Carter Booth’s early professional career initially took her overseas, but she’s back stateside and hoping to win a championship with a very familiar face.

Booth wrapped up her University of Wisconsin volleyball career on a blistering run on way to a Final Four berth in December, and she began this year with Unione Yamamay Busto Arsizio (UYBA) of the Italian Serie A1 League. It allowed her to experience, as she explained it, a “Welcome to Pro moment” in adjusting to another level of the game to help her mature as a player.

Before all that, Booth was selected in the third round of the 2025 Major League Volleyball Draft by the Dallas Pulse in November. As one season ended in Italy, another continued for the Pulse. It’s been quite a successful first year for the franchise with a 20-8 record and clinching the No. 2 seed in the MLV postseason.

Booth was approached about joining the team for its final weeks, and Dallas announced her signing April 15. That’s allowed her to reconnect with former Wisconsin teammate (and roommate) Mimi Colyer, who gushed that “it’s been nothing short of awesome.”

“I think at the time, they had a few injuries, and they had to put in Kelsie (Payne), who’s not a middle, and they had to put her in,” Booth told Badger Observer on April 28. “Mimi probably has a better perspective of how that went, but I’m hearing that it was not ideal. So they just kind of wanted to get another middle, another body on the roster.

“And I was like, ‘Sure, why not?’ It’s three extra weeks, and I want to be playing volleyball for as long as possible right now, because when it’s the offseason, like it’s the offseason. There’s not a lot of opportunities to play until September, November rolls around. So yeah, that was kind of my journey. I’m here now finishing out … and yeah, it’s going great.”

The transition to Major League Volleyball and the Pulse appeared pretty smooth off the court, as Booth said she was “fully settled in literally in a day.” She’s played in Dallas’ last five matches leading into the postseason, and her time with the team could extend beyond Thursday in a win over the Mojo (which can be seen on ION). They would face the winner of the Indy Ignite and Omaha Supernovas for the MLV championship on Saturday.

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The University of Wisconsin volleyball program may have found its next great attacking connection.

The chemistry between setter Charlie Fuerbringer and a number of Badgers last season helped lead them to yet another Final Four appearance under coach Kelly Sheffield. Those options allowed Fuerbringer to spray the ball around the court for a team firing on all cylinders at the end of the year. But gone are Alicia Andrew and All-Americans Carter Booth and Mimi Colyer, who are now playing professionally, and outside hitter Una Vajagic transferred to Arizona State.

Wisconsin signed former Florida middle blocker Jaela Auguste during the offseason, and there’s already an early rapport between Fuerbringer and the All-American. That was highlighted in the spring finale against Northern Illinois during a second-set kill, where after Fuerbringer lobbed a one-handed set, the ball exploded off of Auguste’s right arm that erupted reactions from the Badgers on the court and the Field House faithful.

Auguste led the team with 30 kills and finished the spring with a .510 hitting percentage, according to stats provided by Sheffield last month.

“Jaela, a lot of highlight film swings from her, right?” Sheffield said after the March 23 win at Marquette. “She’s one of the most dynamic attackers, not only in the country, but one of the more dynamic attackers that I’ve coached.

“And there’s play there in the fourth set where Charlie went really, really long string to her on the slide, and she just got on it and just crushed it. Her ability to get on something really fast, even when the setter is 25 feet away from you is really special.”

Badger Observer covered two of Wisconsin’s three spring matches, the March 23 contest at Marquette and the April 24 sweep over Northern Illinois at the Field House. Here are more thoughts after their spring schedule, along with a breakdown of the recent release of the 2026 nonconference slate and which Big Ten foes the program will face at home and on the road.

There’s depth on the outside

Wisconsin’s hitting percentage was .392 this spring, but Sheffield believed one of the areas this program can take strides in heading into this summer and preseason practices is its offense. He called it “a work in progress.”

“We’ve got a lot of weapons, and just trying to figure out how to attack into space is something we’re going to just continue to work on,” Sheffield said after win over Northern Illinois.

But like last season, there should be options on the outside to complement Auguste and other middles such as sophomore Natalie Wardlow and freshman Lynney Tarnow.

