Like, what makes you such an, um, unbelievable on-ball defender?

Yeah.

I, I would say it's definitely knowing the offensive player's next step and kinda reading.

It's, it's really a lot about reads.

Um, one, just knowing that for one, it's a lot of every time I'm playing a game, my dad is there.

He's always screaming, "Jab, jab," you know, "Jab." Like, and he's always telling me just to make the ball handler uncomfortable and to m- making them think.

You know, you don't want the ball handler to ever be comfortable.

Like, how excited are you for the state of women's basketball at the moment?

What's your read? Is it more of an instinct thing? Is it more of how you prepare? How are you so good at defense?

I think it's definitely a mix of both.

I think first and foremost, knowing the opponent, knowing who you're going up against and what you can and can't do if they're, you know, a good ball handler, then it'll be more reading the passing lanes and jumping those.

I think it's also just a matter of being one step ahead of the offensive player.

just making smart reads, you know, just being ready to beat them to their spot before they even get there, but also playing smart.

That took me a long time to figure out playing smart because I do a lot of gambling.

And of course, Coach Ivy gives me that freedom because that's the player that I've always been.

What's that relationship like and what advice has she given you on your path and journey to becoming a pro?

(laughs)

Yeah, absolutely.

You know, I was always told that, you know, "You're the smallest one on the floor.

You gotta bring something different." You know, 'cause a lot of these girls have height, so it's, it's a lot easier for them to, you know, just be skilled in one thing.

Being smaller was like, I had to be skilled in defense 'cause I didn't know how to score over bigger, bigger girls.

And so, I just play like that all the time.

I, I always was taught defense wins championships.

... and then you get to the NCAA tournament?

(laughs)

Yeah, absolutely.

You know, I was always told that, you know, you're the smallest one on the floor.

You gotta bring something different, you know, 'cause a lot of these girls have height, so it's, it's a lot easier for them to, you know, just be skilled in one thing.

Being smaller was like, I had to be skilled in defense 'cause I didn't know how to score over bigger, bigger girls.

And so, I just play like that all the time.

I- I always was taught defense wins championships.

And then you get to the NCAA tournament.