University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) women’s basketball sophomore Heidi Williams recently participated in the NCAA Legacy Lab, a four-day hands-on program hosted by NCAA leadership development staff members in Indianapolis. Williams was among 47 sophomore and junior student-athletes attending the event.
The program included keynote speakers, workshops, games and the Hustle Bowl pitch competition. The Legacy Lab helps student-athletes build a business, brand or career that makes a difference.
Heidi Williams Participates in NCAA Legacy Lab Programming
Participants selected one of three tracks: Brand in Motion, Blueprint to Breakthrough or Built To Serve. Brand in Motion focused on responsible and effective name, image and likeness opportunities, while Blueprint to Breakthrough covered the essentials of starting, operating and growing a business.
Built To Serve focused on ventures that prioritize social responsibility alongside profitability. The curriculum aligned with the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 and helped student-athletes develop the network, tools and mindset to pursue entrepreneurship or another career path.
“Legacy Lab showed me that my dreams are bigger than the game, and my legacy starts with the choices I make today,” Williams said.
NCAA Legacy Lab Includes Career Development Opportunities
Ashley Jocelyn, the program director for the NCAA Legacy Lab, said the program encourages participants to take the first step toward building something meaningful. NCAA leadership development staff members host the Legacy Lab and organize year-round programming for student-athletes, postgraduates, coaches, administrators and others.
Those programs support NCAA membership through leadership development, educational resources, scholarships, grants, awards and events. Williams plays guard for the UMBC women’s basketball team, which competes in the America East Conference.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Heidi Williams’ participation in the NCAA Legacy Lab connected the UMBC women’s basketball player with a program focused on business, branding, service and career development. The four-day event gave Williams and 46 other student-athletes access to workshops, keynote speakers, games and the Hustle Bowl pitch competition.
Source: Original report
