A love for basketball has always been deeply rooted within Jersey Berg. Her father, Hunter Berg, made sure of that.
"He was a big basketball guy up in North Dakota and he taught me everything basketball-wise," Berg said. "He got me into it and he pushes me to be a better player and a better person. He showed me what working hard is.
"When he works out with me you see where the hard work is and all that, but even seeing him do other things outside of that, he's just a hard worker."
Her father was both a highly accomplished basketball player and coach, beginning his career at Williston State College (then known as UND–Williston) where he was an NJCAA All-American before finishing his career at the University of North Dakota, where he twice became an All-North Central Conference selection during his time there. Her father then also went on to coach both men's and women's basketball at Williston State, also later becoming the athletic director at the school for a short stint.
With all her family ties at Williston State, it was practically a no-brainer for Berg when choosing where to play out of high school.
Berg continued her father's legacy when she decided to stay local and play for Williston State herself—and it paid off, as Berg led Williston State women's basketball to have one of the best years in the program's history last season. Williston State finished 32-2 and competed at the NJCAA D-I Women's National Championships, with Berg helping lead the way as the team's second leading scorer and rebounder on her way to earn All-American honorable mention honors.
"It was really amazing, I have never been on a team like that and that run was amazing," Berg said. "I look back on that every day. That's a memory for life."
After two highly successful seasons with Williston State, Berg felt it was time for her to move on to the next chapter of her basketball career. This is where she and her father's path began to diverge—as instead of remaining in-state, Berg made the decision to continue her playing career in Laramie.
Still, her father played a major role in Berg choosing to sign with UW, as he saw it as a perfect fit for her to transfer to.
"He couldn't be happier with my decision either, he thinks this is definitely the right place for me and I agree," Berg said.
Berg's feelings have certainly been validated through the first few weeks of summer practices as well, as it hasn't taken the Bismarck native long to adjust to the small-town vibe of Laramie. She's also slowly begun to realize just how much UW means to the state of Wyoming—one of the biggest contributing factors towards her signing with UW.
"I really wanted a good community atmosphere and I think I'll really get that here," Berg said. "I haven't truly experienced it yet, but I will and I've already felt it a little bit.
"You drive around town and you see the logo everywhere. It's just so iconic."
With the Cowgirls losing three crucial starting pieces from a season ago, the door is wide open for Berg to make an immediate impact with the Cowgirls. Though the Cowgirls are only through a few practices, Berg has noticed an immediate change of pace from the NJCAA level to the NCAA D-I level.
Berg, though, is ready to take that challenge straight on.
"Being at this level already in practice, I feel like I'm being pushed to work faster and harder, but I love that," Berg said.
Head coach Heather Ezell has certainly taken notice of that fiery disposition Berg has through the Cowgirls' first few weeks of summer practices. Her father's influence on how she approaches each day in the gym is something that hasn't gone unnoticed, either.
"I think when you get players that have parents as coaches, they just have another feel for the game when they've grown up around it," Ezell said. "I think they almost see the game as a coach a little bit, just because they've been around it so much.
"One thing you see Jersey do is some of those little things that maybe don't always show up on the stat sheet. Us as coaches, that's one of the things you always love."
From the moments she's already shared with the team, to the culture and standard that's being set by the coaches, Berg believes she's found the environment she was looking for. Now, she is prepared to stamp a new legacy in the Brown and Gold.
"It was a big thing for me to be able to not regret anything and not look back," Berg said. "Coming here, I know they're going to make me the best I can possibly be."
