Pause. Rewind. Play it back to 2022—Madisen Skinner, the outside hitter who once stood between Texas and a volleyball championship, made the unexpected move to join the Longhorns. Yep, nearly nine months after she helped crush their title dreams, she traded her Kentucky blue for Texas burnt orange and quickly became a standout for the team. Fast-forward two years, and Madisen’s college volleyball chapter has come to a bittersweet end.

Last month, the Longhorns’ postseason run came to a halt in the regional semifinals against Creighton, but Madi didn’t bow out quietly. She was able to go out with a bang, leading her team in kills with 23 in her final collegiate match. Her legacy? Nothing short of legendary: three national championships and a volleyball career that many could only look forward to. But now, Madisen’s got everyone talking for a different reason. She has just delivered an emotional message that has pulled all the heart-strings and, oh, a former Longhorns teammate is about to spill the beans on why Madi decided to transfer to Texas in 2022.

Madisen Skinner hit us with all the feels, sharing a senior night montage on Instagram yesterday. The post featured snapshots with her family, teammates, action-packed moments, and even a close-up of her taped fingers reading “faith.” Reflecting on her journey, she wrote, “Choosing to trust the Lord when he was pushing my heart to say yes to Texas has been the most impactful and life-altering decision I have ever made.”

She expressed gratitude for the Longhorn family that embraced her during tough times, saying, “Jerritt, the staff, and girls welcomed me with open arms when I was at my lowest point in life and in my volleyball career.” While it’s bittersweet to close this chapter, Madisen proudly shared, “I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to wear the Longhorn across my chest and be included in this family. Hook ‘em forever & always!”

Madisen Skinner’s heartfelt post had her Longhorn family buzzing, but one comment from senior Asjia O’Neal absolutely stole the show. Dropping some message with a playful twist, Asjia wrote, “So glad I drove to Austin during Christmas break to convince u to be a Longhorn 😁😁.” And just like that, the story behind Madisen’s game-changing transfer seemed to resurface in the most unexpected and casual way.

Talking about Austin, do you know who is ready for the pro level? Yes, Madisen Skinner is ready to rock with LOVB Austin as the league is set to begin its first season. As Madi brings the curtain down on her dramatic collegiate stint, the pro world is about to get a taste of what it means to be a Madi—and we can’t wait! But let’s take a trip back to her Texas transfer days because the tea is piping hot! It appears that there is more to that move than we thought, and even Madi herself gave clues into what happened.

Madisen Skinner gets real about her transfer!

Let’s take it back to where it all began—Madisen Skinner making history with Kentucky. She not only played for the Wildcats in their first-ever national championship game, but she was the soul of the team. In the championship match against Texas, Madi had a season-high 19 kills and Avery had 14 kills and four blocks. Avery also said, “We couldn’t have won that championship without her.” But that success came with an unbearable weight. This pressure increased to the point where one night young Madi told a friend, “I don’t want to live anymore. I don’t want to be here.” Her struggles ran deep, and Kentucky’s coach, Craig Skinner, was not there to be a shoulder to lean on when she felt down.

In an emotional ESPN report, Madi went on to explain how constant pressure and a tight schedule drove her to the edge. After COVID-19 postponed the 2020 tournament to spring 2021, the seasons overlapped with only six weeks break in between. Then Avery attended Baylor, and then suddenly all the attention turned to Madi for her to ‘step up’. “I was playing so much volleyball I was sick of it. I felt like people only really cared about me as a volleyball player,” she admitted. The environment also did not help. Madi was also asked about her relationship with Craig Skinner, she stated, “When I was there, he was a coach, nothing more, nothing less. No coffee dates. No chitchats.” Panic attacks became frequent, and by November, she was failing classes and desperately seeking an escape from the suffocating walls of Kentucky volleyball.

Enter Texas and a chance to rewrite her story. At first, Madisen Skinner did not want to return to Texas, she even told the coach Jerritt Elliott, “I don’t imagine coming back to Texas. But thank you for reaching out. I have a lot of respect for you and your program.” But Elliott’s approach was different—no volleyball talk, instead he asked her how she was feeling and what could be done to make her feel wanted. His sincerity struck a chord, as did Texas star Logan Eggleston’s assurance. During her visit, she realized that the team list was full of talents and leaders, which made her not to be the sole carrier of the team. For a bruised mind looking for healing, Texas felt like a safe harbor—and exactly where Madi needed to be.