Written by: Peyton Cox
It was a 50-degree September afternoon at UW’s McClimon Complex, and the young sophomore on the Wisconsin Women’s Soccer team finally heard the words she had been waiting for all her life.
“And Number 8, from Madison, WI, Delaney Cox.”
After years of hard work, despite setbacks and uncertainty, the Madison native earned her first collegiate start for her hometown team, representing the Motion W.
Cox laced up her cleats a little tighter that day, not out of nerves but out of pride. Pride in every early morning spent running sprints when nobody was watching. Pride in every lonely rehab session when her knee ached and her future felt uncertain—pride in the simple, stubborn belief that she belonged here, even when doubts crept in.
As the local talent jogged onto the field for her first start with the Wisconsin women’s soccer team, it wasn’t just a personal milestone. It was a moment years in the making, built through persistence, heartbreak, and a relentless drive to prove she was more than just another name buried in the recruiting files.
For Delaney Cox, being a Badger wasn’t promised. It had to be earned.
Growing up just a few miles from campus, Cox got her first taste of the game surrounded by young boys on the Madison Magic’s “Skittles.”
It was clear, even from age 6, that this little girl would grow up to be a strong soccer star. From the co-ed team to the muddy fields of Madison’s 56ers Soccer Club, Cox began to turn talent into skill and interest into passion. Long before college dreams were even a whisper, she was chasing balls in her backyard and building a reputation for her natural athleticism and an even fiercer competitive streak.
“I remember her coming home from three-day tournaments and running straight to the backyard to work on her shooting ability and shot selection,” shared Todd Cox, her proud father.
But the path from local standout to Big Ten starter would be anything but straight.
Madison Memorial High School saw her promise as a young freshman and offered her a spot on the varsity soccer team without attending tryouts. While Cox was away for a tournament across the country, the young player sent in her highlight reel, and that was all they needed.
However, COVID stripped away her chances of showcasing what she was made of to the high school team and surrounding schools. As the world was paused, Cox continued to work and push for the day when she would make her mark.
Finally, a year later, the second spring season was approaching, and Cox prepared to represent her high school for the first time. She had built solid relationships with the coaches and teammates, and the excitement of stepping onto Mansfield Field a year later than expected motivated her.
To prepare for the upcoming games, Madison Memorial High School scheduled scrimmages against local teams to get experience facing real competition. On a sunny Saturday morning in spring, as her sister prepared for her senior prom and energy was high, Delaney pulled up her socks and untucked her green and white jersey for the first time.
And then the unimaginable happened.
As her teammate threw the ball in, Cox planted on her left leg while attempting to cut to the right when she heard a pop. As she fell to the ground, a silence broke over the crowd while screams echoed from the field, making it apparent what had just occurred.
Another setback. Another year, she could not prove to coaches why she belonged—yet another opportunity.
“My lowest moment was feeling like everything I worked for was slipping away. Watching from the sidelines and not being able to help my team was really hard,” shared Cox, who was set to rehab for 9 months and then could only hope she was the same player she was before.
By leaning into the support of her family, teammates, and coaches, she was reminded why she loved the game in the first place. It was always about competing, growing, and proving not to others but to herself that she could overcome whatever was in front of her.
And she did just that.
Just one year later, as a junior, Delaney Cox was the heart of the Memorial Spartans soccer team. The offense revolved around her skill and on-field IQ. Being a varsity cross-country runner also helped her fitness and showcased to fans that she was more than just a good soccer player—she was a great athlete.
In the months leading up to her ACL tear, Cox and her family decided to leave the local club team she had represented for years to increase her chances of being recognized nationally by college coaches.
“We were at a tournament in Milwaukee, and Delaney barely touched the ball the entire game – just standing there up top, completely out of the action,” her father, Todd Cox, recalled. “That’s when I realized: if she wanted to play at the next level, we had to get her in front of coaches. So I asked her: ‘Are you really serious about this?’ Because if she was, it was time to make a change.”
