Grace Berger Speaks Softly, But Carries a Big Game
10/28/2021 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Shyness does not define Grace Berger.
Not on the basketball court.
Not anymore.
Leadership demands word as well as deed, especially when you're one of the best players on one of the nation's best women's basketball teams, as Berger is for Indiana.
If the Hoosiers are to contend for a national championship -- and with five returning starters from an Elite Eight team, prospects are promising -- this 6-foot senior guard out of Louisville must rise to the vocal challenge.
The rise is well underway.
"When I came in, I was very shy," Berger says. "I still am. It's still something I am working on every day. I'm forcing myself to talk as much as I can.
"I have been here for four years. I'm one of the most experienced players on the team. Being confident and knowing I know what to say so I can help the younger kids as much as I can."
Berger's help touches more than just young players. Just ask junior All-America forward Mackenzie Holmes.
"I've always thought Grace was a great leader," Holmes says. "The way she carries herself every day shows how much she cares for the team. Hearing her be vocal will take us to the next level.
"Everyone respects Grace and how well she knows the game and how seasoned a veteran she is. When she says something, she knows what she's talking about. We can all learn from her."
That's exactly what coach Teri Moren wants to hear.
"I don't know if introvert is a way to describe her," Moren says, "but she's not a big talker. She is emotional. Very competitive.
"What she has done is become more vocal. I hear her more than I ever have in practice. She's stepped up with recruiting for us."
Berger has always thrived by action. You don't put up her versatile numbers against some of the nation's best competition, you don't earn a berth on a gold-medal as part of the USA 2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup, without being elite.
During last season's Elite Eight run, Berger averaged 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists. She totaled three triple doubles, which are three more than any other player in women's program history, and more than any other player in the nation last season, made first-team All-Big Ten and earned honorable mention All-America honors.
She joined soccer's Victor Bezerra and diver Andrew Capobianco as IU's 2020-21 Athletes of the Year.
"Grace earned every bit of this achievement and I'm excited to see her applauded for her incredible play on the court this season," Moren says via university release. "She has continued to elevate her game and has done a tremendous job of leading our program to new heights."
In the AmeriCup, held last June in Puerto Rico, Berger averaged 6.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals to help the USA go 6-0. She joined fellow Big Ten players Naz Hillmon of Michigan, Ashley Owusu and Diamond Miller of Maryland and Veronica Burton on the squad. Other teammates included Stanford's Hale Jones, South Carolina's Destanni Henderson and North Carolina State's Jakia Brown-Turner and Elissa Cunane.
"It was great for my game," Berger says. "I was there for three weeks practicing twice a day, three to four hours a day, with some of the best players in the country.
"Seeing where I stand and what I need to work on was valuable for me. I was able to work on things maybe I didn't know before."
Beyond the physical advantage gained from international competition, Berger got a confidence boost.
"I was able to play with some of the best players in the country. When we got to Puerto Rico and playing against some professionals, seeing what I'm capable of doing, makes me more confident."
Adds Moren: "Grace has such a silent confidence about her. Representing the United States gave her that much more confidence."
Berger has plenty to be confident about. She has career numbers of 996 points, 433 rebounds and 281 assists. She's improved her three-point shooting each year, from 21.7 percent to 30.0 to 32.4.
She's also been remarkably durable, averaging 34 minutes a game.
Berger joins Holmes, Ali Patberg, Nicole Cardaño-Hillary and Aleksa Gulbe as returning starter from a 21-6 team seeking a Big Ten title, as well as a national championship.
"We have a veteran-led team," Berger says. "Practices have been short and to the point. We've gotten a lot of good work in."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Shyness does not define Grace Berger.
Not on the basketball court.
Not anymore.
Leadership demands word as well as deed, especially when you're one of the best players on one of the nation's best women's basketball teams, as Berger is for Indiana.
If the Hoosiers are to contend for a national championship -- and with five returning starters from an Elite Eight team, prospects are promising -- this 6-foot senior guard out of Louisville must rise to the vocal challenge.
The rise is well underway.
"When I came in, I was very shy," Berger says. "I still am. It's still something I am working on every day. I'm forcing myself to talk as much as I can.
"I have been here for four years. I'm one of the most experienced players on the team. Being confident and knowing I know what to say so I can help the younger kids as much as I can."
Berger's help touches more than just young players. Just ask junior All-America forward Mackenzie Holmes.
"I've always thought Grace was a great leader," Holmes says. "The way she carries herself every day shows how much she cares for the team. Hearing her be vocal will take us to the next level.
"Everyone respects Grace and how well she knows the game and how seasoned a veteran she is. When she says something, she knows what she's talking about. We can all learn from her."
That's exactly what coach Teri Moren wants to hear.
"I don't know if introvert is a way to describe her," Moren says, "but she's not a big talker. She is emotional. Very competitive.
"What she has done is become more vocal. I hear her more than I ever have in practice. She's stepped up with recruiting for us."
Berger has always thrived by action. You don't put up her versatile numbers against some of the nation's best competition, you don't earn a berth on a gold-medal as part of the USA 2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup, without being elite.
During last season's Elite Eight run, Berger averaged 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists. She totaled three triple doubles, which are three more than any other player in women's program history, and more than any other player in the nation last season, made first-team All-Big Ten and earned honorable mention All-America honors.
She joined soccer's Victor Bezerra and diver Andrew Capobianco as IU's 2020-21 Athletes of the Year.
"Grace earned every bit of this achievement and I'm excited to see her applauded for her incredible play on the court this season," Moren says via university release. "She has continued to elevate her game and has done a tremendous job of leading our program to new heights."
In the AmeriCup, held last June in Puerto Rico, Berger averaged 6.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals to help the USA go 6-0. She joined fellow Big Ten players Naz Hillmon of Michigan, Ashley Owusu and Diamond Miller of Maryland and Veronica Burton on the squad. Other teammates included Stanford's Hale Jones, South Carolina's Destanni Henderson and North Carolina State's Jakia Brown-Turner and Elissa Cunane.
"It was great for my game," Berger says. "I was there for three weeks practicing twice a day, three to four hours a day, with some of the best players in the country.
"Seeing where I stand and what I need to work on was valuable for me. I was able to work on things maybe I didn't know before."
Beyond the physical advantage gained from international competition, Berger got a confidence boost.
"I was able to play with some of the best players in the country. When we got to Puerto Rico and playing against some professionals, seeing what I'm capable of doing, makes me more confident."
Adds Moren: "Grace has such a silent confidence about her. Representing the United States gave her that much more confidence."
Berger has plenty to be confident about. She has career numbers of 996 points, 433 rebounds and 281 assists. She's improved her three-point shooting each year, from 21.7 percent to 30.0 to 32.4.
She's also been remarkably durable, averaging 34 minutes a game.
Berger joins Holmes, Ali Patberg, Nicole Cardaño-Hillary and Aleksa Gulbe as returning starter from a 21-6 team seeking a Big Ten title, as well as a national championship.
"We have a veteran-led team," Berger says. "Practices have been short and to the point. We've gotten a lot of good work in."
Players Mentioned
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