History again was overlooked, or at least ignored, twice during what took place in The Barn last week by the local PWM.
Among last weekend’s four-team first-round field, Ole Miss Rebels women’s basketball had the most Black representation (12 players, one head coach, four assistant coaches), followed by Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s basketball (five players, two assistants), Gonzaga Bulldogs women’s basketball (one player, one assistant), and Green Bay Phoenix women’s basketball (none).
Last Sunday marked the first time the host Gophers played an all-Black non-HBCU squad in the NCAA era, a second-round matchup between Minnesota and Ole Miss.
“It means a lot,” said Minnesota senior guard Amaya Battle (Hopkins) last Thursday. “Anytime you represent your people, whether that’s your race, ethnicity, gender, no matter what, I think it means a lot to go out and show little girls who look like you that they can do it, too.”
It was a big deal on all accounts, especially in front of more than 10,000 fans in the stands, most of whom likely had never seen this: a Black female head coach leading an all-Black squad that is not an HBCU.
“I think it’s very important because Black women in sports know the game as much as anyone else,” said Terrell Battle, Amaya’s father, referring to Ole Miss Head Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. “They don’t often get to do it on this stage.”
McPhee-McCuin, one of 12 Black head coaches who led teams to this year’s NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament, told MSR during a March 19 press conference, “I do understand that this may be the first time, and I hope that we don’t let those people down.”
“I always tell everybody, when I get a chance, you can’t be what you can’t see,” she continued, speaking on her fifth straight NCAA appearance in eight seasons at Oxford. “Representation matters. I don’t shy away, I’m not one of those that says I don’t see race. I do see color because I am proud of the skin I’m in.
“But I hope that we inspire people with how we play from all walks of life, young, old, Black, White, it doesn’t matter.”
“You know what gives me the most pride? My daughters are here. One is 13 and one is eight. They get to see basketball played at a high level, and they get to see leadership, and we get to normalize that,” stressed the veteran head coach. “My mom was a principal for 30 years. My dad is a Hall-of-Fame coach. All I know is Black excellence.”
Another historical mark was set Sunday, McPhee-McCuin became the first Black female coach to sit on a stool while coaching, reminiscent of former Gopher Men’s Coach Clem Haskins, who made the courtside seat famous during his tenure. “I did not know the significance of the seat I was sitting in,” she responded.
Lastly, McPhee-McCuin reiterated, “I’m grateful to be a representation for women of color. We need to normalize what Black leadership looks like. I don’t look at my program as an all-Black program, but I do understand the role and the space that I fill.
“As far as me being a Black coach, I don’t shy away from that. I’m proud of that,” she concluded. “Hopefully I can inspire all just by getting a team to come together, play hard, and gracefully take a loss.”
Clutch finish lifts Minnesota to Sweet 16
Minnesota is in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005. Battle, a 5-11 guard, hit the game-winner from the baseline with 0.8 seconds remaining to lift the Gophers (24–8) over Ole Miss, 65–63, on Sunday. She finished with a double-double, 14 points and 11 rebounds, along with five assists.
“It was fun to see her have that success, especially after a game where she probably shouldn’t have played because of a stomach flu,” said her father, Terrell. “To see her hit her patented midrange pull-up in her last game at Williams Arena to get to the Sweet 16, you can’t write a better script.”
Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses at challman@spokesman-recorder.com.