Emily Bojan recently transitioned from a successful softball career at the University of Wisconsin to join the DePaul women’s basketball team. One of the first people she called with this news was Mary Clare Brusek. Both Bojan and Brusek were basketball teammates at Marist High School. Brusek previously played four years of volleyball at Western Michigan before joining their basketball team, participating in 19 games. Her memorable game was a 14-point performance against Valparaiso on December 14.
Brusek initially doubted Bojan’s announcement, considering her friend’s four-year stint with the Wisconsin Badgers. Bojan explained that Danielle Zymkowitz, an assistant softball coach at Wisconsin, encouraged her. Zymkowitz believed Bojan was too competitive to leave sports entirely and suggested basketball as an option. Although a spot was available on Wisconsin’s basketball roster, Bojan chose to enter the transfer portal. DePaul showed interest, and the idea of playing close to family and friends appealed to her.
Interestingly, the connection with DePaul stemmed from Brusek’s parents, Sean and Megan (née Lucid), who were past DePaul athletes. Sean also coached Bojan and Brusek in their youth basketball days. Despite Bojan’s focus on softball for years, she speaks warmly of her friendship with Brusek and their shared history in basketball.
Standing 5-foot-11, Bojan doesn’t aim to be a star player for the DePaul Blue Demons. Her primary goal is to adapt and keep pace with the team. Having last played competitive basketball in 2022, she acknowledges the physical challenges of returning to the sport. After years as a power-hitter with a .311 batting average, 13 home runs, and 53 RBIs over 161 games at Wisconsin, switching back to basketball required significant adjustment to her fitness.
Brusek, who soon begins a sales role in Washington D.C., supports Bojan through this transition. Recognizing the difficulty of competing against athletes with longstanding experience, she advised Bojan to accept the learning curve and embrace her inexperience. Bojan appreciates taking on a role where she can learn from others, rather than leading.
DePaul coach Jill Pizzotti values Bojan’s leadership qualities. Despite her basketball inexperience, Bojan brings energy and understands the demands of collegiate athletics. Recognized for her leadership and spirited nature, Bojan intends to contribute positively to the team. During her time between Marist and DePaul, she acquired the nickname “Bo”, reflecting her tomboyish personality, a contrast to her given name, Emily.
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