University Of Missouri-St. Louis: MBA Graduate Alex LaPorta Learns To Lead On The Court

Olivette MO

23 May, 2022

9:18 AM

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Press release from the University of Missouri-St. Louis: May 16, 2022 Growing up across the river in Highland, Illinois, there was little doubt Alex LaPorta would be an athlete. Her father played football at William Jewell College, while her mother played basketball and softball at Rend Lake College. From an early age, she and her siblings followed in their footsteps. "My parents definitely encouraged it from when we were little, probably to get us out of the house, get us doing something with all four of us running around bugging them," she said. "But we all loved it. We all took a liking to different sports, but we just found our way with athletics and the community part of it." All four would go on to compete in college. The eldest, Olivia, played volleyball for Fordham University, while Bella, the youngest, plays volleyball for William Jewell. Younger brother Sam is a tight end on the University of Iowa football team. Meanwhile, LaPorta became a star forward for the University of Missouri–St. Louis women's basketball team, earning multiple All-GLVC honors; becoming the career leader in rebounding; and leading the team to its best record in program history this past season. She's turned in an equally impressive performance in the classroom as a Pierre Laclede Honors College and College of Business Administration student during her time at UMSL. This past weekend, she graduated with an MBA after previously earning a bachelor's degree and an Honors College certificate. Initially, LaPorta intended to play volleyball in college, but her plans changed when she wasn't highly recruited. However, as a junior, she was part of the first Highland High School girls basketball team to qualify for state. The Bulldogs went on a run in the tournament and eventually placed third. The experience positively impacted LaPorta and flipped her mindset. Heading into her senior season, she decided to pursue basketball at the collegiate level instead. After she changed course, UMSL's coaching staff began reaching out to her immediately. LaPorta was impressed with what she heard. "I could just feel that they were serious with their intentions," she said. "I've had the same coaches all five years that I was here, and they just told me what I could be, what I could become and what I could help the UMSL program become." Over the next five years, LaPorta would become an integral part of the team's success, though there were ups and downs. As a freshman, LaPorta mostly served as a role player during the Tritons' successful 2017-18 season but still managed to shine. She set a freshman rebounding record by snagging 236 boards and netted Great Lakes Valley Conference All-Freshman Team and Academic All-GLVC distinctions. The next two seasons were what LaPorta characterized as a development period. A core group of freshmen joined the team when she was a sophomore, and together they helped the program grow. Individually, LaPorta continued to sharpen her skills on the court, racking up two second-team All-GLVC selections, but she also matured as a leader. "I had to find that within myself," she explained. "My coach always wanted me to be more of a vocal leader, so I kind of stepped into that role." While the team was continuing to improve, a cloud hung over the 2020-21 season. Collegiate and professional athletic organizations continued to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and how to orchestrate safe live sporting events. Ultimately, it led to a shortened 20-game season with empty stands. LaPorta's trajectory continued to rise despite the circumstances. She scored her 1,000th career point in a win over William Jewel and earned first-team All-GLVC and honorable mention All-American honors. This press release was produced by the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The views expressed here are the author's own.