Finding Joy: Ella Wanzer's Journey to Delaware

Ella Wanzer has found her new home in Delaware

Apr 04, 2025

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As the transfer portal officially opens for student-athletes in women’s basketball, there will be many individuals finding new homes soon. Last year, over 1,000 student-athletes entered their name in the portal and this year is no different with over 1,100 women’s basketball players in the portal. One player who found her new home a year ago is Delaware’s Ella Wanzer.

The Portal

Wanzer just wrapped up her fourth season as a division-1 college basketball player. Unlike her first three years at the college level, this season looked pretty different for Wanzer. Despite the change of scenery, Wanzer continued to make her mark on and off of the court with new teammates, a new coaching staff, and a renewed strength. First, let me take you back. On March 25, 2024, Wanzer announced that she would enter her name in the transfer portal. Following three years at Binghamton University where she averaged 10 PPG, shooting 37% from deep, and one of the best shooters in the America East Conference during her junior year, it was time for Wanzer to make her next move. For Wanzer, the decision came down to continuing her education in a related field to her undergrad degree (Graphic Design), exploring life outside of New York, and a new challenge of playing different opponents in a different conference.

Finding Joy in Delaware

Wanzer’s decision to make Delaware her new home was one that she knew she would be making after meeting Head Coach Sarah Jenkins. Jenkins, a former standout at Georgetown University, has an infectious personality that jumps off the page and you can see the fun and love she has for her players. For Wanzer, having a coach who checks in, wants to chat and wants to know how her student-athletes are doing both on the court and off the court was icing on the cake.

Off the Court

While Wanzer enjoyed success on the court as the CAA leader in three-point field goal percentage (38%), off the court she has found her lane with art, fashion, and graphic design. As a graduate student in the Fashion & Apparel Studies track, Wanzer is hard at work completing her thesis project which focuses on swimwear for individuals who are battling breast cancer. A cause that is near and dear to Wanzer, as her mother is a breast cancer survivor. Wanzer hopes to take the project beyond the classroom by getting the activewear patented and getting research published on the topic.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Wanzer helps fellow student-athletes by designing sports graphics and hosts a podcast sharing stories of student-athletes and their journey through basketball.

“To the season that made me fall in love with basketball again, Thank you.”

You can listen and watch Ella’s full interview on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube