Sportslifetalk Media

At just 14 years old, Taiyanna Samuels is already making a name for herself in girls' basketball.

Originally from Arizona, the Class of 2030 guard has taken her talents across the country to Long Island Lutheran (LUHI) in New York, where she's embracing a new chapter filled with competition, development, and opportunity.

On this episode of SportsLifeTalk's YOU GOT NEXT, KT and B Jones sit down with Taiyanna to discuss her basketball journey, her competitive mentality, and the sacrifices she's made to continue chasing her dreams.

Taiyanna fell in love with basketball when she was just three or four years old. Growing up around the game, she spent countless hours dribbling, watching practices, and developing the skills that would eventually help her compete against some of the nation's most talented young players.

But one of the most fascinating things about Taiyanna is the difference between her personality off the court and the way she competes on it.

Off the court, she's smiling, laughing, and enjoying life.

On the court, she's aggressive, confident, and determined to prove herself against highly regarded opponents.

Her mentality is simple:

“I always have something to prove.”

KT and B Jones witnessed that intensity firsthand at Colorado Live and in Cincinnati, where Taiyanna's performances left a lasting impression.

And she was doing it as an eighth grader.

During the conversation, Taiyanna reflects on competing against older athletes, receiving recognition during her grassroots basketball journey, and seeing a giant poster of herself displayed at an event in Cincinnati.

She also explains how an opportunity to join LUHI developed after Blue Star 30 and why her family decided to make the move from Arizona to New York earlier than originally planned.

At LUHI, Taiyanna is learning to compete in a new environment surrounded by talented teammates.

She describes practices as loud, competitive, energetic, and unselfish.

She's also focused on becoming a more vocal leader.

Although she already has the ability to score at multiple levels, Taiyanna makes it clear that she wants to continue developing as a point guard.

Leadership, communication, and directing her teammates are important parts of her basketball identity.

And when asked what she's looking for in a future college, Taiyanna emphasizes strong academics, the right fit, and a place that feels like home.

But this episode isn't all basketball.

During The Initiation, Taiyanna shares her favorite music artists, reveals why The Flash is her favorite superhero, and even gives the hosts a little Drake performance.

She also explains why she wears number one.

Her answer?

“I'm just the one.”

The hosts also discover her love for seafood and put her to the test during The Moment of Truth and Championship Rounds.

As the interview comes to a close, Taiyanna talks about staying humble, pushing through adversity, working hard, and putting everything in God's hands.

She gives love to her family, coaches, and teammates before nominating LUHI teammate Jasleen Young for a future episode.

From Arizona to New York, Taiyanna Samuels is building a story defined by confidence, sacrifice, leadership, and determination.

And the journey is only beginning.

TAIYANNA SAMUELS × YOU GOT NEXT

SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER.

On this episode of SportsLifeTalk's You Got Next, Savage Season heads to Louisville, Kentucky, to meet one of the state's exciting young point guards.

Representing Assumption High School and the Class of 2028, Se’Rae is a dynamic floor general with speed, confidence, court vision and a personality that lights up every room she enters.

Ranked No. 3 in Kentucky in her class, she's already making noise on the basketball court.

But her story is about more than rankings.

IT'S ABOUT RUNNING YOUR OWN RACE.

Se’Rae helped lead the Assumption Rockets on a memorable postseason run that ended with a state championship game appearance and a runner-up finish.

And one moment from that journey stands out.

27 SECONDS LEFT.

Assumption needs a basket.

Se’Rae hasn't been having her best shooting night.

But when teammate Ashlyn James creates an opportunity, Se’Rae doesn't hesitate.

She lets it fly.

BUCKET. 🏀

A clutch shot that helped send the Rockets to the state semifinals.

No overthinking.

No fear.

Just trusting the moment.

That's the mentality Se’Rae brings to the court.

She's a creator who loves setting up teammates, attacking the rim and using her speed to change the game.

And that speed?

IT'S NOT JUST BASKETBALL SPEED.

Se’Rae is also a competitive track athlete, running the 100 meters, 200 meters, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay.

