The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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14 THE WOLVERINE ❱ SEPTEMBER 2025 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS ❱ Student-Athlete Of The Month Women's Basketball Junior Macy Brown M i c h i g a n j u n i o r M a c y Brown, 2023's Michigan Miss Basketball, came into the U-M women's program ready for the gritty, competitive nature of head coach Kim Barnes Arico's program. This was aided by having a pair of sisters who also played college basketball. Olivia Brown suited up at Valparaiso, while Jillian Brown is currently at Virginia. Their East Grand Rapids household helped de- velop her character. "I would say it was ultra- competitive," Brown said on the "Defend The Block" pod- cast with Brian Boesch. "We would always play one-on- one together, especially dur- ing COVID. We had the key to the gym, and we would be there for like four hours a day just playing one-on-one, and our parents were rebounding for us. Growing up in a bas- ketball family, there's nothing like it. "It's super fun just to have something that connects us all. We still fight when we play to this day." Brown, an enrollee in U-M's College of Literature, Science, and The Arts and Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2024-25, was the only one of her sisters to stay in the state for their college careers. It all boiled down to the opportunity she had at U-M. "This place is special," she said. "We have something going that not every program has. I talk to a lot of people who don't go to this university, other schools in the Big Ten, SEC. I think Michigan's just different in our culture and the way we work. It's been super fun to be here, and I wouldn't trade it for anything." Brown has been a reserve during the last two years in Ann Arbor, appearing in 42 games off the bench. The relationships she has built have helped her stick it out thus far in an era where transfer portal movement is rampant. "I have so much trust in Coach Arico and the entire staff," Brown said. "No matter whether I was playing or not playing, they were always there. I just feel like I could always have that trust in them and have those hard conversations of what do I need to do to get on the court, and what I'm struggling with. "It's very hard, and there are times when I'm like, 'Dang, this sucks. Is there going to be a light at the end of the tunnel?' But I just surround myself with people that I love, which is at Michigan. I don't think I can get that anywhere else." Former U-M guard Danielle Rauch is now an assistant on staff, and her message to Brown has been one she has gravitated to. "Showing up every day and staying consistent is the biggest thing she said," Brown shared. "She was told by so many people you're not going to touch the floor [when she was a player] … but she was in here getting thousands of shots up every day. "The one thing you can do is just show up every day with a smile on your face, don't complain, and just put in the work." — Anthony Broome MICHIGAN'S TOP PERFORMERS Volleyball graduate student Allison Jacobs: The outside hitter was named to the Big Ten Volleyball Preseason All-Con- ference Team, one of nine players at her position to make the 20-person list. She's Michigan's first to earn the honor since Jess Mruzik in 2022. The Stevenson Ranch, Calif., na- tive is heading into her sixth collegiate season, having played at UCLA for two years to start (2020-21). She's tallied 637 kills and 438 digs in her career. Women's soccer senior Sophie Homan: The Roch- ester, Mich., goalie is one of three Wol- verines named Big Ten Players to Watch ahead of the 2025 ca m p a i g n . S h e i s j o i n e d by s o p h o - more defender Ellie Fife and junior forward Gabrielle Prych. Homan has appeared in five matches for the Wolverines and made 8 saves with only 1 goal allowed in 146 min- utes. Men's soccer senior Nolan Miller: He was tabbed as a U n i t e d S o c c e r Coaches Defender to Watch in 2025, after starting 20 matches in 2024. While an- choring a Michigan defense that limited opponents to 1 or fewer goals in 17 matches, the Troy, Mich., native scored 2 goals himself last season. Men's gymnastics senior Fred Richard: The 2024 Olympic b r o n z e m e d a l i s t and 2025 NCAA All- Around champion finished second in the all-around and third on the high bar at the USA Gymnas- tics Championships in New Orleans Aug. 7-10. The Stough- ton, Mass., native posted a final all- around score of 162.555. Brown, the 2023 Michigan Miss Basketball, was an Academic All-Big Ten selection as a sophomore. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS