—Photo courtesy of Omaha Athletics fort dodge graduate and iowa central alum Lainey Maehl has joined the University of Nebraska Omaha team as a preferred walk-on.

OMAHA — Lainey Maehl had closed the books on her basketball career when she enrolled at the University of Nebraska Omaha.

As it turns out, the sport wasn’t done with her just yet.

The former Fort Dodge Senior High and Iowa Central standout will be a part of the Omaha Mavericks women’s squad for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. Maehl is classified as a preferred walk-on, and will wear jersey number 25.

The Division I program and member of the Summit League needed help after a rash of injuries left their roster short-handed earlier this month. Maehl took note, showing up for tryouts and going through a number of physical and mental evaluations in order to make the cut.

“To be honest, I’m still getting used to the idea of (being back on the court) and all of the things that come with being in a sport beyond just practicing and playing games,” Maehl admitted. “But it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

“It’s super exciting to have the chance to participate in my favorite sport at one of the highest levels.”

Maehl was a first team all-conference and academic all-state selection for the Dodgers before graduating in 2023. She won the Florence Nordman Award as the school’s top female senior athlete.

Her success continued in a Triton uniform, where the 5-foot-11 forward earned all-region honors and landed on the all-Region XI tournament squad. Maehl scored nearly 1,100 points and grabbed over 700 rebounds combined during her three years in the Dodger lineup and two seasons at Iowa Central, where she was an NJCAA Academic All-American.

Maehl had decided to concentrate on being a full-time student majoring in neuroscience at UNO after graduating with honors from both FDSH (3.98 grade point average) and ICCC (3.89 ). As time passed, though, she realized her itch for hoops hadn’t quite been scratched.

In her eyes, this opportunity came along at a perfect time.

“I hadn’t realized how much I missed basketball until I got back into it, and I really do love being around the sport in general, but I also missed the hard work that comes with playing a college sport and being part of a team,” Maehl said. “I was able to come home (to Fort Dodge) the weekend before and get some shots up, which was so helpful – even just to see the ball go through the hoop a few times.

“Beyond that, I was just grateful to still have the muscle memory from playing a sport for so long. My main goal was to get my basketball skills back, because you’re really not in basketball shape unless you’re actually playing it.”

Maehl isn’t sure where this goes from here. The Mavericks are 2-13 this season under new head coach Jamie Carey – a former assistant at Texas and Colorado who has also been an assistant women’s national team director for USA Basketball. The Omaha schedule to date has included trips to Kansas State, BYU, Nebraska and Creighton.

“I’m hoping I can help out in any way possible, whether that’s being a part of a scout team, playing defense against the starters or just (to be) another player to cheer during games,” Maehl said. “I’m happy to fill that spot. If I were to ever get playing time, I’d still just want to fill my role (as a post player) and have a positive impact on the game.

“I’m just taking it one day at a time. I’m grateful for the extra time I get to be an athlete. It’s hard work, but it’s always fun to be a part of (the sport again).”

Like Maehl, Reilly Palmer also recently joined the Mavericks’ squad. Palmer led Elkhorn (Neb.) North to consecutive state titles, then played one semester at College of St. Mary in Omaha before transferring to UNO.

“We are excited to welcome Lainey and Reilly to our team for the remainder of the season,” Carey said. “Both had successful high school careers and come to us with some previous experience in college basketball.

“They are hard working, selfless by nature, and willing to help in any way.”

In addition to her new Div. I basketball venture, Maehl has been helping with research at the Munroe-Meyer Institute in Omaha, working at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and applying to the pre-med committee at UNO for MCAT preparation assistance. Maehl would like to someday be a pediatrician.

Omaha returns to the court on New Year’s Eve at Kansas City.