Her favorite track star is Sha'Carri Richardson, while NBA superstar Kyrie Irving inspires her ball-handling creativity.

Now she's preparing for another chapter with West Virginia Thunder, one of the nation's recognized grassroots basketball programs.

But basketball wasn't always her entire world.

Se’Rae says she truly fell in love with the game around eighth grade and freshman year, when she found herself surrounded by teammates and coaches who believed in her.

That environment helped her discover something bigger.

HER IDENTITY.

And the lessons she's learned are ones every young athlete needs to hear.

DON'T GIVE UP ON YOURSELF.

RUN YOUR OWN RACE.

Stop comparing your journey to somebody else's.

God gave you your own talents, your own abilities and your own path.

Keep working.

Keep growing.

And trust your timing.

Then comes the SportsLifeTalk Initiation. 😂

Her Top 5 music artists?

PARTYNEXTDOOR. Summer Walker. Jazmine Sullivan. Miguel. Daniel Caesar.

KT gave that lineup a 22/24, but Se’Rae made it clear that she takes her music VERY seriously. 😂

Her favorite superhero?

BLACK PANTHER.

Her friends say her theme song is “No Chill” by PARTYNEXTDOOR.

And when we asked for her karaoke selection, she gave us Daniel Caesar's “Get You” and Fantasia's “Free Yourself.”

But we weren't letting her leave without singing!

AND SHE ACTUALLY DID IT! 🎤😂

Then came the most important question of the Initiation.

Where are we eating in Louisville?

Her answer?

CHIPOTLE.

Not some hidden Louisville restaurant.

Not a local barbecue spot.

CHIPOTLE! 😂

And her loaded steak-and-chicken bowl sounds like it needs its own NIL deal.

Away from basketball, Se’Rae loves painting, spending time with family and supporting her younger sister, Esme.

She credits her parents, siblings, friends, teachers and coaches for helping her become the person and player she is today.

So what's next?

More development.

More growth.

Another opportunity to compete for a state championship.

And the chance to make even more noise with West Virginia Thunder.

But Se’Rae isn't just chasing individual accomplishments.

She wants to see her teammates grow alongside her.

BECAUSE GREAT POINT GUARDS DON'T JUST MAKE PLAYS.

THEY MAKE EVERYBODY BETTER.

At SportsLifeTalk Media, we're committed to sharing the stories of the athletes and coaches shaping girls' and women's basketball.

Support our 4 Quarters Program with just $1 and help us continue amplifying these incredible journeys.

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SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER.

LOYALTY OVER EVERYTHING. HOKIE NATION STAND UP! 🦃🏀🔥

Some athletes chase the next opportunity.

Others stay, trust the process and CREATE their own.

CARLEIGH WENZEL CHOSE TO STAY.

On this episode of SportsLifeTalk's You Got Next, Savage Season heads to Blacksburg, Virginia, for a conversation with Virginia Tech All-ACC guard Carleigh Wenzel, a San Antonio native whose basketball journey is a lesson in patience, perseverance and LOYALTY.

Before becoming one of the ACC's most dangerous guards, Carleigh was already turning heads in Texas.

More than 2,500 high school career points.

A Top 50 national prospect.

College recruiting attention before she even entered high school.

But the journey wasn't always glamorous.

Carleigh remembers watching her friends go to movies while she was heading to basketball practice.

She didn't always understand the sacrifices.

Today?

SHE WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING.

Her parents, both former college basketball players, helped establish the work ethic that continues to drive her.

Then came Virginia Tech.

Carleigh redshirted, waited for opportunities and continued developing.

She went from averaging approximately four points per game to becoming a double-digit scorer, eventually earning Second-Team All-ACC honors and WBCA All-America Honorable Mention recognition.

But here's what makes her story different.

In an era of constant movement through the transfer portal, Carleigh stayed committed to Virginia Tech—even through a coaching change.

Why?

THE GRASS IS GREENER WHERE YOU WATER IT.

She fell in love with Blacksburg, the community, her teammates and the people who believed in her.

