Laura Ziegler, Louisville women's basketball have been a perfect match

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- After three standout seasons at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Laura Ziegler wanted the challenge of a power four conference school for her final season of college basketball.

Louisville has fit the bill.

When Ziegler first entered the transfer portal, her initial phone conversation with Jeff Walz had to be cut short by the coach.

"It turned out he had to do a bourbon signing," Ziegler said. "I said 'That's so odd.' And he said 'Yeah, bourbon is really big here.' And I said 'OK.'"

But an impression had been made, and Ziegler is glad she decided to play for Walz.

"Coach Walz is one of a kind," Ziegler said with a laugh. "He'll go in and he'll tell you this is about to happen and you have to do this, and you'll go in and it's exactly what he just said. And everyone's like 'How did he know?' But I guess (it's) the experience. He's smart and he's been around the game for a long time. I've really enjoyed playing for him. It's been exactly what I needed for my senior year."

Growing up in Denmark, Ziegler fought against playing basketball, the sport that brought her parents together. But after playing more popular sports like soccer and handball, she finally tried and fell in love with basketball around age 10. Within three years, she was on the youth national team and eventually the senior national team, building the all-around skills that have served her so well at Louisville.

"My role is doing a little bit of everything, whatever is needed," Ziegler said. "I knew coming in here what I had to bring was obviously my basketball skills but also my leadership too."

She has blended right in to a team with players from five continents. Ziegler is the leading rebounder and is third in scoring and assists for the 8th-ranked Cardinals, who have won 11 games in a row.

"We have a lot of different personalities and a lot of different kind of players on the court, and you kind of need that," she said. "But the fact that we get along so well off the court — you don't get very far if you don't like each other off the court. It's that simple."

Ziegler has definitely won over her coach.

"I mean, it's not just on the basketball court. It's off the court. It's every day at practice," Walz said. "She brings positivity. She's a happy kid. We've only been fortunate to have her here a few months, but I'll put my name on the line for her. If it's professionally for her to continue playing basketball — with an owner or a coach or if it's in the business world — I mean I've got no problem going out and saying this kid is going to be successful. You want her in your locker room. You want her in your office."