2018-19: Started all 33 games for the Badgers … averaged 30.7 minutes per game … averaged 8.6 points per game ... shot a career-high 24 points vs. Ohio State (Mar. 7) ... scored in double figures in 13 games ... led the team in blocks in 10 games, averaged 1.1 blocks per game ... tied career-high five blocks vs. Michigan State (Feb. 14) ... recorded a career-high eight assists vs. Penn State (Mar. 6) ... averaged 2.3 assists per game … ranked second on team in 3-pointers with 32 on the season ... tallied 5.0 rebounds per game ... shot a season-high .750 percent (3-4) from the field vs. Evansville (Dec. 21)... tied career-high four steals vs. Nebraska (Jan. 27) ... grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds vs. Michigan State (Feb. 14) ... tallied a perfect (6-6) from the free-throw line vs. Ohio State (Mar. 7) ... recorded second career double-double vs. Michigan State (Feb. 14) with 13 points and 10 rebounds
2017-18: Redshirt season after transferring from Ohio
2016-17 (at Ohio): Played in 27 games for the Bobcats, starting 24 … averaged 6.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game …registered 34 blocks, 26 steals and 15 assists … shot .385 from the field, .352 from 3-point range and .655 from the free-throw line … opened the season with an 11-point performance against High Point (Nov. 13), going 3-of-4 from 3-point range and 2-of-2 from the free throw line … registered her second-straight 11-point performance against UT Martin (Nov. 18) … recorded her first career double-double against Murray State (Nov. 26), scoring a then-career-high 14 points and 10 rebounds ... grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds against Central Michigan (Feb. 1) … scored a career-high 15 points against Ball State (Feb. 11), going 6-of-10 from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range … blocked a career-high five shots against Kent State (Feb. 18) … against the Golden Flashes, stole the ball on an inbound and scored the game-tying left-handed layup at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime
2015-16 (at Ohio): Played in 32 games … averaged 3.8 points and 4.1 rebounds a game … averaged 18.0 minutes a game off the bench … blocked 28 shots and had 15 steals … grabbed nine boards against Winthrop (Nov. 21) … scored seven points against St. Francis on Dec. 6 while grabbing nine rebounds … scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds against Akron (Jan. 27), hitting three 3-point field goals and blocking three shots … scored a season-high 13 points against Northern Illinois (Feb. 6), going 4-of-6 from the field and 4-of-6 from the free throw line while also grabbing eight rebounds … scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds against Marshall (March 17) in the first round of the 2016 WNIT
2014-15 (at Ohio): Made her Bobcat debut against Murray State (Nov. 14), recording 12 points and seven rebounds ... scored a season-high 13 points vs. Wofford (Nov. 17) ... finished second on the team in blocks with 17 ... recorded a career-high in blocks with 4 against Morehead State (Dec. 3) ... played in eight games before missing the remainder of the season due to injury.
High school: Competed for Montini Catholic High School under head coach Jason Nichols ... earned four letters in basketball ... helped guide her squad to three Illinois High School Association Class 3A state titles in four years ... her 149 career blocks rank as the third-most in school history ... averaged a season-best 10.1 points per game in addition to 3.5 rebounds per game, 2.4 assists per game and 2.4 blocks per game as a senior in 2013-14 ... had a season-high 86 blocks in 2013-14 -- the fourth-most in a single season in school history ... put together a Most Valuable Player-worthy performance at the 2014 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game, totaling nine points on three treys to guide the Class 3A-4A North All-Star Team to an 88-74 victory over the South ... entered 2013-14 rated at a score of 89 on the ESPN's High School Girls' Basketball list ... ESPN tabbed her as the 53rd-best wing in the nation while the All Star Girls Report ranked her as the 264th-best recruit ... as a junior in 2012-13, led the Lady Broncos to a 35-2 record and a trip to the Illinois 3A State Championship semifinals, averaging 7.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game and earning all-conference and all-area honors ... also competed for Illinois Lady Lightning Basketball for six years under head coach Mike Seberger ... earned honor roll distinction all four years at Montini Catholic ... also garnered French National Honor Society recognition two years ... member of the French Club
Personal: Born Dec. 3 ... nicknames are Kel and Special K ... daughter of Jennifer and Scott Karlis ... has two brothers, Scott Jr. (23) and Max (19) ... father, Scott, played soccer for two years at Lewis & Clark College and two years at the University of Illinois, Springfield ... brother Scott competed in track and field at the University of Nebraska ... major is retailing and consumer behavior
Career highs
Points: 24 vs. Ohio State, 3/7/19
Field goals made: 7 (2x; MR vs. Ohio State, 3/7/19)
Field goals attempted: 13 vs. Maryland, 1/31/19
Field goal percentage: 1.000 (4-4); (2x; MR vs. Akron, 1/27/16)
3-pointers made: 4 vs. Ohio Stat, 3/7/19
3-point attempted: 8 vs. Northwestern, 1/20/19
3-point percentage: 1.000 (4-4) vs. Ohio State, 3/7/19
Free throws made: 6 vs. Ohio State, 3/7/19
Free throws attempted: 6 (4x; MR vs. Ohio State, 3/7/19)
Free throw percentage: 1.000 (6-6) vs. Ohio State, 3/7/19
Rebounds: 12 vs. Central Michigan, 2/1/17
Assists: 8 vs. Penn State, 3/6/19
Steals: 4 (2x; MR vs. Nebraska, 1/27/19)
Blocks: 5 (2x; MR vs. Michigan State, 2/14/19)
Minutes: 48 vs. Michigan, 3/8/19
Double-doubles: 2
Why Wisconsin?
