From the Hardwood to Service: Grace Lomen's Next Mission

For Grace Lomen, basketball has always been about more than what happens on the court.

After wrapping up her senior season with the Milwaukee Panthers women's basketball team, Lomen is preparing for the next step in her journey. The political science major will graduate from the UW-Milwaukee in May and plans to begin the process of joining the United States Air Force.

Her path to that moment started long before she arrived on campus.

"I started playing sports when I was really young, probably around four years old," Lomen said. "Growing up, I spent a lot of time in the gym with my mom who coached in the youth program at Mukwonago, along with AAU in the summer. I also played soccer, but basketball quickly became the one I loved the most."

Sports became a major part of her childhood. "Being in a family that valued sports pushed me to stay active and competitive, and it became a big part of my childhood," she said.
Service to the country also runs in the family. Lomen's father served as an officer and combat engineer and completed Airborne School, while her older brother spent eight years in the Navy as an aviation rescue swimmer.

Basketball continued to open opportunities for Lomen throughout high school. "I started focusing on basketball more seriously in middle school and especially in high school," Lomen said. "Once I started playing competitive AAU basketball and getting attention from colleges, I realized playing at the collegiate level was a real possibility."

Her college career began at Parkside, where she spent two seasons developing her game before eventually transferring to Milwaukee. "My time at Parkside helped me grow a lot as both a player and a person," Lomen said. "I gained confidence, developed my skills, and learned what it takes to compete at the college level."

Eventually, that growth led to a new opportunity. After entering the transfer portal, Lomen heard from Milwaukee head coach Kyle Rechlicz, and the process moved quickly. "Coach Rechlicz emailed me at around 9:00 p.m. on a Saturday," Lomen said. "She got me on campus and I committed that Monday."

Lomen went on to become a consistent contributor for Milwaukee while also serving on the team's leadership team.

During her senior season, she played in 31 games with 25 starts, averaging 10.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest while shooting 36.1 percent from three-point range. One of the highlights of her season came on Feb. 7 against Robert Morris, when she scored a career-high 30 points. Beyond the numbers, Lomen's role as a leader helped prepare her for what comes next.

"Being part of the leadership team helped me understand how to lead by example," she said. "It taught me how to communicate, support teammates, and keep myself accountable. Those leadership skills will definitely help me as I move into the Air Force."

In many ways, the transition from athletics to the military feels natural to her. "Sports played a huge role in shaping who I am," she said. "Basketball taught me discipline, teamwork, and how to push through challenges. Those lessons are very similar to what the military represents."

One unique moment during her time at Milwaukee helped give her additional perspective. While playing in Puerto Rico, the Panthers faced the United States Air Force Academy, giving Lomen a chance to speak with a member of the coaching staff. "I did have a chance to talk to one of the assistant coaches," she said. "She gave me some advice on how to reach out to recruiters and get my career started."

Although she did not participate in ROTC during college, Lomen spent time researching different paths into the Air Force and speaking with individuals who have military experience.

Now, with graduation approaching, she is preparing for the next step. "After graduating in May, the next step will be beginning the process of officer training," Lomen said.

The training process will take several months depending on the program she ultimately chooses. One long-term goal stands out. "One of my biggest goals in the Air Force is to hopefully become a pilot," Lomen said. "Flying is something that really interests me, and it would be an incredible opportunity."

As Lomen prepares to close the chapter on her basketball career, she knows the sport helped prepare her for what lies ahead. "Basketball has given me so many opportunities and lessons that I will carry with me into the next chapter of my life," she said. "I am grateful for the coaches, teammates, and family members who supported me along the way."

No matter what comes next, Milwaukee will always hold a special place for her. "Milwaukee will always have my heart."