The New Trailblazers
I was honored to be named a coach at the first ever Under Armour Elite 24 event for girls. Under Armour selected the top 24 players in the U.S. and Canada to represent their brand for a live game like no other. The event took place in Chicago, and ran from August 10-12. At the Elite 24, everything was centered around the featured game, which was played live on ESPNU. In this piece I have included some of my favorite highlights and memories of this unforgettable experience. Overall, I will share my commentary and insight on who now holds the keys to the future of basketball. These girls becoming women are the New Trailblazers.
Pregame Party
Besides the girls game of course, the highlight of this event for me was the Pregame Party the night before the big show. We got to witness Team Flight Brothers give the best dunk show I have ever seen in person. You can watch the highlight video of these exciting dunks below.
Meet the New Trailblazers
Dunks aside, it was all about me + my girls at this event! It meant so much to me to coach them because not only did I get to work with a talented group that is shifting the dynamic of women in sports entertainment, I also got to meet and get to know these new trailblazers on a personal level. These are players who are going to pave a new path for all those who follow them, whether that includes those who are watching them on television or those who are following in their footsteps as future players.
Courtney Ogden
Me with my Stanford family Courtney Ogden ‘23!! I didn’t get the opportunity to coach Courtney at this event, but I will get the chance to follow her career at my alma mater with pride. I can’t wait to see not only what she does on the basketball court on the Farm, but also how she develops as a leader in greater society. She is multifaceted with a strong gift of leadership, and she gives me so much hope for the future of women’s basketball.
Essence Cody
The Elite 24 Inaugural MVP! Essence Cody ‘23 is going to Alabama. I was fortunate to coach Essence on Team Breakthru, and it was an honor! An outstanding player whose value is limitless and unmatched, much like her potential. I was also fortunate to meet her older sister and mother, and it didn’t take long for me to realize her family is a huge part of what makes her so special.
Jasmine Davidson
Jasmine Davidson ‘25 was the most impressive because she was playing amongst the top seniors and juniors and wasn’t just holding her own, but was standing out! She established herself as a leader and I can only imagine what her future will look like as a result of this experience. My favorite highlight of hers, among many from the game, was watching her compete in the 1 on 1 Championship finals. With her skillset and tenacity, she is the premium standard for her class.
Mikaylah Williams
Mikaylah with the game winner!!! Mikaylah Williams ‘23 who is from Louisiana and will be attending LSU next year. This girl never stopped impressing me from the moment she arrived on game day after missing the previous 2 days of practice with the team. She came straight off the plane and onto the court! It was as if she had been with us the whole time. To me, that is the greatest example of her character. And even though we were up by a significant margin, her game winner was the most thrilling moment of the game. She’s already an unforgettable legend!
Hannah Hidalgo
Hannah Hidalgo ‘23 is most unforgettable to me because of her BIG PERSONALITY. She was hilarious with her quick wit and sharp commentary, yet serious and relaxed at the same time. And above all, a perfect combo guard. She is most serious about competing and winning, but it’s her specific approach and her unique style of play that makes her a standout. I can’t wait to follow her complete career and watch her at the next levels.
Milaysia Fulwiley
I’m obsessed with Milaysia Fulwiley’s ‘23 game! She’s unlike any player I’ve ever seen at the high school level, and in my mind she’s already in the company of some the greatest players I played against in the WNBA. She’s really that legit! She inspired me in a way that I wasn’t expecting. When I saw her I immediately felt there was a new standard I had to meet. As a former pro player turned coach, she challenged me to have higher expectations from a performance standpoint. The greatest thing about Milaysia is that when I challenged her to meet these new expectations, she simply exceeded them. And she did it with an ease that wasn’t enviable, it was aspirational. And now I expect nothing but tremendous, continuous success for this talented and exciting player.
Reniya Kelly
Reniya Kelly ‘23 is heading to the University of North Carolina next year. She is a gem of a point guard and leader. Her maturity blew me away and her skills on the court match her character and personality off the court. Her vocal leadership and communication on defense as a player stood out to me from a coaching perspective, but I will never forget how her warmth and kindness made me feel on a personal level.
