Holiday Greetings From a Badger in Israel
December 24, 2001 | Women's Basketball
Former Badger guard Katie Voigt is viewing this Christmas season from its origins as a professional basketball player in Israel. Arriving in Israel on Sept. 9, she sends us her holiday greetings and her story.
For many collegiate athletes, the dreams of playing in the professional ranks remain just that. Dreams. But for former Wisconsin BadgerBall standout Katie Voigt, her dreams quickly turned into goals. Goals she knew were within her reach.
The former all-Big Ten guard still owns UW career records in three point goals (234), three point attempts (653) and the best free throw percentage (.831), while her name can be found in almost every record list in BadgerBall history. Additionally, she is one of only seven players to score over 1,500 career points with 1,576 points.
Understandably, Voigt knew she could play professionally using the hard work and determination she found at Lakeland High School in Minocqua, Wis., then later for the Badgers. After all of her success in Wisconsin, why settle for a regular job when she could travel the world playing basketball' She packed her bags and began her adventure.
Now, the 6'1" shooting guard calls Israel her new home. After playing ball in Belgium for two years, the Maccabi Ramat Chen ' Blich of the Israeli professional basketball league signed Voigt this past August. The league is comprised of 10 Israeli professional teams who play both within their own league and also compete in European professional leagues. Voigt enjoys the competition she faces in the Israeli league.
"I loved playing at Wisconsin and I enjoyed playing in Belgium. Israel is a better league though ' a higher level of basketball," Voigt says. "There are a good number of WNBA players who play in Israel. In Belgium, there were none, so I really like the challenge of playing here."
Voigt's own team is located in the city of Ramat Gan. Joining Voigt are Americans Simone Edwards of the WNBA Seattle Storm (University of Iowa) and Vickie Johnson (WNBA New York Liberty and Louisiana Tech). Along with Russia's Darya Kudryavsteva, who played for West Virginia University, the four are the team 's foreign ambassadors. Voigt feels the team's diversity has added to her overseas experience.
"I'm a Christian, so I've really enjoyed learning more about the Jewish culture and why they celebrate their holidays," Voigt says. "When I first got over here, it seemed like there was a different holiday every other day. Also, I have two roommates, one Russian and one Israeli, so it's interesting to hear their different perspectives on things. "I've been able to try different types of foods and I've enjoyed learning about different ways of life."
Voigt arrived in Israel Sept. 9, just two days before the terrorist attacks in the United States and the ensuing war in Afghanistan. And although Israel is not directly involved, the country has experienced its own continuing conflicts. For Voigt, these global events have been a learning lesson of their own.
"Because of the conflict over here, I've learned a different way to look at life," she says. "After the Sept. 11th tragedy in the U.S., it was interesting to hear what some Israeli people would say to me. They were very sympathetic, but they also told me that now I can understand what they live with all of the time.
"I was talking to one of my Israeli teammates about all that 's going on right now and she didn't seem too worried at all. They just take it all in stride here."
Voigt says she was worried at first, but now feels comfortable in her new home. She pays attention to what's happening around her and takes extra precautions when necessary, like not traveling to certain areas of the country. Recent events don't stop Voigt from enjoying all that Israel has to offer though. Besides her love for the Israeli basketball and her teammates, she loves the pita bread and hopes to visit the historical sites where Jesus, of the Christian religion, visited centuries ago. Now after three months, she's enjoying her time there and considering her future.
"I don't know what my future will be, but I'll take it one year at a time," Voigt says. "I really like Israel, so maybe I would come back and play again. Also, I'm playing overseas because I would love to get into the WNBA."
With her future wide open, Voigt would also like to coach and says she'll just to wait and see what happens. But for loyal BadgerBall fans here at home in Wisconsin, Voigt's never forgotten them.
"I loved playing in front of all of the faithful Wisconsin fans! I also loved how they supported me personally and our team," Voigt says. "I haven't found that anywhere else."
