Face to Face
     Where sports can truly make a difference

Ali Patberg

Ali Patberg has had a storybook career. The 2015 Columbus (IN) North grad was named Miss Basketball her senior year after guiding the Bulldogs to the state championship. Patberg burst on the scene as a freshman when she led the Bulldogs to the state finals, losing in overtime when her last second shot barely missed. After her high school career, Ali committed to play for Notre Dame University, but injuries and illness limited her playing time. In 2017, she transferred to Indiana University. Today, Ali, a fifth-year graduate student, is the floor leader and spiritual leader for the Indiana University Hoosiers. Before the season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, Ali was leading in a number of categories, and being recognized across the nation as one of America’s top female basketball players. What they don’t know is Ali’s dedication to the Lord. She connects almost every night in a prayer and devotional time with her mother and has done this since her college career began at Notre Dame. She has won numerous awards, including being a top-10 finalist for the 2020 Nancy Lieberman award, as the best female basketball player in the nation. She has also been named Academic all-Big Ten. In a 2016 interview with Face to Face director, Tom Rust, she gave all credit to Jesus Christ and says he is number one in her life. Because of an injury in her first year at Notre Dame, Ali has been given a sixth year of eligibility. You can hear the full interview with Ali in the Face to Face archives.