Olympic Gold Medalist Joins Wisconsin College Basketball

A university basketball team in Wisconsin just landed a player who stood on an Olympic podium six months ago.

Elisa Mevius, who won gold with Germany in 3x3 basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has signed to play for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix. The 5-foot-10 guard helped her country make history with its first basketball gold medal, hitting a crucial shot in the final minutes of a nail-biting 17-16 victory over Spain.

NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki watched from the stands as Mevius and her teammates mounted a dramatic comeback. With Germany down late in the game, Mevius sank a key basket to help tie the score at 15, setting up the winning shot with just 30 seconds left.

Her college career has been a mix of brilliance and frustration. At Siena College, Mevius dominated the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, leading the league in both assists and steals as a sophomore while averaging 12 points and nearly 7 rebounds per game.

She transferred to Oregon for bigger competition, but injuries derailed two consecutive seasons. A broken hand ended her first year with the Ducks, followed by a torn ACL just two games into her second season after averaging 12.5 points per contest.

Why This Inspires

At 23, Mevius could have stepped away from basketball after two devastating setbacks. Instead, she competed on the world's biggest stage and won gold for her country.

Now she's choosing to return to college basketball at a mid-major program rather than hanging up her sneakers or going straight to professional leagues overseas. Her decision shows that sometimes the best path forward isn't always the most obvious one.

UW-Green Bay coach Kayla Karius has a special connection to Mevius through a coach they both worked with in Germany. That relationship nearly brought Mevius to Green Bay two years ago, but Big Ten schools came calling and she chose Oregon.

This time around, Mevius remembered those earlier conversations and gave the Phoenix a second look. "She was here on a visit and loved everything she saw," Karius said.

The Phoenix are getting more than just an Olympic medalist. They're adding a proven defender who earned defensive player of the year honors at Siena and a facilitator who can steady the team when games get chaotic.

For a program that has consistently found gems in the transfer portal, Mevius represents their biggest coup yet as they aim to defend their position as Horizon League favorites.

Sometimes a fresh start in a new place is exactly what both a player and a team need to shine.