By Matt Fox
courtside
Throughout her four years in Madison, senior forward Danielle Ward has become an integral part of the Wisconsin women's basketball system. While Ward's physical presence has remained constant, each year has offered something different in her emotional development.
Danielle looks the same as when she came in as a freshman, that's something that hasn't changed,"" senior guard Jolene Anderson said. ""But her mentality and her personality have grown since those years. This year she realizes that this is her last go-around so she just wants to make it the best she can.""
Ward is no stranger to Wisconsin basketball. She attended Rufus King High School in Milwaukee where she quickly became a local star. Ward was named Gatorade Player of the Year for Wisconsin in 2004, her senior season at Rufus King. This was an eventful year for Ward. She averaged 13.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, four steals and 8.8 blocks en route to a 21-4 record and a state championship appearance. Although Rufus King lost in the quarterfinals of its first ever WIAA Division 1 berth, Ward's spectacular performance did not go unnoticed. She was named to All-Area and first team All-Conference teams for the second and third time respectively, as well as her first AP All-State fourth team honors. Ward is still Rufus King's all-time leader in blocked shots and rebounds.
At 6'4' Ward has always shared the title of Wisconsin's tallest player, and even in her freshman season Ward made her presence known. She established herself as a lethal post weapon, and led the Badgers in field goal percentage, sinking 50 percent of her shot attempts (53 for 106).
As a sophomore, Ward elevated her game to a completely new level, as she led the Badgers in rebounds with 7.3 per game, while her 10.3 points per game were good for third on the team in scoring. She was an all-Big Ten Tour participant, started eight games and set career game highs in points (23), blocks (six) and steals (five) in regular season play.
Last season, Ward's year started off on the wrong foot as an injury sidelined her for the first two weeks of the Big Ten season. Still, she demonstrated resiliency, leading the team in blocks with 1.53 per contest. Ward's best performance came against UNLV, as she registered 16 points and 11 boards to earn Rebel Shootout All-tournament honors. Ward played in 34 games and had 7.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest.
As one of the Badgers' four seniors, Ward has embraced a leadership role that coach Lisa Stone knows is essential for the Badgers to keep moving forward in their level of play. Ward attributes a lot of UW's early success to the give-and-take interactions between the seniors and underclassmen.
""This year, we have 12 people returning and four newcomers,"" Ward said. ""It's going to be where you won't see the divide of classes. It's just a team full of experience and of collegiate level athletes. To be there for each other, to advise each other, to be that ear, that shoulder... there's so much put on the table for each one of us to give and take.""
Ward is off to an auspicious beginning to her individual season. In a recent exhibition game against UW-Stout, Ward produced 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals in just 13 minutes of action. Despite this impressive individual performance, Ward has never lost sight of the team's goals, the sign of a true leader.
""We all want to get to the NCAA and the Big Ten Championship,"" Ward said. ""Because I've been here for so long, I know what to expect. I know how to interpret and understand how things work. I want to be able to relay onto others that if you focus, you can accomplish greatness. If you put in your share of work, you can accomplish the goals that you set.""