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Jeff Grimes got a laugh out of reporters after the University of Wisconsin football’s April 25 scrimmage.

Grimes was asked about his assessment Wisconsin’s quarterbacks who could back up starter Colton Joseph. Joseph, one of the program’s key transfer portal signees, assumed first-team reps during all of the Badgers’ 15 spring practices. Who will be QB2 behind the 2025 Sun Belt offensive player of the year is less defined entering summer conditioning with a position group that includes Louisville transfer Deuce Adams, freshman Ryan Hopkins, Carter Smith and Danny O’Neil.

Grimes believed there’s “an enormous amount of competition” and depth at quarterback and other offensive skill positions such as running back, tight end and receiver. Three of those four quarterbacks behind Joseph have started Power Four games, and with Wisconsin’s “luck” at the position with injuries the last three seasons under coach Luke Fickell, this team can never have too many capable signal callers.

“Danny didn’t get to go through spring, but we’ll see him back again,” Grimes said, as seen on Wisconsin’s YouTube channel. “I think Carter’s made progress. And Deuce and Ryan, both being new guys, both had a lot of impressive moments, so that’s a battle that I’m really looking forward to. And there’s a lot of time between now and fall camp that guys can make a lot of progress if they really apply themselves.”

And his final sentence, which came a couple seconds later before moving on to answering the next question, drew the laughter from the media in attendance.

“Answer, not answer, I know.”

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The University of Wisconsin football team overhauled its cornerback group this offseason, but one returning second-year player showed his potential to help the defense this spring.

Wisconsin signed four cornerbacks — Cai Bates (Florida State), Eric Fletcher (Arizona State), Javan Robinson (Arizona State) and Bryce West (Ohio State) — during a very busy offseason for the program. All four received first- and second-team reps during the Badgers’ 15 spring practices, but so did redshirt freshman Jai’mier Scott.

Scott, a former four-star recruit by Rivals in the 2025 class, didn’t play in a game last season. But he more than held his own since March 19 and appears to have put himself in the conversation to be a significant contributor at outside corner when fall camp commences in August.

“I think Jai’mier, when you look at talent, you look at his footwork and things, he’s probably one of the best I’ve ever been around footwork-wise,” secondary coach Paul Haynes said. “He just needed to mature a little bit with the consistency to do the good things over and over again. But he’s tough. He’ll hit you.

“We brought him in as a safety. We actually recruited him as a safety and then moved him to corner just because of his skill set. So definitely the skill set. He has a skill set to probably be one of the best, I’ll say it again, best I’ve been around. He just has to continue to be consistent about it. So when you look at again, ball skills, tackling, setting edges, covering, he has all those abilities.”

Badger Observer continues its spring ball breakdowns with a look at four other players on defense who surprised during the 15 practices. Remember to check out Thursday’s feature on four players who fit our criteria on offense. And to explain what a surprise means in this two-part feature, we’re highlighting players whose expectations (by our site specifically) weren’t necessarily defined entering late March but their play and roles stood out.

Defensive lineman Nolan Vils

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The talk of the University of Wisconsin quarterback group this spring wasn’t just its new QB1.

Wisconsin brought in Colton Joseph, the 2025 Sun Belt offensive player of the year, from Old Dominion this offseason. His dual-threat athleticism and talent were on display with the first-team offense through the 15 practices that ran from late March through Wednesday. Who will be his backup still isn’t sorted out heading into the summer, and that’s partly because of the emergence of freshman early enrollee Ryan Hopkins.

Hopkins was one of Wisconsin’s key 2025 signees who came from national prep powerhouse Santa Ana Mater Dei. He first flashed his track speed on a quarterback run in March, and over the course of the spring, a variety of throws – whether airing it out to receivers and arguably displaying the strongest arm of the unit, or using different arm angles on throws under pressure – also were display.

But Hopkins also mixed those dual-threat traits with a poise not many first-year players possess.

“He’s got those intangible qualities that make him capable of coming in and contributing,” offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes said last weekend, as seen in Wisconsin’s YouTube video. “He’s got a cool vibe and energy about him, and I think the players really, really respond to that. So yeah, I’ve been really pleased with him.”

