The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Meet the Blazers: Maddie Walsh
11/2/2020 1:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – Despite the women's basketball season start date being pushed to November 25, there is much to be excited about in Birmingham as the UAB women's basketball team welcomes seven newcomers to the roster for the 2020-21 season. UABSports.com continues to introduce you to the new Blazers and provide unique opportunities to get to know these new faces.
Today's 'Meet the Blazers' profile features a freshman forward, Maddie Walsh.
The Walsh File
Number: 21
Position: Forward
Height: 6-2
Hometown: Hartland, Wisconsin
What is your favorite thing about Hartland?
MW: "I say this to everyone but the lakes for sure. In the summers especially. I love the lake."
When did you start playing basketball and why?
MW: "It had to have been kindergarten. My dad definitely got me into it, my mom played too but my dad got me into it. He was my first coach when I was in elementary school."
Do you have a favorite basketball player?
MW: "My favorite is probably Michael Jordan for sure and then Kobe and Russell Westbrook."
What is your favorite basketball memory?
MW: "In high school we made it to state semifinals, that is my best memory so far."
Did you play any other sports growing up?
MW: "I played soccer for 14 or 15 years. I was a forward my last year of soccer, but I played all over growing up. I ran track for two years in high school, I ran the 4x200, 4x100, 4x400 and then the 400 and 200."
Why do you wear number 21?
MW: "It's my birthday number. I always have to have a one in my number. It's never just 20 or 30 or 10 it's always 21 or 31 or 11."
Why did you choose UAB?
MW: "Number one was the coaching staff, they're just incredible. They make me feel like family and made it a home away from home. Second is the weather, that is a huge plus coming from Wisconsin to here. There is a limit to how much cold I can take, we get down to negative 40's in temperature and we have 'cold days' not even snow days just days where it is too cold."
Do you have any siblings? If so, what are their names and how old are they?
MW: "I have a younger brother, Tripp, he is almost 16."
Who is your biggest inspiration?
MW: "A toss-up between my parents. My mom and my dad are both my inspiration. They sacrifice so much for me growing up and I just want them to know that their work is always appreciated, and it doesn't go unseen by me."
Do you remember what you wanted to be when you grew up?
MW: "I wanted to be a teacher, an English teacher because that is what my mom does, and I wanted to be like her."
What do you want to be now?
MW: "I am trying to decide. I think I want to be an athletic trainer or a physical therapist for athletes, something with sports."
What are you majoring in?
MW: "Kinesiology."
What did you do during quarantine?
MW: "The first month we just stayed at home all the time other than I would work out. After that I would see friends like once a week but obviously socially distanced."
What is your favorite TV show to binge watch?
MW: "Friends, I have probably seen it three or four times. Sometimes I watch it out of order though. My mom can practically recite the episodes."
What do you like to do in your free time?
MW: "Down here especially I like to tan, when the weather is nice. I like to get coffee; I get coffee all the time."
Who is one artist you want to see in concert the most?
MW: "I want to see Zac Brown Band really bad."
If you could have any actress play you in a movie about your life who would it be?
MW: "Blake Lively or Margot Robbie. I love both of them."
What is your favorite meal/food?
MW: "My favorite type of food would be Mexican, but my favorite meal is steak and mashed potatoes."
If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live?
MW: "Greece."
What is your favorite book?
MW: "I liked a lot of my schoolbooks growing up. I really liked the Great Gatsby honestly."
Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what is it?
MW: "I can juggle a soccer ball, I guess. Does that count?"
What are you looking forward to most in your first basketball season at UAB?
MW: "I would say I'm most looking forward to getting to know the girls and finally putting some normalcy back in our lives with sports and games!"
Make sure to check @UAB_WBB on Twitter and UAB_wbball on Instagram all week for more on Maddie Walsh.
