supportive attitude. I’m also big on ball IQ, making good decisions, and having good relationships with my teammates and coaches.
BBK: The Badgers haven't been to the NCAAT in well over a decade. During your two years at NC State you went to the Sweet 16 and the Final Four. What did you learn in your two postseason runs that you are going to bring to the locker room at UW?
Steele: Those were such amazing opportunities that are unforgettable. I learned and grew a lot. It’s all about the hard work and dedication that it takes in practice, in film study, and throughout the season. It also includes the work outside of practice, plus good chemistry with your teammates.
But, it really all starts even before showing up for summer workouts, physically and mentally. I will definitely bring that experience and all of those lessons learned, plus leadership, to help to build our team culture in the locker room.
It would appear that discipline and hard work run in the Steele family as Laci tells me that both her parents were in the military, meeting in the Navy before starting a family. Laci is the youngest of three siblings, with one older sister (Dylan, 26) and one older brother (Xander, graduating college in May).
Thanks again to Laci for answering my questions.
