For the Utah women’s basketball team, being on a sports team is a special thing, because their teammates are more than friends. They are more than the people that they just play ball with. Their teammates are an extension of their family.
The team opened up the season on a high note by winning its first few games. It was a small sample size, but it illustrates how well the team, and by extension the starting lineup, play together.
Junior wing Tanaeya Boclair thinks that the Utes pick up the pace more and more as each game goes on.
“I think we’ve started out the year really well,” Boclair said. “We brought a lot of energy the last game and I think it is something that we kind of lacked in our first two games.”
Newcomer to the starting lineup, sophomore guard Erika Bean, echoed that sentiment.
“We are doing well, even though this is still kind of a new team,” Bean said. “We are still learning, but we are playing together really well.”
Junior guard Malia Nawahine is excited to see how the season turns out after Pac-12 play.
“I think we’ve played really well, and our chemistry is better than last year,” Nawahine said. “Last season, it kind of felt like we were freshmen, because we were young and there was a brand new coaching staff. This year, we know our roles better and we are more used to playing in this system.”
The starting lineup says that even though it is a new year with its own unique challenges, they are closer than ever. The strong foundation of chemistry they have built happens as much off the court as it does on it. Senior wing Paige Crozon thinks this year’s team is special.
“We genuinely enjoy one another and like each other,” Crozon said. “Something that is unique for our team is that we care about each other’s well being as people first and foremost and then as players. I think that really helps us to play together and build that chemistry and trust.”
But the chemistry doesn’t just lie within the starting five according to junior forward Emily Potter.
“We hang out all the time outside of practice,” Potter said. “I’m roommates with a couple of the girls so we see each other all the time. We usually have team dinners on Sundays. Everyone on our team is pretty close together, starters or otherwise. The other starters, besides Erika, we all played together last year so we have some good chemistry. It doesn’t really matter what we’re doing, we can have a lot of fun as long as we’re together.”
Nawahine gave a glimpse into what the players do outside of practice.
“Whenever they come over, we usually end up playing Just Dance — we do that for hours,” Nawahine said with a laugh. “Or we just sit on the couch and chill. We talk to each other about everything. Honestly just hanging out is a lot of fun.”
One of the things that keeps this team together is that they have pretty much seen it all.
“I think what makes our team great is that we’ve gone through lots of adversity already,” Potter said. ‘”We know what it feels like to lose a bunch of games and we don’t want to go back there. We know what we have to do to win.”
Boclair and the rest of the Utes are keeping their eyes on a postseason and they are going to give it their best effort every time they step out on to the court.
“It honestly feels great to be in a leadership role on this team,” Boclair said. “We have a strong desire to prove ourselves and play hard against the best competition in the country.”
Pac-12 play for the Utes will kick off on Dec. 30, with a road game against UCLA.
@JaredWalch