Pioneers’ Domask leaves her mark on Pioneer women’s basketball

Platteville, Wis.- University of Wisconsin-Platteville senior All-American Maiah Domask, of the women's basketball team, had her path decided when she graduated high school. Her plan was to finish out her senior year on the Waupun High School varsity basketball team, graduate and then enroll at UW-Madison to major in psychology and play on the club basketball team like her older sister, Morgan.

That original path was altered. Domask was wait listed for admission at UW-Madison and broke her foot, which caused her to miss her senior year of basketball. Missing her senior season put the itch in her to continue playing basketball at the next level.

"I wasn't even sure I wanted to play basketball in college," Domask said. "Really, I only played because that was what my family did." Domask's older brother, Mason, played at Winona State University, and her younger brother, Marcus, is currently a junior at Southern Illinois University.

She committed to UW-Platteville and was ready to attend and be a member of the women's basketball team.

"I missed out on some awards, I felt my career wasn't finished," Domask said. "So, I committed to UW-Platteville and was super excited about basketball again."

After committing to the Pioneers, Domask got word she was taken off the wait list and was accepted to UW-Madison. "After I got accepted to UW-Madison, I was torn," she said. "Should I play basketball? Or do I go down the original path?"

After speaking with her parents, Domask stuck with her commitment to UW-Platteville.

"They said 'you committed to UW-Platteville, give it a chance and you can always transfer.' I gave it a shot and immediately fell in love the moment I got here."

Now, five years after stepping foot on campus, Domask is set to leave as one of the best players to ever wear the Pioneer jersey.

With two regular season contests remaining and the WIAC Championship (presented by Culver's), Domask continues to climb in the record books. She will finish her career the leader in games played, currently at 107. Coming into the season, Domask was the ninth in the record books in points scored, despite having only nine games due to a shortened COVID season in 2021.

Domask currently has 1,416 points, fourth on the all-time Pioneer scoring list, 28 points from third place.

Domask will finish third in total career rebounds, with a chance to be the third member of the 1,000-career rebound club, joining Pam Soman (1,099) and Stephanie Sullivan (1,035). Domask currently has 977  career rebounds. She has recorded 44 double-doubles in her career.

The numbers speak volumes for the talent she has on the court, and the highlights that she provided for the Pioneer fans won't be forgotten. During Domask's career, the Pioneers were ranked by d3hoops.com for the first time in school history, defeated ranked teams and won twice at UW-Oshkosh. All great memories, Domask said, but the memories off the court are just as important.

"The relationships you develop through athletics, just the random things we decide to do," Domask said. "Going to the football games, volleyball matches, watching the men's team play when we can, and going to the wrestling matches. Just the random things we decided to do, they were just fun."

Her individual accolades, the ones she missed out on in high school due to an injury, were well earned. Domask earned All-WIAC honors three times, was named WIAC Kwik Trip Athlete of the Week three times, named a WBCA All-American, second team All-Central Region, twice named to the d3hoops.com national team of the week and was selected to the 2021 WBCA Women's Collegiate Senior All-Start Team, just to name a few.

When asked what her dream job would be after graduating this May with degrees in psychology, Spanish and a coaching minor, Domask joked "Is traveling a job?" Domask has experience traveling around the country, first as a participant in Point Guard College (PGC) Camp and then as an advisor at the camps.

"PGCs are all over the country. I have been to Atlanta, Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, Minnesota and scheduled to go to Virginia this summer," she said. "It is different from other camps. PGC incorporates classroom learning and on-court learning. It is similar to being in school. You take notes in the classroom and go apply it on the court."

Her more realistic goal post-graduation is to become a therapist. Having junior high friends who struggled with mental illness was the driving force to major in psychology.

"Being a therapist is the end goal," she said. "I can see myself being a high school counselor and coach at that level, but the ultimate goal is to be a therapist and potentially coach as well." 

Domask hasn't ruled out graduate school, possibly becoming a graduate assistant while earning a master's. "I could see myself in the college game as well," Domask said. "Being a graduate assistant while I work on my master's, but definitely working with people."

Whatever path Domask decides to take after graduation, she already knows how to handle the changes. Going from being uncertain if she wanted to play college basketball to an All-American, Domask has left her mark at UW-Platteville.