And that loyalty helped produce one unforgettable moment.

MARCH 1, 2026.

A rivalry game on the road.

Virginia Tech trailing by one.

1.7 SECONDS REMAINING.

Carleigh steps to the free-throw line.

With 29 points already to her name and the game hanging in the balance, she falls back on the routine she practices with Coach Carlin Hartman and Coach Ashley Brown's staff.

Block out the noise.

Trust the repetition.

Make the moment yours.

TWO FREE THROWS. GAME WINNER. MAMBA MOMENT. 🐍

Carleigh also breaks down her development as a three-level scorer, her commitment to becoming a stronger two-way player and the teammate who challenges her most:

LAYLA WELLS.

The two push each other in practice, with Carleigh praising Layla's leadership, toughness and defense.

Then there's the SportsLifeTalk Initiation. 😂

Her Top 5?

Drake. Rod Wave. NoCap. Rylo Rodriguez. Lil Durk.

That earned her a 21/24 from KT.

Her favorite superhero is the Hulk, but her musical alter ego?

HANNAH MONTANA. 😂

Miley Cyrus' “The Climb” is her theme song, and Justin Bieber's “Boyfriend” is her karaoke selection.

And yes…

SHE ACTUALLY SANG IT! 🎤

Her favorite color is pink, which made KT's pink A'ja Wilson sneakers an easy winner in the Championship Rounds.

Away from basketball, Carleigh loves cooking street tacos, spending time with her pets and watching crime dramas.

But her biggest surprise came when we asked about life after basketball.

First?

THE WNBA.

And when the ball eventually stops bouncing?

FBI OR CIA. 👀

That's right.

From locking down ACC opponents to potentially investigating federal cases.

Carleigh Wenzel has BIG plans.

She also gives credit to her family for keeping her grounded and motivated throughout the journey.

So what's next?

One final opportunity to make her mark at Virginia Tech.

A chance to compete professionally.

And a future that could extend far beyond basketball.

At SportsLifeTalk Media, we're committed to amplifying the athletes, coaches and leaders shaping girls' and women's basketball.

Support our 4 Quarters Program with just $1 and help us continue telling these stories.

Subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave a rating and review, and share this episode.

San Antonio raised her.

Virginia Tech developed her.

Loyalty defined her.

CARLEIGH WENZEL GOT NEXT. 🏀🔥

SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER.

🎧 Tenishia Benson | You Got Next

BEHIND THE RANKINGS. BEYOND THE GAME. 🏀🔥

Everybody wants to know where they rank.

But how many people understand what goes into those rankings?

On this episode of SportsLifeTalk's You Got Next, Savage Season welcomes Tenishia Benson, a respected girls' basketball evaluator whose work connects her with some of the biggest names and organizations in the game.

FOUR YEARS.

That's how long KT and B Jones worked to get this conversation.

And it was worth the wait.

From Akron, Ohio, to evaluating some of the nation's brightest young basketball prospects, Tenishia has spent more than a decade helping identify talent, develop opportunities and guide families through the recruiting landscape.

Her journey started at five years old in a YMCA basketball league.

She eventually developed into a standout at Hoban High School before playing college basketball at two universities.

But her playing career wasn't the end of her basketball story.

IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A DIFFERENT PURPOSE.

Today, Tenishia works in a world where evaluations can influence recruiting conversations, national recognition and opportunities that change young athletes' lives.

And she wants parents and players to understand something important:

RANKINGS ARE NOT YOUR IDENTITY.

Being ranked No. 5, No. 50 or No. 150 means very little if you don't understand how to improve.

An evaluator's responsibility isn't simply to put names on a list.

It's to identify strengths, expose weaknesses and explain how to close the gaps.

Tenishia breaks down what separates talented players from elite prospects.

SKILL DEVELOPMENT. BASKETBALL IQ. COACHABILITY. CONSISTENCY.

She explains why evaluators study a player's entire body of work instead of one impressive performance.

Why polished position-specific skills matter.

Why she prefers raw game film over highlight reels.