"It has always been my dream school so I was happy when I got the opportunity to come here after deciding to transfer at the end of my junior year. It is such a beautiful campus with welcoming people and it is only a short drive from home!"
Off the court with Kelly
Favorites - Spot on campus: Memorial Union (Terrace), Chipotle; Movie: Crazy Rich Asians, Girls Trip; TV Show: The Office, Gossip Girl, New Girl, Riverdale; Athlete: Jimmy Butler, Elena Delle Donna; Sports team: Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bulls; Musician: Kenny Chesney, Miley Cyrus, Future; Ice Cream Flavor: Chocolate; Karaoke Song: Party in the USA
First started basketball (age or grade): 3
rd Grade
Most memorable basketball game: Winning state my senior year of high school and just having a great game to end my high school career with my two best friends
My favorite thing about Wisconsin basketball is: The team and staff. It really is a great group of girls and they have treated me like family since I’ve stepped on campus
Before each game, I: Listen to country music to calm my nerves
Best UW road trip: Will have to see this year!
Favorite place to play (besides the Kohl Center): I haven’t play for the Badgers yet, but my favorite place thus far in college has been Vanderbilt’s gym
One word that describes the team: hilarious
One word that describes me: sarcastic
My teammates say I am: a goofy person
Favorite thing to do off the court with my teammates is: EAT
Most memorable basketball achievement: making it to the NCAA Tournament my freshman year
What is your earliest basketball memory? Not being able to shoot a left-handed layup and failing so terribly that the ball flew straight at the wall behind the backboard
If I could change one basketball rule, it would be: the hand-checking rule
Is there something significant about your uniform number? I just chose it so I could sign my name K^2 (Kelly Karlis)
Team goal for the season: Make it to the NCAA Tournament
Individual goal for the season: Stay healthy
The best thing about the Kohl Center is: How big the stadium is
Which professional athlete can your game be compared to? Breanna Stewart
What is your favorite Coach Tsip saying? “Karlis, really” *rolls eyes* (when were joking around)
If you were Coach Tsip for the day, what would you do? Fly to an exotic destination for “recruiting” purposes
What are you most looking forward to this season? to see how much this team has grown and show everyone the team that we are capable of being
Dream as a collegiate player: upset in the NCAA Tournament
Post-college plans: Play overseas or be a manager
The best thing about Madison is: Being right on two lakes
Fantasy job/career: Events Manager for UA, Nike, or Adidas. Or I would like to work for/start up a company that gives back a portion of its’ profits to those less fortunate.
This summer, I: went to London for a week. It was my first time out of the country which was really exciting. I also had an internship for Chauette Home & Fashion where I worked as a Sales Associate.
I can’t live without: my dog Spike
My secret addiction is: Nutella
Weird thing about me that almost no one knows: I like to sleep with socks on
The best sporting event I ever attended was: Bulls vs. Celtics game and Rajon Rondo waved to me during warm ups (woot woot)
Greatest invention of the last 100 years: Netflix
If I could live any place in the world it would be: Paris, France
Non-athletic talent I would like to have is: singing
If I could meet three people from throughout history they would be: Robin Williams, Elvis Presley, MLK
If you could live in any TV show, what would it be and why? The office, so that I could see if I’m actually funny or not
My bucket list includes: traveling to each country at least once
My “Bucky” list is: try as many new food places as I can
My favorite quote or motto is: “You Won’t” - Anonymous
The best advice I have ever gotten is: shoot your shot
My worst habit is: procrastinating
What superpower would you like to have? To fly
What is your favorite place to travel to? Haven’t traveled much, so probably Florida
What would you tell your 14-year old self? Stop dressing like that
How would you like to change the world? Giving more equal opportunities to everyone, especially women
What makes you laugh? Myself
What are you passionate about? Trying to put outfits together
What TV character would you like to change places with? Michael Scott
What food do you crave most often? Steak
What kind of things do you like to cook or bake? Cookies
If someone narrated your life, who would it be? Hopefully Morgan Freeman
What do you love most about being a Badger?
"The connections you make not only on campus, but around the country. I've learned very quickly that everyone that has gone to UW-Madison or are big supporters are so thrilled to talk to other Badgers when they run into you!"