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Be sure to check out Badger Observer’s videos with Wisconsin’s wide receivers, tight ends, offensive linemen, outside linebackers and inside linebackers from earlier this month. And we’ll have a full breakdown of what’s happened during the 15 spring practices starting later this week.

Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph

Wisconsin quarterback Deuce Adams

Be sure to check out Badger Observer’s videos with Wisconsin’s tight ends, offensive linemen, outside linebackers and inside linebackers from earlier this month. And we’ll have a full breakdown of what’s happened during the 15 spring practices starting later this week.

Wide receiver Eugene HIlton Jr.

Also be sure to check out Saturday’s full scrimmage breakdown that took place just north of the stadium, and follow up with Badger Observer starting later this week as we will extensively break down everything Wisconsin spring ball after Thursday’s final practice.

Tight end Emmett Bork

Tight end Grant Stec

Running back Abu Sama

Fans can get the full availability of Sama and Stec with reporters on Wisconsin’s YouTube channel.

MADISON, Wis. — Grant Stec capped off the University of Wisconsin football team’s scrimmage with one of the offensive highlights of the spring.

Stec, a redshirt sophomore, leaped and snagged a Deuce Adams throw with one hand in the back of the end zone over linebacker Aaron Witt. Stec stayed in bounds on the field just north of Camp Randall Stadium to complete the reception for the late touchdown.

The Badgers offense has had it moments during spring ball that started in late March, but it feels like it’s found more of its footing this week. Saturday was its best day yet, highlighted by Stec’s stellar reception and other big plays.

There were drives of the first-team offense working against the second-team defense, and vice versa. The first-team offense scored on a Bryan Jackson II run during one series, but the second-team unit immediately found success thereafter against the first-team defense. Freshman quarterback Ryan Hopkins, who was running to his right, showed his arm talent by uncorking a dart across his body to wide receiver Jaylon Domingeaux in the middle of the field.

Domingeaux then outran the defense for a 50-yard touchdown. That was the first of two scores for the FCS transfer that included a receiving touchdown with the first-team offense against the 2s a few series later. The third-team offense also got in on the action, with running backs Mason Lane and Harrison Bortolotti taking it into the end zone.

Here are some other thoughts from the practice.

Let’s keep it with Domingeaux

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MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin volleyball team’s been around the state in the last month, but there’s no place like home.

Wisconsin hosted and eventually swept Northern Illinois inside the Field House during its final spring match Friday, taking all four sets 25-18, 25-18, 25-13 and 25-22. It wrapped up a spring slate that initially started with the Badgers traveling to Milwaukee to face Marquette in late March, then traveled northeast to Green Bay last weekend. The program could have taken I-94 northwest to Eau Claire if not for an April 10 match with Minnesota being canceled.

“Overall, really happy with the direction that we went this spring,” Sheffield said. “Thought individually and collectively, we got a lot better, and that’s what you’re wanting.

“It’s a lot of new people. I think anybody that was watching, I think, sees that there’s quite a bit of talent. And I thought the effort I really liked. I thought both teams got probably what they wanted out of it.”

Be sure to check out Sheffield’s post-match availability, but here are more thoughts.

Pair of transfers led the way

Wisconsin’s work in the transfer portal again appears fruitful. Middle blocker Jaela Auguste and outside hitter Eva Travis led the way with 10 kills each in the win.

As a disclaimer, Wisconsin kept stats for the first three sets.

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Sheffield spoke with reporters about the following topics:

• The early connection between transfer middle blocker Jaela Auguste and setter Charlie Fuerbringer

• Transfer outside hitter Eva Travis

• The potential depth on this Wisconsin team

• More below the paywall

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Fickell discussed the following topics:

• Running back Bryan Jackson II

• How snapping is not just on the centers

• The growth and maturity of outside linebacker Tyreese Fearbry

• The competitive nature with both sides of the ball going against one another

• Quarterback Colton Joseph

• Emmett Bork and high expectations for the second-year tight end

• What’s next for the Wisconsin general manager role

• Offensive lineman Blake Cherry

• The punting game

Eric Mateos was posed with what he deemed “an awesome question” on Friday.