Secure your women's basketball season tickets by purchasing the 2020-21 Gold Card for $65 here. The Gold Card is an exclusive offer that grants you admission into all women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball events for the upcoming academic year. Contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB women's basketball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB) and Instagram (UAB_WBBall).
Today's 'Meet the Blazers' profile features a freshman forward, Maddie Walsh.
The Walsh File
Number: 21
Position: Forward
Height: 6-2
Hometown: Hartland, Wisconsin
What is your favorite thing about Hartland?
MW: "I say this to everyone but the lakes for sure. In the summers especially. I love the lake."
When did you start playing basketball and why?
MW: "It had to have been kindergarten. My dad definitely got me into it, my mom played too but my dad got me into it. He was my first coach when I was in elementary school."
Do you have a favorite basketball player?
MW: "My favorite is probably Michael Jordan for sure and then Kobe and Russell Westbrook."
What is your favorite basketball memory?
MW: "In high school we made it to state semifinals, that is my best memory so far."
Did you play any other sports growing up?
MW: "I played soccer for 14 or 15 years. I was a forward my last year of soccer, but I played all over growing up. I ran track for two years in high school, I ran the 4x200, 4x100, 4x400 and then the 400 and 200."
Why do you wear number 21?
MW: "It's my birthday number. I always have to have a one in my number. It's never just 20 or 30 or 10 it's always 21 or 31 or 11."
Why did you choose UAB?
MW: "Number one was the coaching staff, they're just incredible. They make me feel like family and made it a home away from home. Second is the weather, that is a huge plus coming from Wisconsin to here. There is a limit to how much cold I can take, we get down to negative 40's in temperature and we have 'cold days' not even snow days just days where it is too cold."
Do you have any siblings? If so, what are their names and how old are they?
MW: "I have a younger brother, Tripp, he is almost 16."
Who is your biggest inspiration?
MW: "A toss-up between my parents. My mom and my dad are both my inspiration. They sacrifice so much for me growing up and I just want them to know that their work is always appreciated, and it doesn't go unseen by me."
Do you remember what you wanted to be when you grew up?
MW: "I wanted to be a teacher, an English teacher because that is what my mom does, and I wanted to be like her."
What do you want to be now?
MW: "I am trying to decide. I think I want to be an athletic trainer or a physical therapist for athletes, something with sports."
What are you majoring in?
MW: "Kinesiology."
What did you do during quarantine?
MW: "The first month we just stayed at home all the time other than I would work out. After that I would see friends like once a week but obviously socially distanced."
What is your favorite TV show to binge watch?
MW: "Friends, I have probably seen it three or four times. Sometimes I watch it out of order though. My mom can practically recite the episodes."
What do you like to do in your free time?
MW: "Down here especially I like to tan, when the weather is nice. I like to get coffee; I get coffee all the time."
Who is one artist you want to see in concert the most?
MW: "I want to see Zac Brown Band really bad."
If you could have any actress play you in a movie about your life who would it be?
MW: "Blake Lively or Margot Robbie. I love both of them."
What is your favorite meal/food?
MW: "My favorite type of food would be Mexican, but my favorite meal is steak and mashed potatoes."
If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live?
MW: "Greece."
What is your favorite book?
MW: "I liked a lot of my schoolbooks growing up. I really liked the Great Gatsby honestly."
Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what is it?
MW: "I can juggle a soccer ball, I guess. Does that count?"
What are you looking forward to most in your first basketball season at UAB?
MW: "I would say I'm most looking forward to getting to know the girls and finally putting some normalcy back in our lives with sports and games!"
Make sure to check @UAB_WBB on Twitter and UAB_wbball on Instagram all week for more on Maddie Walsh.
Secure your women's basketball season tickets by purchasing the 2020-21 Gold Card for $65 here. The Gold Card is an exclusive offer that grants you admission into all women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball events for the upcoming academic year. Contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB women's basketball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB) and Instagram (UAB_WBBall).
Players Mentioned
Forward
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