And why parents should actually TALK to evaluators instead of criticizing rankings on social media.

She also shares what makes a young prospect stand out early, including the special playmaking ability she recognized in Malaysia Fulwiley.

Then we get into one of the biggest conversations in grassroots basketball:

ARE GIRLS PLAYING TOO MUCH BASKETBALL?

Tenishia explains the difference between playing more games and getting QUALITY competitive repetitions.

It's not just about how often you play.

It's about who you're playing, what you're learning and whether you're getting enough rest.

But the most powerful part of this episode comes when the conversation moves beyond rankings.

FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS, TENISHIA HAS RUN A BASKETBALL PROGRAM INSIDE A PRISON.

She brings former college players and WNBA talent into the facility to compete with incarcerated women.

And what she discovers there is something special.

No recruiting rankings.

No social media arguments.

No chasing exposure.

Just women using basketball to reconnect, rebuild and reinvent themselves.

THE GAME IN ITS PUREST FORM. ❤️

Then comes the SportsLifeTalk Initiation. 😂

Her Top 5?

Earth, Wind & Fire. Toni Braxton. Anita Baker. Mary Mary. Tamela Mann.

That lineup earned a MAMBA 24! 🐍

Her favorite superhero is Spider-Man.

Her karaoke song is Whitney Houston's “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.”

And her theme song?

“KNUCK IF YOU BUCK!” 😂🔥

Yes, we went from Anita Baker and gospel music to THAT.

And when SLT visits Akron, Tenishia is sending us to Swensons for a Galley Boy burger and a milkshake.

Her favorite WNBA player?

SHERYL SWOOPES.

But Tenishia's biggest message goes beyond basketball.

BE WILLING TO ADJUST.

Your career won't always follow the plan.

Your opportunities may change.

And sometimes your greatest impact comes from a direction you never expected.

Looking ahead, she's excited about building a stronger women's basketball ecosystem where players, trainers, developers and evaluators all have opportunities to grow.

Subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave a rating and review, and share this episode.

SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER.

There are coaches who climb the ladder quickly.

And then there are coaches who learn something on every single rung.

Ginny Boggess has spent more than two decades doing exactly that.

On this episode of You Got Next, SportsLifeTalk sits down with the head coach of Toledo Women’s Basketball for a conversation about recruiting, player development, program building, leadership, winning—and what it really takes to create something that lasts.

Coach Boggess’s journey has taken her through multiple levels of college basketball and stops that include Hofstra, Columbia, Marquette, Penn State, Monmouth and now Toledo.

But after 24 years in the game, one lesson has followed her everywhere:

Basketball is basketball.

And young people are young people.

Whether she was stepping into historic arenas, preparing to face elite players like Caitlin Clark, rebuilding struggling programs or competing for championships, Coach Boggess learned that there isn’t some magical secret waiting at the next level.

Work hard.

Be a good person.

Learn.

Grow.

And take care of your people.

That philosophy was tested when she accepted the head coaching job at Monmouth.

The program was coming off a two-win season.

One of Coach Boggess’s mentors even questioned why she would take the job when other opportunities could eventually come.

But Coach saw possibility.

If they could go from two wins to five?

They were cooking.

Instead, they won 14 games in her first season.

And eventually, after moving into a more difficult conference and facing another new challenge, a simple piece of advice from her wife Kristen helped refocus everything:

“Why don’t you just coach your team?”

Control what you can control.

Build the culture.

Develop the players.

Trust the process.

That team eventually won four games in four days to capture a conference tournament championship.

Now Coach Boggess is bringing those lessons to Toledo.

The Rockets have already reached the MAC championship game in each of her first two seasons, but Coach Boggess isn’t interested in building a one-year portal wonder.

Her vision is bigger.

She wants a dynasty-level culture.

A program where the community shows up for the team and the team shows up for the community.

A place where student-athletes develop beyond basketball.

A place players want to stay.

And a program capable of competing for championships year after year.

