How Kentucky's Alyssa Rice used women's basketball to become a sports industry professional

Rice's basketball career, SEC experiences prepared her for championship operations

Posted on 3/28/25 12:00 PM

Kentucky's Alyssa Rice decided not to go through her student-athlete experience mindlessly.

Even with the time demands of being a Division I women's basketball player, Rice decided it was important to develop herself as a well-rounded individual, not just an athlete. She would ask herself, "How do I continue to grow myself in other areas outside of basketball?"

In her time at Kentucky, Alyssa Rice was honored as the 2018 SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year, was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll three times and was recognized as a member of the 2017 SEC Community Service Team. (Photos courtesy of Alyssa Rice)
In her time at Kentucky, Alyssa Rice was honored as the 2018 SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year, was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll three times and was recognized as a member of the 2017 SEC Community Service Team. (Photos courtesy of Alyssa Rice)

Rice found these off-court experiences by serving as a voice for student-athletes on conference and NCAA committees. Her Southeastern Conference peers voted her chair of the SEC Women's Basketball Leadership Council, and she served as a representative to the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Competition Committee. She worked with Power Five commissioners, athletics directors and senior woman administrators at the NCAA Autonomy Five meeting and SEC spring meetings.

She spoke on behalf of the women's basketball players in her conference, learning the legislative process of collegiate athletics.

"Being able to expand my knowledge and expand myself as a person in all of those different areas, whether it's academically, athletically, socially, (helped me) become the best human I could be," she said.

The ability to be multifaceted drew Rice, an ESPN top 20 recruit, to Kentucky out of high school. Her parents, Thomas and Laurie, advised Rice to pick a school she would enjoy even if basketball ended.

"I wanted a coach that not only cared about me as a student and an athlete, but also as a human, because I was looking to grow in both areas," she said.

Rice quickly found a home as a Wildcat. After practices, she would cook meals of smothered chicken, pasta and tacos for her teammates, along with homemade baked goods for dessert.

"I was 'Team Mom,' so I had to take care of my children and make sure they ate well," she joked. "You're going through the grind, (so) those moments goofing off in the locker room, singing, blasting music … are the special moments where you make memories."

Their team chemistry off the court led to success on the court. Kentucky made postseason appearances in the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship three of Rice's four years and advanced to the SEC tournament semifinals three times.

Those championship events introduced Rice to championship operations, a seed planted for her future.After Rice graduated from Kentucky in 2018 with a degree in accounting, she became a graduate assistant at Ohio. In her first year of graduate school,sheworkedwith the SEC on itstournament operations team.

"It was a very rewarding experience to see the whole SEC tournament come together having just come from the student-athlete's side."

Some of Rice's favorite memories happened in the locker room. Her team's theme song: "Dangerously in Love" by Destiny's Child. "It has some vocals in there and not all of my teammates have the vocals to match it, but you couldn't tell us otherwise," Rice said.
Some of Rice's favorite memories happened in the locker room. Her team's theme song: "Dangerously in Love" by Destiny's Child. "It has some vocals in there and not all of my teammates have the vocals to match it, but you couldn't tell us otherwise," Rice said.

Throughout her time at Ohio, she continued to build her love of operations, working events like the Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby and NBA All-Star Game.

"All of those experiences continued to foster that joy I have for creating a great event operation side, being able to use my creativity to create a great experience because a lot of these experiences are once-in-a-lifetime for these individuals," she said.

In 2020, Rice became anNCAA postgraduate internand helped create theDivision I Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group. Based on her own experience, Rice focused on prioritizing and amplifying the voices of the players in the NCAA's decision-making process.

"It's important to ask their direct experience of how this (rule or decision) impacts your day-to-day," she said.

After finishing her yearlong internship, Rice continued to work at the NCAA full time in championship operations, where she manages men's gymnastics, Division II softball and Football Championship Subdivision football.

"At championships, being able to make the student-athletes feel celebrated, feel like they have achieved something incredible and then just enjoying every moment, regardless of the result, makes it special," she said.

For Rice, college basketball has opened doors for her to walk into any room and have a seat at the table. She thanks basketball for its ability to shape her as not only an athlete but also a young woman.

If Rice could give any message to student-athletes, she would tell them to make the most of their experiences by being mindful and present to the opportunities available.

"You increase the impact that you can have on the world when you are in the world in multiple different areas," she said.

Rice became an NCAA women's basketball postgraduate intern in 2020. During the internship, she helped orchestrate operations for the women's basketball championships.
Rice became an NCAA women's basketball postgraduate intern in 2020. During the internship, she helped orchestrate operations for the women's basketball championships.
Rice used her student-athlete experience to develop holistically. "If your sole identity is tied to this sport that is so wavering and so unpredictable, your life is going to mirror that. It's important that you find something that grounds you and can feed your soul and continue to advance you as a person," she said.
Rice used her student-athlete experience to develop holistically. "If your sole identity is tied to this sport that is so wavering and so unpredictable, your life is going to mirror that. It's important that you find something that grounds you and can feed your soul and continue to advance you as a person," she said.