Honestly, I think it’s awesome when a former women’s basketball player comes back to coach where she played. It’s like a full-circle moment. I knew someone at my school who went pro and later returned as an assistant coach, and everyone on the team totally looked up to her. She just gets what the players are going through, because she’s lived all of it—from tough practices to the crazy pressure in games.

She brings actual pro-level experience, which most coaches just read about in plays or study on film. That makes her advice way more real and helpful. Plus, she already understands the school’s vibe and community, so she can help the team stay tight, kind of like a big sister who’s ‘been there, done that.’

I think the best part is she can inspire the girls who want to play pro after college—she’s proof that it’s possible. And, to be honest, it just makes the games and practices way more legit and fun, knowing your coach has actually done everything she’s teaching!