Coach Boggess also takes us inside her recruiting philosophy, why fit matters, what she learned from her own recruiting experience, and why knowing your players can sometimes matter more than what the percentages say.

Then, because this is You Got Next, we get to know Coach Boggess beyond the sideline.

We find out why her father once booked a nonrefundable skydiving trip without asking her, why Wonder Woman is her superhero, how Garth Brooks, Whitney Houston, Nelly, Rihanna and worship music somehow ended up on the same playlist, and why “Shoop” is the karaoke song that may eventually have SportsLifeTalk headed to Toledo.

And yes…

Coach Boggess also settles the Jimmys & Joes vs. X’s & O’s debate.

B. Jones may never let KT forget the answer. 😂

This is more than a conversation about winning basketball games.

It’s about taking the long road.

Learning at every stop.

Building relationships.

Trusting people.

And creating something strong enough to last.

Coach Ginny Boggess and the Toledo Rockets are building.

And they believe they’re just getting started.

This is You Got Next.

SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER.

On this Savage Season episode, we reconnect with one of the greatest shooters in Oregon State history to talk about her playing career, transition into coaching, faith, relationships and why her basketball journey brought her right back to where so much of it began.

Sydney grew up in a basketball family in Phoenix. Her father coached high school basketball, her older cousin introduced her to the creativity of AND1 basketball, and she had the Phoenix Suns and Mercury in her backyard.

Then came Oregon State.

During recruiting, Sydney had plenty of options—but conversations with head coach Scott Rueck felt different.

It wasn't just basketball.

It wasn't a recruiting script.

She believed in his vision for what Oregon State could become and took only ONE official visit.

The result?

Three Pac-12 championships.

A 2016 FINAL FOUR.

And a place in Oregon State history.

That Final Four team was later inducted into the Oregon State Hall of Fame.

Sydney also became one of the most prolific shooters in Pac-12 history.

How?

REPS. REPS. AND MORE REPS.

After practice, homework and dinner, Sydney would return to the gym late at night and shoot—sometimes for another hour and a half or two hours.

She wasn't simply counting shots.

She wanted STREAKS.

Five makes in a row.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Seven spots.

Midrange AND three.

That work eventually helped take her to the WNBA and professional basketball overseas.

But Sydney's career also included adversity.

During Oregon State's Final Four season, she broke her hand and missed several games. Instead of disconnecting, she watched the game differently and began seeing basketball through a coach's lens.

Years later, another injury helped change her direction again.

During ACL rehab, Sydney tried broadcasting and volunteered as an assistant coach at a prep school.

She discovered something:

SHE LOVED COACHING.

Sydney eventually returned to playing, including overseas basketball and a training camp opportunity with Connecticut.

Then Scott Rueck called.

Sydney prayed about the decision and realized she had peace with putting down the sneakers.

In May 2024, she was still pursuing professional basketball.

By July?

SHE WAS A COACH.

And she returned to Oregon State.

The staff is truly FAMILY.

Her former head coach is still leading the program. A former teammate is on staff. Another assistant coached Sydney when she played.

That familiarity has helped her learn while discovering her own coaching voice.

And in today's transfer portal/NIL era, Sydney believes relationships matter more than ever.

Her approach is simple:

Love the players while you have them. Serve them. Develop them. Treat people right.

Then came the SportsLifeTalk Initiation. 😂

Her Top 5?

Bad Bunny. ELHAE. H.E.R. Chris Stapleton. Elevation Worship/Chandler Moore.

That's a 23/24 from KT. 👀😂

Superman remains her superhero, Rod Wave's “Long Journey” is her theme song, and Lady Gaga gets the starring role in the musical version of Sydney's life.

Her karaoke choices?

Whitney Houston AND Celine Dion.

And yes…

WE MADE HER SING. 😂🎤

Her favorite current WNBA player is A'ja Wilson, and when SLT reaches Corvallis, Sydney is taking us for sushi—with the deep-fried Corvallis Roll getting B Jones' attention immediately.

So what's next?

Sydney isn't chasing titles or climbing a coaching ladder.

