When I was in seventh grade, I sat on my bedroom floor, surrounded by magazines, scissors, and glue, carefully piecing together a vision board.
I clipped out bold words, cut pictures of basketball courts, and arranged everything just so.
Among all the dreams I glued onto that board, one stood out in big, capital letters:
PLAY IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT.
At the time, I had no idea when—or even if—that dream would come true.
It felt distant, like a star just out of reach.
But I knew one thing.
If I worked hard enough and put in the hours, the sweat, and the sacrifices — I could get there.
And now, here I am.
A freshman at UNCG, about to step onto the court in the NCAA Tournament.
A dream come true.
But before I get ahead of myself, let’s rewind a bit.
Growing The Love
Sports have always been a way of life in my family.
My dad played football at UCF.
My mom played basketball growing up before switching to tennis at Miami.
With that background, it wasn’t if I’d be an athlete but which sport I’d choose.
My parents let me try everything: soccer, gymnastics, T-ball, flag football, swimming—but there was always something different about basketball.
It was my first love.
I spent countless hours outside dribbling, shooting, and playing one-on-one with my brother in the driveway.
Scorching summers? Didn’t matter.
Frigid winters? Didn’t matter.
I was outside playing—always.
Watching basketball only made me love it more.
At first, it was the Miami Heat—LeBron, D-Wade, Bosh—the Big Three.
Then, when my family moved to Seattle, I started watching the Storm and fell in love with the women’s game.
Seeing Breanna Stewart, Jewell Loyd, and Sue Bird dominate made the dream feel even more real.
It made me believe I could get there, too.
A Unique Journey
But dreams don’t happen without obstacles.
The summer after my sophomore year, I tore my ACL.
I missed my entire junior season.
It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through.
The recruiting process, already stressful for any high school player, became even more challenging as I rehabbed and tried to get noticed.
After a strong AAU season, I committed to Appalachian State.
I thought my path was set.
But then, a coaching change forced me to reopen my recruitment.
It was overwhelming.
Uncertain.
I had no idea what would happen next.
And then — UNCG called.
Finding My Place
Before I reopened my recruitment, I had never spoken to UNCG.
The moment I became available, they were among the first teams to reach out.
I got on the phone with Coach Patterson and Coach Abby, and almost immediately, they offered me a spot.
It all happened so fast.
A week and a half later, I was on campus for a visit.
And something just clicked.
It wasn’t just about basketball—it was about family.
The culture, the energy, the people, it felt right.
I knew this was home.
Freshman of the Year
Winning SoCon Freshman of the Year wasn’t something I ever expected.
Before the season started, my teammate Jayde Gamble looked at me and said, "You’re going to be Freshman of the Year."
I laughed. Yeah, okay.
I had no idea what was coming.
The start of the season wasn’t easy.
I struggled, and I doubted myself.
But my coaches and teammates never stopped believing in me.
And eventually, I started believing, too.
So, when I won the award, I was overwhelmed with emotion.
It wasn’t just about the trophy.
It was proof.
Proof that the extra reps, the hours in the gym, the late nights, and early mornings were worth it.
Proof that I belong.
The Big Dance
It’s been 27 years since UNCG last played in the NCAA Tournament.
We earned this.
We belong here.
Our first-round opponent? USC.
There’s no denying they’re a great team.
But so are we.
We fight for every possession.
We make the extra pass.
We dig in on defense.
And most importantly, we believe.
That seventh-grade vision board?
That dream of playing in March Madness?
It’s real now.
But I know something now that I didn’t know back then.
This isn’t the final destination.
It’s only the beginning.
