Kentucky women’s basketball isn't just about the box score. It’s about the connection between the fans and the players.
I watched my own five-year-old daughter learn to love this game by rooting for Teonni Key, Amelia Hassett, Clara Strack, and a team that, while not perfect, plays with a relentless heart. After every game we’ve attended, these players have sat through grueling interviews and then immediately headed out to sign autographs and take pictures. Win or lose, they show up for the fans.
That is why Kentucky is different. The connection between the fans and players reaches far beyond the court. It’s a reality Kenny Brooks knows well, and it’s a legacy he believes his five seniors have cemented in Lexington.
Kenny Brooks is creating a businesslike culture
While most of this senior class has only been in Lexington for one or two seasons, Brooks says their impact has been "very powerful" in shifting the trajectory of the program.
"This group is a little bit different, obviously, because we've only been here two years," Brooks said. "But the biggest thing they’ve helped do is help create culture. We have a tremendous culture. Kids come in, they’re very businesslike, and they represent the university to the utmost."
Under the leadership of Tonie Morgan, Amelia Hassett, Jordan Obi, Josie Gilvin, and Teonni Key, Kentucky has remained ranked nearly every week of the Brooks era and secured massive wins over top-five opponents. They have won 20+ games in back-to-back seasons, and they are poised to deliver a March run for the ages if they stay healthy.
Role models for the next generation
For Brooks, a head coach of 25 years and a father of daughters himself, the value of this team lies in how they handle the responsibility of being icons for young girls. He noted how his own daughters still adore players, like Dawn Evans, from his James Madison days, because of how they approached the game.
"My daughters still adore a point guard named Dawn Evans that I had when we were first at James Madison. And they're all grown. They still see Dawn, and they're just like in awe because of the way they fell in love with the way Dawn approached the game."
"We still need to be role models for these young girls," Brooks emphasized. "They can see Clara Strack, who is a pretty girl, or Teonni Key, and they can see them come out and still be rough and tough, knock you down, be physical, and be athletic. They understand that, and they take that responsibility very seriously."
A home in the Bluegrass
As these five seniors say their final goodbyes to Historic Memorial Coliseum, they leave behind more than just stats. They leave a blueprint for how to be a Kentucky Wildcat.
"I’m as proud of that as I am of anything," Brooks said. "The way that they can go out in the community and be tremendous role models for the future."
To Tonie, Jordan, Teonni, Josie, and Amelia: You didn't just play for Kentucky. You helped build it for the next generation.