She's focused on becoming great at the role she has TODAY—helping players develop, graduate, pursue professional opportunities and achieve their dreams.

Player.

WNBA pro.

Oregon State legend.

Shooter.

Teammate.

And now…

COACH.

The journey changed.

The purpose didn't.

And somehow…

EVERY ROAD LED SYDNEY WIESE BACK TO CORVALLIS.

Subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, rate and review the show, and support our 4 Quarters Program with just $1 as we continue amplifying girls' and women's basketball.

SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER.

Duke.

The WNBA.

Professional basketball overseas.

The White House.

Sixteen years of coaching.

And now Ole Miss.

Coach Joy Smith has lived a basketball journey that doesn't fit neatly into one box.

On this episode of SportsLifeTalk: You Got Next, KT and B. Jones sit down with the Ole Miss women's basketball associate coach for a conversation about basketball, leadership, recruiting, player development, motherhood, adapting to a changing college game—and the next chapter she wants for herself.

Joy's basketball journey began when she was eight years old.

After watching her younger brother play, she wanted in.

Saturday basketball clinics became AAU basketball. AAU eventually helped lead her to Duke, where she competed at the highest level of college basketball before being selected in the 2010 WNBA Draft.

She spent time in the WNBA and played professionally overseas.

But one phone call changed the direction of her career.

Duke offered Joy an opportunity to return to her alma mater and begin coaching.

She had an overseas contract waiting.

Her response?

Call the agent.

Cancel it.

She was going back to Duke.

And that decision began a coaching career that would eventually take Joy through programs including Duke, Ohio State, Vanderbilt, Clemson and now Ole Miss.

But one of the most interesting parts of Joy's journey happened away from basketball.

During Two Truths and a Lie, KT and B. Jones discover that Joy once interned at the White House.

Yes.

THAT White House.

Joy shares stories from the experience and explains how she worked around domestic and economic policy during the Obama administration, including work connected to then-Vice President Joe Biden.

Then the conversation turns back to basketball.

Joy opens up about how she's changed as a coach.

Early in her career, she sometimes expected players to operate the way she did as an athlete.

Experience taught her something different:

Meet players where they are.

Then help bring them up.

Joy describes herself today as a “truth teller.”

She'll tell players exactly what they need to hear—but she's also learned empathy, patience and the importance of understanding each athlete as an individual.

Motherhood has influenced that evolution too.

Joy is raising two young daughters while continuing to build her coaching career at one of the highest levels of women's college basketball.

She also takes SportsLifeTalk inside the mindset at Ole Miss.

College athletics is changing constantly.

The transfer portal.

Eligibility.

Roster construction

New rules.

Joy's philosophy is simple:

You have to be willing to pivot.

Because if you don't change with the game, the game will leave you behind.

Ole Miss also has a standard for its group:

100/100.

Give your 100 percent, 100 percent of the time.

New roster?

No excuses.

New faces?

No excuses.

The expectation remains.

And when SportsLifeTalk asks Joy what's next for HER, there isn't any hesitation.

Her own program.

From Hyattsville to Charlotte

Duke to professional basketball…

the White House to the sideline

and now Oxford…

Joy Smith's story is still being written.

And she knows exactly where she wants the next chapter to go.

🎙️ SportsLifeTalk: You Got Nex

SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER

We don't do fans.

We do FAMILY.

CHAMPIONSHIP DNA. MINNESOTA MADE. 🏆🏀

On this episode of SportsLifeTalk’s You Got Next, Savage Season heads to Minnesota for a conversation with Coach Macy Hatlestad, one of the rising young names in girls basketball.

From Alexandria to St. Thomas, Minnetonka and North Tartan, basketball has been part of Macy's life for as long as she can remember.

And coaching?

It's literally in the family.

Her father was a Hall of Fame volleyball coach, while her mother spent more than 40 years coaching high school basketball.

Macy grew up in gyms, attended practices with her mom and developed into an elite shooter herself.

But her journey wasn't easy.

THREE ACL TEARS.

Two came in high school and another during college.