Mateos is more than halfway through his first spring as the University of Wisconsin football program’s offensive line coach, and he is yet another assistant tasked with revitalizing a storied position group. He was asked what characteristics it takes to be a line that is great at run blocking, and how he teaches said characteristics.

The most important thing, according to Mateos, is “the mindset and passion for the physicality.”

“It’s funny,” Mateos said. “The run game fundamentals, no matter what the scheme is, don’t change. Do I have positional leverage? That’s where’s my body in relation to the defender and the ball carrier? Do I have hand leverage? Are my hands inside or underneath his where I can I can win with hands? And then do I have hip leverage? Am I willing to bend my hips more than the defender is willing to bend his hips?”

The way Mateos described those traits, it’s a best of three between the lineman and defender to see who comes out victorious each snap.

“If you only win one of the three, you’re probably not winning the rep,” Mateos said. “If you win two of the three, you’re probably going to win the rep.

“If you win all three, you’re probably whooping his ass pretty good.”

It sure seemed like the Wisconsin offensive line was winning more reps by the end of last week’s spring practices. There’s a disclaimer here in wondering just how much one can weigh the run game performances during Tuesday practices, especially now that coach Luke Fickell’s said those sessions will likely look like the past two Tuesdays where players don’t wear shoulder pads.

But Fickell said the Badgers “were a little bit lax” Tuesday, particularly on offense.

Perhaps the message was heard by the unit as the week progressed to wearing shells (shoulder pads and helmets) Thursday and full pads Saturday. The rushing attack came alive with a couple of longer runs by Southern Cal transfer Bryan Jackson II, who’s shown the acceleration and burst to go with a powerful 240-pound frame, with the first-team offense.

Another transfer, Abu Sama III, also re-emerged this week with some noteworthy runs Thursday and Saturday that showed his ability to find the hole and accelerate to the deeper levels of the defense. That was demonstrated during Saturday’s session with a pair of would-be touchdowns (one with the second-team offense early in practice, another with the first-team later Saturday).

The blocking was there at times for the third-team offense as well Saturday, which allowed sophomore Harrison Bortolotti to accumulate significant yardage on a couple of carries, then find the end zone late in practice.

Badger Observer broke down other notable themes after another week of Wisconsin spring ball before the Badgers get back on the field Tuesday. Be sure to catch up on availabilities from various position groups last week, which included the following:

• Mateos and offensive linemen Colin Cubberly, Kevin Heywood and PJ Wilkins

• Assistant Tuf Borland and inside linebackers coach Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa

• Assistant Matt Mitchell and outside linebackers Sebastian Cheeks and Nick Clayton

There are options at the guard spots, even with a key injury

The injury to Emerson Mandell, which Fickell confirmed would keep the right guard out for the remainder of spring ball, leaves even more opportunity for three interior linemen.

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MADISON, Wis. — There’s a lot to like about the skill set of Abu Sama III, especially within Jeff Grimes’ offense.

Sama, who came from Iowa State, reeled off a few impressive carries during the University of Wisconsin football team’s 10th spring practice Saturday. The first came inside Camp Randall Stadium early in the session, making a nice cut after a second-team handoff from freshman Ryan Hopkins and accelerating into the open field for what could be called a long touchdown run.

After the practice shifted to the grass field north of the stadium, Sama later took the rock from quarterback Colton Joseph. He went left, then outran the defense — which included eluding a tackle from cornerback Bryce West — to front pylon of the end zone for a touchdown.

Sama’s speed and vision were also complemented by his physicality on other carries Saturday, which was a building block off of his performance Thursday. His reemergence this week during 11-on-11 reps provides Wisconsin with at least a trio of backs alongside rising junior Darrion Dupree and redshirt sophomore Bryan Jackson that could be utilized within assistant Jayden Everett’s position group.

Jackson himself ripped off a nice run into the deeper levels of the defense during a first-team 11-on-11 series Saturday.

Here are a few other notable items from Saturday’s practice.

