Utahn Josie Williams reflects on year of growth at Louisville

Josie Williams remembers going out to breakfast with her teammates shortly after joining the University of Louisville women’s basketball team last year.

While in the restaurant’s bathroom, the young Latter-day Saint center from Utah was approached by a woman who asked if she played for the Cardinals. Williams nodded that she did.

“The woman said, ‘Let me pray for you real quick,’” Williams said. “She said a prayer for our team and season.”

The unique and kind exchange was the first of many new experiences for Williams, who was living far from home first time in her life and being introduced to a new atmosphere and culture of major women’s college basketball.

Since then has also grown a lot personally and spiritually.

“Basketball has been a huge part of my life, even more this year than it ever has because we are so busy,” she said. “But my relationship with Jesus Christ has grown so much more.”

Williams reflected on her experience of transferring from Utah Valley University to Louisville with its challenges, growth and blessings as her No. 5-seeded Cardinals prepare to play the No. 12 Drake Bulldogs in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, March 18. The game is scheduled to tip at 5:30 p.m. MT.

Transfer to Louisville

Williams, of West Haven, Utah, averaged a double-double in points and rebounds (10 or more each game) as a three-year starter at UVU before two assistant coaches left the team, including her post coach Morgan Bailey, who went to BYU.

Williams entered the transfer portal with plans to go to BYU. She was so confident about the move that she didn’t entertain other opportunities.

But something about her visit at BYU didn’t feel right.

“It’s a great program with great people, but I couldn’t see myself there,” Williams said.

The following day she was contacted by Jeff Walz, Louisville head women’s basketball coach. He invited her to visit the Louisville campus.

“I went on my visit and had such a good feeling about the place and all the people I met,” she said.

Welcome to Kentucky

Once Williams committed to the Cardinals, she was overwhelmed by the response on social media as the fanbase welcomed her to the Louisville family.

The 6-foot-5 center had joined a Cardinals team that previously went 29-5 last year and was ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation before losing to No. 1 South Carolina in the Final Four.

Louisville also averaged more than 8,000 fans per home game last year and is one of the most recognizable women’s basketball programs in the country.

“Everywhere we go people know we are on the women’s team,” she said. “They want to talk to us, they want to pray for us. They want to be part of it. It has been so cool to be part of the atmosphere.”

New competition

One of Williams’ challenges at Louisville has been the higher level of competition.

After years as a starter at UVU, Williams has adjusted to a new role of coming off the bench for the Cardinals. This season she has averaged close to 10 minutes and nearly 3 points and 2 rebounds per game. As a center, the coaching staff has worked with Williams to increase her agility and speed to play the game at a faster pace.

“It’s been a whole new ball game,” Williams said. “The girls I’m playing with are really good and the competition is a lot better. I knew that going in, but you don’t quite realize how different it is until you are doing it.”

While Williams isn’t the star at Louisville, seeing their daughter compete with the Cardinals and prepare for the NCAA Tournament has been surreal because it’s a dream-come-true for so many people, parents Matt and Christy Williams said.

“The sky has been the limit for her whole life,” father Matt Williams said. “She’s such a hard worker that it hasn’t surprised me because she puts in the effort.”

“With her going out to Kentucky, she has amazed me with all her decisions and everything she has done,” mother Christy Williams said. “She has been able to keep her values and beliefs, and she has grown so much.”

Finding a new family

During the recruiting process, Williams informed her coaches that she was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that her faith is a high priority for her. The coaching staff and her teammates have been supportive, but team functions on Sunday conflicted with the campus ward meeting schedule.

Williams was able to arrange to attend a different ward a short distance away across the state border in Indiana.

The Jeffersonville Ward, led by Bishop Eric Blackwell and his wife, Jen Blackwell, has welcomed Williams with open arms. Ward members have repeatedly invited her into their homes, provided meals and helped her have a family away from home.

The Blackwells attended many of Louisville’s home games and Jen Blackwell is traveling to attend the Cardinals’ NCAA tournament game against Drake.

“They have taken me in and been like family to me,” she said. “The people in that ward have been absolutely incredible and such a support to me.”

Williams also attends Latter-day Saint young adult activities when her schedule permits.

New spiritual perspective

Before coming to Louisville, Williams said she found most of her identity in basketball. Scoring, rebounding and winning games gave her self-worth and happiness.

That perspective has changed as several times in the last year Williams has listened to President Russell M. Nelson’s worldwide devotional from May 15, 2022, in which he taught young adults to “Know the truth about who you are” as children of God.

“That’s where your true identity is,” she said. “That has always stuck with me.”

Williams still loves basketball, but despite not playing as many minutes or scoring as many points at Louisville, she has found peace in remembering that she is a daughter of God.

“I’ve realized more that my identity is that I’m a child of God,” she said. “For a little bit, as I played and scored less, I felt like, ‘What’s going on?’ a little empty inside. But I have just reminded myself over and over again that my identity is not basketball.”

Back in the ‘Big Dance’

Williams was part of UVU’s first-ever women’s basketball NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021. She scored 18 points as the Wolverines lost to top overall seed Stanford, 87-44.

She expects this year will be different.

“We expected to be here. We’ve done everything this whole season preparing for this tournament. We expect to win,” Williams said. “I feel like this is a perfect last year for me to be playing in the tournament. I am excited and grateful to be here.”

Williams has her Bachelor’s degree in secondary education from UVU and is enrolled in a sports administration Master’s program at Louisville. Eventually she hopes to teach and coach basketball. She has also considered playing professionally overseas or pursuing a graduate assistant position with a women’s college basketball team.

“I would absolutely love to coach young girls,” she said. “I want to stay in basketball for a little bit, whether that is playing or whether that is helping in a college program.”

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