Since she was eight years old, Dani Lawson dreamed about being on the basketball court in Purdue University’s Mackey Arena.

Her mother, Kay, was a star in West Lafayette, Indiana, in the early 90s. Lawson was only 14 when she committed to the Boilermakers, and she wouldn’t consider playing anywhere else, her father, Dan, said.

Lawson signed as the first legacy in Purdue women’s basketball history, but while nursing a knee injury midway through her freshman year, she realized her dream had soured.

“It definitely was my dream, and it was really hard because I love my teammates and the university,” Lawson said. “But basketball-wise, it just wasn’t the right fit.”

On Sunday, Lawson announced via Twitter that she will transfer to Virginia. She was the second new addition to the program in as many days, following Edison High rising senior Carole Miller, who announced her decision on Saturday and became Thompson’s first verbal commitment.

Lawson received her release from Purdue in May. She said Sunday evening that she was attracted to UVa first by its academics, but the chance to play for new head coach and WNBA legend Tina Thompson convinced her to make the move to Charlottesville.

“UVa was the total package,” said Lawson, who was pre-med at Purdue and added she also considered several MAC and Atlantic 10 schools. “There’s great academics and great basketball. And to get the chance to play for Tina Thompson, who is someone I grew up watching play, that was definitely something that attracted me.”

Thompson was the first draft pick in the history of the WNBA. She retired as the league’s all-time leading scorer, won four WNBA titles and earned two Olympic gold basketball medals. Earlier this month, Thompson was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

”She is probably the most dynamic forward in WNBA history,” Lawson said. “She played with so much tenacity, and I can’t wait for her to share her experiences with me.”

A 6-foot-2 forward, Lawson joins a Virginia frontcourt that lost Lauren Moses to graduation but returns 6-foot-9 junior Felicia Aiyeotan.

“I think we’ll be really beneficial to each other,” Lawson said. “Teams won’t be able to just double her. They’ll have to step out and guard me and play honest defense.”

Lawson will likely have to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules, but she has submitted paperwork for a medical hardship waiver, which, if granted, would leave her with four years of eligibility remaining.

Lawson checks all the boxes to receive a waiver. She only played in the first five games of the season before shutting it down due to a knee injury. She had surgery in January to repair a cartilage issue, which also occurred in her other knee and required surgery when she was in the eighth grade.

Whenever she gets on the court, Lawson’s former Toledo Thunder coach Kechan Johnson said she won’t be a one-dimensional forward, focused solely on rebounds. When she played for the Thunder, he said Lawson didn’t have a true position because she could do it all.

“There’s nothing she can’t do on a basketball court,” said Johnson, who played professionally in Mexico, Japan, Switzerland and Italy. “Virginia is getting a double-double. It’s getting a player who can play in the box, but also a very versatile player who can dribble, shoot and pass and has a shot that extends out to the perimeter.”

During her career at Hathaway Brown High School in Ohio, Lawson started games at every position, including point guard. She graduated as the fifth player in program history with more than 1,000 career points, and as a senior, she helped the Blazers finish as Ohio’s Division II state runner-up.

“She can do things on the court that other kids can’t,” Johnson said. “She’s a wonderful kid, and she comes from a basketball family. [Virginia] got a steal.”

Dan Lawson readily admits Kay is the best athlete in the family. She had as many track scholarship offers as basketball, and as a 6-foot-1 combo guard, she handled jump balls for the Boilermakers. Her mother, Kay, played for Purdue from 1989-93 and made two Sweet 16 appearances.

“[Dani] loved being the first legacy at Purdue, and the way things worked out was disappointing and frustrating,” said Kay Lawson, whose maiden name is Tucker. “But it’s a great opportunity for her to learn some life lessons and grow from it.”

Dan said he was sold on the Cavaliers by Thompson’s honesty last Monday during his daughter’s official visit. When Lawson showed concern about letting her new coach down, Thompson didn’t miss a beat.

“You’re coming off an injury. Of course you’re going to be bad for a while,” Dan Lawson recited. “Just set small goals – shooting better at eight feet, then at 10 – and I promise you, you will get better.

“As a parent, it was so reassuring to hear her talk to my kid like that,” he said. “Being treated like a family member isn’t something you get everywhere.”