Colton Joseph led the offense to the end zone later in practice

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Be sure to check out Badger Observer’s videos from the last week that include interviews with the inside linebackers (under assistant Tuf Borland) and outside linebackers (under assistant Matt Mitchell).

Also check back in with Badger Observer later Saturday for takeaways after Wisconsin’s 10th spring practice.

Offensive tackle Kevin Heywood

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Check out coach Luke Fickell’s chat with media Tuesday, and be sure to hear from inside linebackers coach Tuf Borland, and sophomore linebackers Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa from Wednesday as well.

Outside linebacker Sebastian Cheeks

Outside linebacker Nick Clayton

Check out coach Luke Fickell’s chat with media Tuesday, and be sure to back with Badger Observer later Thursday for availabilities with associate head coach and outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell, and outside linebackers Sebastian Cheeks and Nick Clayton.

Linebacker Mason Posa

Linebacker Cooper Catalano

Fickell nearly spoke for 15 minutes about the following topics (which includes in the second video below):

• “Just not a great day” and how “on the offensive side of the ball, we were a little bit lax, and it showed”

• The departure of Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh, and when McIntosh told Fickell

• Interim athletic director Marcus Sedberry, who has held Wisconsin football’s general manager duties

• Wisconsin’s youth at safety behind Matt Jung and Marvin Burks Jr.

• Outside linebacker Will McDonald, who walked on to Wisconsin to begin his career and has made some plays this spring

• “I think the easiest thing for us right now is to understand, like, you got to win.”

• Inside linebackers coach Tuf Borland

• Inside linebacker Jon Jon Kamara

• Offensive lineman Kevin Heywood

• Injury update on right guard Emerson Mandell

Offseason questions surrounding the University of Wisconsin football program won’t be answered after seven spring practices.

But certain players have emerged through the first half of spring ball who’ll be worth monitoring through the rest of this month and into the fall.

Wisconsin will conduct its eighth of 15 allotted practices Tuesday as a critical offseason marches on for coach Luke Fickell and his staff. There’s still plenty of time for players to step up, and storylines to develop, but certain trends have begun to take shape over the last few weeks that are worth discussing.

Badger Observer has compiled a list of one theme that’s stood out from each offensive and defensive position group since March 19.

Quarterback: The reps of freshman Ryan Hopkins

This could have gone to a growing steadiness in Deuce Adams, who’s been receiving a significant chunk of second-team reps on offense. Adams has shown an ability to air it out with some success with the 2s during the first seven practices, including hitting wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr. for a 30-ish yard gain during a skeleton period Saturday. He may not be the most mobile of the four quarterbacks receiving reps, but he’s shown he can take off with the rock.

But Hopkins’ emergence during the first half of spring ball in receiving second-team reps has been noticeable at the very least. His physical traits – the arm talent and the sprinter speed – make him ideal for Jeff Grimes’ offense. And remember too, Wisconsin offered him when Phil Longo was still offensive coordinator in fall 2024.

Hopkins hasn’t been perfect and has looked like a freshman, as he should. Some throws have been behind his receiving targets, such as Saturday where cornerback Jai’mier Scott broke up a pass intended for transfer receiver Malachi Coleman. Or an off-target deep throw Tuesday that Cai Bates easily intercepted.

There have also been plenty of snaps where you see Hopkins’ potential.

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MADISON, Wis. — The cracking of the pads sounded a little louder at the University of Wisconsin football team’s seventh spring practice.

Wisconsin went fully-padded Saturday, first starting inside Camp Randall Stadium before finishing on the field just north of it. One particular period early on saw a few groups of offensive players spaced out on the east sideline of the stadium with a ball in front of each of them. Reaching and grabbing the ball from about knee-high off an a set of Agile 2 pads, they fought to get upfield against an assigned defender.

Teammates surrounded them and reacted to the collisions. This portion of practice ended when a pair of freshmen, safety Kah’ni Watts and quarterback Ryan Hopkins went against one another, with players celebrating around the first-year defensive back after a nice stick.

There’s plenty to chat about from Saturday’s practice, so here are several thoughts.

Another name to watch at left guard

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