Playing for Duquesne meant everything to Tess Myers.
The Pittsburgh native was able to remain in her hometown and play at the Division I level in front of plenty of familiar faces. But it also left Myers seeking a new challenge at the completion of her senior season with the Dukes.
“My gut was telling me I was ready for change,” she said. “Honestly, just as a person, on the court and I just followed that instinct and decided to enter the (transfer) portal.”
It didn’t take long for suitors to reach out, including University of Wisconsin women’s basketball. In fact, the Badgers were the second team to connect with Myers.
“Literally, 10 minutes after my name got put in the portal, I got on the phone with coach (Margaret) McKeon and then got on the phone with coach (Marisa) Moseley,” Myers said.
People are also reading…
That conversation sparked an early connection and Myers committed to Wisconsin on April 26. The 5-foot-9 guard was the second transfer commitment to the Badgers this offseason after Northern Kentucky center Carter McCray committed three days prior.
With one year of eligibility remaining, fostering a strong relationship quickly was at the top of Myers’ needs. Myers, who also visited Fairfield, Akron and Butler, said she was “trying to be very diligent and knowing what I wanted.”
It turns out the Badgers were equally intuitive.
“They really did their research on me,” she said. “You could tell they were already poring into me as a player and as a person, my goals for this upcoming year and goals for the team.
“I really was just already bought into everything, and the last step was really just to get on campus because I’d never been.”
That connection to the Badgers only strengthened for Myers when she arrived on campus. While describing Madison as “a different vibe,” Myers also acknowledged its similarities to Duquesne. While she remained in her hometown, Myers said that Duquesne was like, “You’re in the city, but you’re also not in the city.”
“I think it has a lot to offer and that’s what I was kind of most excited about: Creating a little life for myself out there,” she said. “I just feel it has everything for me to be able to do that as well.”
It’s a similar feeling Myers has toward the Wisconsin program. Myers said she feels Moseley’s plan for her player development “was everything I envisioned for myself and more.”
Myers believes she can fill the Badgers’ need to be able to stretch the floor as a shooting guard.
“I can bring that to the team and then build off my ability to shoot and open opportunities up for my other teammates,” she said. “That was really the selling point, because I think I can contribute to the team and whatever that looks like next year, that’s what I want to do.”
Myers was fourth on the Dukes in scoring, averaging 7.9 points per game to go along with 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists. She made her biggest impact behind the 3-point line, shooting 36.1% on 205 attempts.
Myers, who has 1,089 career points, had 14 games with at least three made 3-pointers. She set a program record for most made 3-pointers in a game with 11 during an 89-69 win over Longwood on Dec. 14, 2023.
“She’s a dedicated student-athlete who adds a proven shooting touch from deep to our team,” Moseley said. “She finished in the top 85 nationally in individual 3-point percentage and total 3-pointers made (last) season, showcasing her long-range ability.”
Myers believes her skillset can heighten the Badgers’ burgeoning inside-out game with the addition of McCray alongside Serah Williams, a first team all-Big Ten selection and the media’s Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
McCray, the Horizon League Freshman of the Year, averaged 15.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, while Williams averaged 17.4 points and 10.7 rebounds as she broke the Big Ten record for consecutive double-doubles with 17.
“Just being able to make defenders have to choose … it just opens the floor and I’m excited to see how we’re able to mesh together and bring the group together,” Myers said. “I think their presence is a force and it will be very fun to see how we all complement one another.”
Photos: Wisconsin women’s basketball vs. Saint Louis in the Great 8 at the WNIT