ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The transfer portal with the combination of the extra COVID season for this upcoming class is giving a lot of players five years to play. After graduating, most players enter the portal to see where they can get a master’s degree and play more basketball. For Missouri’s Laura Hansen, she chose Michigan on Tuesday for her fifth year of eligibility.

Hansen said on her commitment to Michigan, “I love the culture of the team, and I just wanted to be a part of a program where I knew I was going to be able to push myself on and off the court. And then being around great people like the coaching staff and my teammates – or soon-to-be teammates.”

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She has aspirations for professional basketball and with the success that Michigan has produced the past five years in the NCAA Tournament and putting players at the next level, Hansen will get the chance to be seen. She is a former top-100 recruit that went to Auburn her first season and then transferred to Missouri over Michigan and Tennessee. With the extra year of eligibility, she will now come to Michigan pursuing a championship.

“Ultimately, I wanted to compete for championships, and I knew that I would have that opportunity to be around people that want to do the same thing. And then also the community, Ann Arbor, and the way they support student-athletes and also the women’s basketball team. I really just couldn’t pick a better place.

Averaging 12.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists this past season at Missouri, she helped her team to the NIT Tournament. She also made 33 percent of her three-pointers and 39 percent from the field.

She says, “I’m gonna bring a lot of passion. I’m fiery, I’m feisty. I love to compete, and I’m gonna do whatever it takes to help us win.”

Hansen is the second portal commitment to Michigan as former Western Michigan forward Taylor Williams is transferring to the Wolverines.