For Elle Evans, basketball has been a lifelong passion, but her journey to Kansas started long before she suited up for the Jayhawks. From lighting up the court at North Dakota State to making her mark in the Big 12, Evans’ story is one of hard work, determination, and a love for the game that started in her hometown of Edwardsville. But who is Elle Evans beyond the court? Let’s take a closer look at her family, early years, and rise to college basketball stardom.

Although Evans prefers to keep her personal life private, but one thing is clear—her family played a huge role in shaping the player she is today. She was born to Eric Evans and Julie Evans (maiden name Reinecke) in Edwardsville, Illinois. Her mother, Julie, was a student-athlete at Southern Indiana University and she grew up alongside her siblings, Warner Evans, and Payton Evans.

While many might know her for her sharpshooting and versatility, her family knows her as the dedicated athlete who spent hours in the gym perfecting her craft.

And this tendency to perfect her sport is what brought Evans to Kansas, a program known for its rich history of excellence, but currently in a state of flux (in terms of its women’s basketball team). After losing key players like Taiyanna Jackson, Holly Kersgieter, and Zakiyah Franklin, their head coach Brandon Schneider was looking to rebuild—and Evans was a big part of that plan.