Hailing from Okawville, Ill., junior guard Alayna Kraus recently transferred from Southern Illinois to San Diego State. During the 2025-2026 season, the psychology major averaged 15.8 points per game and received All Missouri Valley Conference Third Team honors for the Salukis. After being diagnosed with alopecia at age four, Kraus did not let her condition stop her from achieving her goal of becoming a Division I basketball player.

To learn more about Kraus’ basketball career, journey with alopecia, and this Saturday’s Walk for Alopecia in La Jolla Village, check out our conversation below.

The interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

“I started playing when I was about. . . four years old, maybe five. Dad was a high school basketball coach, so I just kind of grew up in the gym, went to his open gyms and practices, and was just around the boys basketball team at that time, and just grew up with them. So I got to be around them and learn from them from a very young age.”

“. . .there’s not one person specifically, but everyone that's gotten me to this point. Whether it's trainers, old coaches, even coaches that I've left, or coaches that were in the room with me, like from the beginning, just anybody that's been with me and led me up to this point. Even my mom, just constantly pushing me and being by my side throughout my whole career. I've transferred twice now, so she's been with me throughout all of that time too, and she's constantly been a supporter, but yeah, really just … anybody who's been a part of my journey and made me who I am today.” 

“. . .Wanting to be a part of a winning program and just really was excited about what the coaches had for me. I felt like it wasn't just one coach, but all of them were bought into what this team could do, and with the success they've had in the past couple years, is just something I wanted to. . . be a part of. I've worked my whole life to win a championship, and so I just wanted to be part of that, and especially the girls we have here. They're all like sisters to me. So knowing I was going to be joining a family-oriented group of all people in this whole entire university, especially coming across the country from home.” 

“. . .just playing games. I feel like the basketball season is so long. . . You start in June and July, and then you work your way up until games finally start in November, and then you go until March, and it's like you wait so long to play games. I think [I’m] just ready to compete, ready to be a part of the Pac-12 and this new transition and winning and hopefully getting a championship. 

“I would probably say going back to high school. I won back-to-back … state championship[s] my junior and senior years. So I think just that, and constantly the memories I made, or even in the AAU circuit, just all the big tournaments I played in, and getting to go different places and experience new things. But yeah, I would say probably back-to-back high school championships is the biggest highlight so far.”

“I think my high school prepared me, but also knowing that school comes first, Coach Stacie is huge on that, too. Here, she'll tell you the student part comes first in student-athlete, and I think focusing on that and knowing that the ball is going to stop bouncing one day, so you have to have something that you're going to fall back on, and that the education that you have and built up is going to be what you're going to end up doing. So, really make sure you're focusing on that too. And I think just having that is another great thing to have, especially if you're an athlete, just to be able to maintain it or keep it up, or even a high GPA at that point is huge.”

“I watch a lot of sports. Honestly, no matter what it is. If it's Sunday night football, if it's you know going to different games or sporting events, super huge in sports, so I don't really get away from them … I love to shop. I like to travel. I like to go to the beach, [and on] vacations.”

“Yeah, so I was diagnosed with alopecia when I was four years old, so a really young age. . . I wasn't completely bald though at that point. I still had the majority of my hair. It was just little small patches that you couldn't see that kind of were under the layers of my hair, and I never really worried about it or had really any thought of it at that age. . .I obviously. . . had no idea what it even [was]. And growing up, I was still perfectly fine, and then I would say about sixth grade. So I was probably what 10 or 11 is when I started losing quite a bit of my hair, and it was constantly more and more chunks at times.

And then I actually was completely bald going into seventh grade. So just kind of having to make that transition and a new appearance that I was [wondering], who knows how long I was gonna live with it? Obviously, here I am as a junior in college, still with it. So, just making the adjustment and the change, and knowing … that basketball, especially, was gonna be the perfect outlet for me. Especially going through such a big change in my life, and I feel like the basketball portion is what really kept me going, and kind of made me who I am today.

And yeah, I think a lot of other inspirations. I looked up to a lot of other college athletes with alopecia. I don't know if a lot of people know, but there are plenty out there. And I think just looking up to them and knowing they did it once too, or even to the little girls I know now, wanting to be that role model for them and showing them that no matter what or no matter what happens in your life, nothing can stop you. Just keep being you and things will work out. Obviously, here I am fulfilling my dream since I was four. So, yeah, just knowing that keep going and it'll all work out.”

“So Coach Stacie actually brought it to my attention as soon as I got here. I want to say it was only like a month or two of being here, and she had asked me if it was something I'd be interested in, maybe not necessarily like a walk at this time, but just putting it out there and kind of letting people know what alopecia is. I think it really, really sparked me and was something that I was completely down to do. . . [At] the past two universities I've been to, I didn't really have that type of like, okay, let's put it out there. Let's teach other people about it. So I feel like she really cares for me in that aspect, and really wanted to make sure I was comfortable. And so I really appreciate that. But I think the walk will be great, and I think it's a great opportunity for people to really get to know me … I don't want to say that people are judgy, but you never know. I don't want people to be hesitant to talk to me or hesitant to ask questions. I'm pretty open. I'm an open book. So, yeah, just to know that I'm perfectly fine, I'm healthy. It's just a small condition that I live with, but yeah, I'm just like everybody else.”

“I think it's really important. Honestly, I think there's so much still going on with alopecia in the research. . . and it honestly just means a lot to me. I, you know, obviously [have] been dealing with it for pretty much my entire life, so knowing that other people that I really don't even know from across the country would care or put forth the effort to be there and support and donate means a lot. “

The Walk for Alopecia is taking place this Saturday Sept. 26 at the Nobel Athletic Field & Recreation Center. To join or donate to the SDSU Women’s Basketball Walk Team, click here.

For more details about the event and for information on how you can make a difference, click here.