Entering her senior basketball season at LSU, forward Emily Ward had played in just 13 games. You would assume the former Benton product, a non-scholarship player, hasn’t had much of an impact on a nationally ranked Lady Tigers program buoyed by last year’s addition of head coach Kim Mulkey.
Think again.
It’s been a whirlwind start to the 2022-23 season for the 5-11 forward, and her biggest fans seem to be her teammates.
That speaks volumes.
In November, Ward was surprised by Mulkey with an athletic scholarship and was mobbed by her teammates at the announcement. Last week, the Lady Tigers staged a makeshift graduation ceremony during the team’s trip to Hawaii. Ward recently graduated from LSU’s Manship School with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication with a concentration in digital advertising while minoring in business. She will pursue a master’s degree beginning next semester.
“Emily has been a non-scholarship member of the women’s basketball team for the past three years and not once has she wavered in her commitment to both her sport and her academics,” Carole Walker, a senior associate director at the Cox Communications Center for Student-Athletes, said. “She is a leader, a very positive person and has always been the biggest fan of her own teammates despite not seeing much playing time in her first three years.”
Diploma in hand, Ward walked down the middle of the Tigers’ practice court in Maui on Friday to a recording of Pomp and Circumstance while she waved to her cheering teammates.
“That (diploma) is worth more than any NIL deal you can ever get,” Mulkey said.
Every player has a role on a team and she’s proof those without the gaudy statistics often have a major impact.
Those privy to Ward’s upbringing certainly aren’t surprised she’s a great leader. She’s a coaches’ daughter. Yes, coaches as in two — Benton’s legendary girls’ basketball coach Mary Ward and assistant, Randy Ward.
Mary Ward was a hard-nosed star who led Airline to a state championship in the early ’90s. She holds Benton’s program record for coaching victories.
Mulkey inherited Emily Ward, but it’s clear she’s become a fan, too.
“I can put you on the floor at any position; you know it all,” Mulkey said after presenting Ward with the scholarship. “You’re very well-liked.”
During a visit to Shreveport this summer, Mulkey said Ward was a person she’d recommend young girls emulate.
Ward has already played a career-high nine games during LSU’s torrid 11-0 start. She scored a career-high eight points in just 8 minutes of action against Western Carolina on Nov. 13. Two nights prior, against Mississippi Valley State, she sent the Pete Maravich Assembly Center into a frenzy with the first 3-pointer of her career.
“I don’t get any different treatment as a scholarship player than I did as a walk-on,” Ward said. “I had a lot of scholarship offers coming out of high school, but still chose to come to LSU as a preferred walk-on.”
Emily Ward scored more than 2,400 points during her career at Benton. She was a USA Today selection for the All-USA Louisiana team as a junior and a senior. And when the superstar went south to become a walk-on, she didn’t complain, claim foul or transfer. She stuck it out and exceled in her role.
Now, she’s reaping the rewards, on and off the court.
And the best is yet to come.
Contact Roy at roylangiii@yahoo.com