Coming off the peak performance of her collegiate career, Emily Bessoir is looking to more success to her name. After sinking five 3-pointers in the Pac-12 tournament in 2023, the UCLA star scored 18 points to help the Bruins advance and survive in the tournament. Additionally, she achieved a career-high and her first double-double with 13 rebounds, contributing to an upset victory.

However, at just 22 years old, Bessoir is entrusted with huge responsibilities on the court and while we explore that, let’s first look at the early years of the rising star.

Emily Bessoir’s personal ties with Basketball

Emily Bessoir is the daughter of two professional basketball players and she inherited her basketball skills with an impressive 6-foot-4 frame. Basketball was introduced to her at a young age due to her family’s deep ties to the sport; Emily is the third generation testing the waters in basketball.

While her father, William, was a three-time All-American and a professional player in Europe, her grandfather coached the Div III Scranton men’s basketball team. Even her American father and German mother met due to their shared love for basketball. “They met in a basketball gym, hence why I play basketball,” Bessoir said with a grin.

Naturally, every photo from Bessoir’s childhood shows her either with a basketball in her hands or on her lap. Growing up, Bessoir was always drawn to other sports. Despite trying swimming and volleyball, she inevitably gravitated towards the sport that brought her parents together.

Overcoming adversities

Following in her family’s footsteps, Bessoir worked hard to rise in German basketball and earned a spot on the national team in 2016. She further helped the U18 national team win the 2018 European Championships. Impressed by her on-court skills, several American schools, including UCLA, showed interest in her.

Notably, assistant coach Tony Newnan was the first American coach in Westwood to recognize her potential. Although her recruitment process was hampered by Covid-19, she managed to connect with some schools over Zoom calls. It was during this time that she sensed authenticity from UCLA’s coaches.

“What I really appreciated about Coach Tony and Coach Cori – they were really honest. ‘It’s going to be hard. You’re going to have days where you want to quit, but that’s OK,’” From the outset, UCLA’s coaches warned her about the challenges she might face. Convinced by their honesty, she committed to UCLA. Fortunately, she joined a roster already depleted by injuries and absences, presenting a golden opportunity to showcase herself as a true freshman.

And she delivered on the same. She averaged over 20 minutes per game, ranking in the top four in scoring, blocks, and rebounds per game at the Pac-12 tournament. With a stellar freshman season behind her, Bessoir entered the 2021-2022 season feeling optimistic. “I was feeling really good, really fit, sleeping a lot, eating well. I thought I was in a really good spot.”

However, during an October 4 practice, she suddenly hit a setback. Emily abruptly stopped playing after feeling her knee rotate. Tests confirmed it was an ACL tear. Immediately, Bessoir flew to Germany for surgery under the same surgeon recommended by national team members.

During her recovery, she turned to art, a suggestion from one of her relatives. “I have faint memories of me and my grandma drawing. She was the only artistic one in my family,” she said. Gradually, she healed while using T-shirts as canvases to express her inner artist. And she did heal. She was cleared to play in the 2022-23 campaign.

How did Bessoir end up on the German Olympic roster?

Despite a limited offseason training, Bessoir showed remarkable improvement throughout the regular season. Playing in all 37 games, something familiar happened once again. After being sidelined for the 2021-22 season, the senior forward tore her ACL on November 9 while playing in the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers.

Despite returning from an ACL tear, her on-court minutes increased from 20.7 to 25.8 minutes per game. Despite facing stiffer competition within the UCLA squad, Bessoir joined the team and started 32 of 34 games.

And all this statistical success has earned her a spot on Germany’s roster for the Paris Olympics this year. She’ll joined by Romy Bar, Svenja Brunckhorst, Marie Berthold, Jennifer Crowder, Sonja Greinacher, Marie Guelich, Leonie Fiebich, Alexis Peterson, Luisa Geiselsoder, Satou Sabally, Alexandra Wilke, Lina Sontag, Alina Hartmann, Nyara Sabally, Theresa Simon, and Laura Zolper on team Germany.

With all these impressive stats, eyes are on Emily Bessoir on the court. Will she be able to deliver?

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.