Cassandre Prosper
Cassandre Prosper ‘23 is a Canadian standout that is leading a new girls basketball revolution in her native country. I can’t say enough amazing things about this exceptionally versatile player except to say that whichever school gets her next year will be incredibly fortunate—and immediate must see television. Her natural talent, strength and ability to be coached makes for a dynamic combination that creates an excitement that can be felt every second she’s on the court.
Deniya Prawl
Right behind Cassandre is Deniya Prawl ‘25, another Canadian standout leading this new North American girls basketball revolution. Deniya was most impressive because of her fearlessness coupled with her unmatched skillset. She was one of the youngest on the court but carried herself with the same mindset as the seniors. She has a confidence that can’t be taught, and because of this coaching her was the easiest task. I can’t wait to watch Deniya’s game develop and how she grows and evolves as a leader.
Chloe Kitts
Chloe Kitts ‘23 won me over when she won the 1 on 1 Championship after the most rigorous day of travel, practice and competing. Her game is one of a kind. From a coaching perspective it was unfortunate that I wasn’t able to coach this unique player, but I still enjoyed going up against her and sparking a competitive fire. She sets a tall standard as her potential is limitless. No matter what team she’s on, I will enjoy following her and her career at the next levels where I expect nothing but big things from her.
Taliah Scott
Taliah Scott ‘23 who will be putting Arkansas on the map next year is already her generation’s version of Steph Curry. It’s hard to describe how special Taliah is as a player and specifically as a shooter, but I will just say she makes me really happy. Her shooting ability transcends gender, as she was the Elite 24 3 Pt Champion with a score that blew out the best boys’ score. Most of all she was so much fun to be around in the few moments we shared away from the court. Coaching her and everyone on Team Breakthru was a special privilege that I will cherish for the rest of my life and career.
How It Started….How It’s Going
When I first arrived to Chicago, one of the first people I met was a girls’ parent named Jessica. We were sitting in the players’ dining hall when she showed me a picture of a familiar young girl who I immediately recognized and remembered from my last season playing in the WNBA for the New York Liberty. Yes, of course I remembered her, I quickly thought to myself. This girl and her story was impossible to forget!
Jessica smiled as she calmly said, “Do you remember this girl? Well…that’s my daughter Kymora! She’s now a senior in high school and she’s here playing at this event!”
I tried not scream as I jumped out of my chair in shock and excitement! I couldn’t believe how full circle my life had become that I get to be a part of this girl’s tremendous story yet again! Mrs. Johnson and I hugged as I told her I couldn’t wait to finally meet Kymora again, to relive my greatest dreams all over again with her through the sport we both love so dearly. A sport that has given us so many opportunities to showcase our skill, passion and hard work through the platform of performance. Seeing Kymora for the second time reminded me of how far we’ve both come, and how far we can still go. My moment with her was by far the greatest revelation for me at this event.
Kymora Johnson
Although I didn’t get to coach Kymora Johnson ‘23, her presence helped me understand my life’s purpose as a basketball player. She is a leader for her generation in more ways than one. Her story of perseverance begins as early as 10 years old. We shared a stage on the basketball court at Madison Square Garden 7 years ago, but now the floor is all hers as she continues to redefine the rules of the game.
Coaching Colleagues
Working with my coaching colleagues for this event was just as exciting as working with the players. Under Armour selected a dynamic group of coaching leaders in our sport, and I appreciated the environment we were able to create through our diverse coaching philosophies and experiences.
Me with my fellow coaches. Symbolizing female empowerment! From left to right: Lauren Ebo, KK Bransford, Sasha Palmer, Kathy Gillespie, and Christy Winters-Scott.
Thank you Under Armour!! Special shoutout to the Girls Under Armour Association (UAA)
Player Coach
Even though we were all named coaches, for me it felt like I was learning just as much from the players as they were learning from me. There is something about this generation of female basketball players that leads me to believe they are just as much teachers as they are students. This feedback was critical to the success of Team Breakthru, and it’s definitely a strategy that I want to develop for the future within my own program, as I begin my new journey as the Women’s Basketball Director/Head Coach at SPIRE Institute & Academy in Geneva, Ohio.
I’m so excited for the next generation of girls!
Sincerely,
Coach Ice :)
Four time All-American, WNBA Champion, Edutainer and Coach