Although she transferred clubs and then faced the nine-month setback, she made the most of the first chance she got to make a difference for the Milwaukee SC Wave. Following an impressive high school season, Cox was finally able to contribute with her new club teammates and helped them win a national championship.
In just a few short months, she was named to the 2022 first-team all-conference, first-team all-area, and all-state honorable mention teams at Memorial before scoring the game-winning goal in the semifinals for FC Wave, which sent her team to the national title game.
All of that hard work was paying off. She proved to herself that she could overcome any situation. However, her dream of playing at the Division 1 level had not yet been fulfilled.
When asked what she would tell her junior-year self while repairing her ACL, Cox said:
“I would tell myself that I am going to come back stronger, not just physically but mentally too. Continue to trust the process, even when it feels like nothing is going my way. The hard days are building you into someone you’ll be proud of.”
Things had been going her way, and her father noticed. However, the first two years of setbacks undoubtedly played a significant role in her recruiting journey.
Between her ACL tear and the COVID shutdowns, she fell off the radar of most top-tier college programs — something her dad, Todd Cox, understood.
“I knew why schools weren’t calling — but I also knew she just needed a chance,” he said.
That chance nearly came in the form of a full-ride offer from Loyola, but the excitement quickly faded. “On the way home, she broke down in tears,” Todd recalled. “She didn’t want to go there. That’s when I told her: if this is really about playing for Wisconsin, it’s time to reach out and see what happens.”
Delaney reached out to Paula Wilkins, the University of Wisconsin Women’s Soccer Head Coach, to express her passion and goal of representing the Badgers and her recent success. Despite the recruiting class being full, Wilkins invited her to talk. Cox and her father walked into Wilkins’ office without expectations. However, the young player recalled that they spoke about soccer for about five minutes before discussing their shared love for Door County, sports, and family for the remainder of the time.
Wilkins loved her and was given all she needed: an opportunity.
“Nothing was promised, but it also made me want it more,” Cox shared.
Ever since being given the chance to walk on and earn her spot on this team, Delaney has proven herself every step of the way.
Delaney formed great relationships with her coaches, became close with her teammates, and became a stronger and more well-rounded college soccer player. While appearing in 7 games and playing just 44 minutes, she could still showcase what makes her unique. As a forward for her entire life, she brought a constant offensive threat to every team she played for. However, the Wisconsin coaching staff noticed her athleticism made her dangerous on both sides of the ball.
Following her first season, she leaped from good to great, transitioning from offense to defense. Her ability to present an attacking force while defending the ball at a high level earned her minutes and the chance to fulfill her lifelong dream.
At the beginning of her sophomore season, Coach Wilkins called Cox into her office and told her they saw Delaney as a pivotal player and a starter on the roster.
After hearing her name over the loudspeaker and waving out to the little girls whose exact seats she grew up in, Delaney shared that “the feeling of finally seeing all the work, sacrifice, and belief pay off made everything worth it.”
But just as everything seemed to click — the confidence, the minutes, the starting spot — another setback appeared.
Cox was diagnosed with a stress fracture. The issue wasn’t her commitment or play; that was never the problem; it was the toll of giving too much without enough fuel in return. She had worked herself into the starting lineup for the season’s first four games, but her body couldn’t keep up.
“It was draining,” she admitted. “After everything I had fought for, to be sidelined again was really hard.”
Only this time, something was different.
This version of Delaney Cox didn’t question whether she belonged. She already knew she did. Her mindset was stronger. Her body would be, too. And after everything she had already overcome, she wasn’t about to let one more obstacle keep her from doing what she loved.
She’s spent this spring rebuilding carefully and intentionally to be even better in the fall. Not just physically, but as a teammate, leader, and example of what it means to fight for the jersey as a hometown hero.
“I hope people see passion, grit, and joy when they watch me play,” Cox said. “I want to be remembered as someone who never gave up — and who truly loved being a Badger.”
And as her sister, whether her name is written in record books or her college career ends with just 90 more minutes played, I will forever be proud of the girl who took a chance on herself, who didn’t just represent the Motion W, but carried the Cox name with honor, fight, and pride.