GREEN BAY – The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay women’s basketball team was the best squad in the Horizon League in Kayla Karius’ first season as coach in 2024-25.
Perhaps even better, UWGB was the top DI program in the country off the court.
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The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association recently announced that the Phoenix earned the No. 1 spot in the Academic Top 25 Honor Roll last season with a 3.862 grade-point average.
UWGB has finished first five times in the 30 years since the WBCA started compiling honor rolls. It’s the first time since 2018.
The UWGB women’s basketball team had the highest grade-point average of any NCAA Division I women’s squad in the nation in 2024-25.
It shouldn’t be a surprise how well the Phoenix did in the classroom, at least considering its coach.
Most UWGB fans know Karius, then Kayla Tetschlag, is one of the best players in program history. She graduated in 2011 with 1,372 career points, was a two-time all-conference selection and the Horizon’s co-player of the year along with teammate Celeste Ratka, then Hoewisch, as a senior.
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But her accomplishments were just as noteworthy in the classroom, where she was an honor roll student and an academic All-American.
Her pupils are following in the footsteps of their teacher.
“We couldn’t be prouder of last year’s squad for earning the WBCA Academic Honor Roll National Championship,” Karius said. “It’s a testament to their dedication, both on the court and in the classroom. Achieving success as an athlete takes hard work, but to balance that with academic excellence takes a level of commitment that goes above and beyond.
“Most don’t realize the day-to-day challenges that student-athletes have to encounter to be elite in both areas of their lives. We knew it was a special group last year, and this award adds another major layer to their legacy.”
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UWGB women have legacy of academic achievement
UWGB has made the honor roll for 11 consecutive years and has 14 top-10 finishes overall. It has earned a spot in the top 25 in 20 of 30 seasons while coached by either Carol Hammerle, Kevin Borseth, Matt Bollant or Karius.
The Phoenix had 10 players finish on the Horizon’s academic honor roll in the spring, a list that includes senior guard-forward Jenna Guyer, sophomore forward Sophie Lahti, sophomore forward-center Meghan Schultz and sophomore guard Maren Westin along with former standouts Natalie McNeal, Bailey Butler, Callie Genke, Jasmine Kondrakiewicz, Cassie Schiltz and Maddy Schreiber.
“Being a high-achieving student has always been woven in the fabric of a Green Bay women’s basketball player,” Karius said. “We have achieved great academic success for a long time and will continue to recruit players who have a strong work ethic and discipline in the classroom.”
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The Phoenix is reloading for 2025-26
UWGB went 29-6 last season and won both the Horizon League regular-season and tournament championships.
Karius and her staff were busy this spring attempting to replace the production of seven seniors, including all five starters.
UWGB has made plenty of notable signings in the NCAA transfer portal since March.
It includes the return of several former local high school stars, highlighted by former Green Bay Preble forward Carley Duffney (South Dakota), Green Bay Notre Dame forward Gracie Grzesk (Wisconsin), Appleton East guard Lily Hansford (Iowa State) and Hortonville guards Kamy Peppler (UW-Milwaukee) and Kallie Peppler (UW-Milwaukee).
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: UWGB women’s basketball earns highest grade-point average in nation