After her second ACL surgery, Macy arrived at St. Thomas questioning whether she even wanted to continue playing basketball.

Thankfully, she did.

Her message to athletes battling injuries and setbacks is powerful:

Believe you can do hard things.

Attack the rehab. Do the exercises. Get stronger. Trust yourself.

Because sometimes the toughest chapters help create an even better version of you.

At St. Thomas, Macy experienced winning, competed in the NCAA Tournament and Final Four, and developed the basketball IQ that would eventually become one of the foundations of her coaching career.

Funny thing is…

She never planned on becoming a coach. 😂

After college, Macy's mother convinced her to coach an AAU team. That opportunity eventually led her to North Tartan, where she worked her way from younger teams to the Nike EYBL circuit.

Then came a championship.

Macy helped lead a North Tartan team to a Nike EYBL championship, an accomplishment she says meant even more because it was HER group—the players looking to her in timeouts and trusting her leadership.

And the recognition kept coming.

Macy was later named 16U Coach of the Year, an honor she accepted with humility while recognizing what it represents for young female coaches continuing to earn opportunities and respect in the game.

Her coaching personality?

SPICY. FEISTY. ENERGETIC. 🌶️😂

Macy coaches the way she played.

She communicates constantly, walks the sideline, claps approximately 10,000 times per game 😂 and demands DEFENSE.

She wants her teams to play hard, play smart, share the basketball and represent their own brand regardless of the final score.

She's also experienced championship success at Minnetonka, where she was part of the program's 2024 state championship.

Then there's the SportsLifeTalk Initiation.

Her Top 5 includes T.I., Rihanna, Kehlani, Fridayy and the Jonas Brothers.

That combination earned her a MAMBA 24. 🐍

Her pregame soundtrack goes from Lupe Fiasco's “The Show Goes On” to Quavo's “Hotel Lobby” before finishing with T.I. and Rihanna's “Live Your Life.”

She doesn't have a traditional favorite superhero.

Her real-life superheroes?

Mom and Dad. ❤️

And when SLT pulls up in Minneapolis, Macy is taking us to Off the Rails for cheese curds.

Her favorite WNBA player?

Maya Moore.

Basketball has also taught Macy an important lesson:

Enjoy the victories. Appreciate the accomplishments. Learn from the losses.

But don't allow basketball to define you.

Because when the game ends…

THE SHOW GOES ON.

So what's next?

Macy wants to continue developing girls basketball through Minnetonka and North Tartan while helping grow the women's game on an even larger scale.

At SportsLifeTalk Media, we're committed to amplifying the athletes, coaches and leaders shaping girls' and women's basketball.

Support our 4 Quarters Program with just $1 and help us continue telling these stories.

Subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave a rating and review, and share this episode.

Three ACL tears couldn't stop her.

Championships didn't satisfy her.

And her story?

It's still unwritten.

Remember the name:

COACH MACY HATLESTAD.

SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER.

On this episode of SportsLifeTalk’s You Got Next, Savage Season sits down with Jen Brown, head women’s basketball coach at Queens University of Charlotte, for a conversation about hoops, leadership, recruiting, purpose and building something special.

Before Coach Brown was leading a Division I program, she was a Brooklyn hooper.

Growing up in Bed-Stuy, basketball started outside with a milk crate attached to a wall. She played on concrete, competed against her brothers and learned quickly that New York basketball demanded toughness.

West 4th. Rucker Park. Rod Strickland tournaments. Stephon Marbury tournaments.

If you showed up in New York, you better HOOP.

And Jen could do more than hoop.

She could DUNK. 😳

Coach Brown eventually began her college career at Pitt before transferring to James Madison to play for Kenny Brooks, beginning a relationship that would help shape her career.

At JMU, she became part of a winning culture and built relationships that still exist today.

Years later, her journey came full circle.

After six seasons coaching at her alma mater, Coach Brown spent four seasons alongside Brooks at Virginia Tech, helping recruit, develop players and build a nationally recognized program.

Then came the opportunity to build something of her own.

Queens University of Charlotte.

Coach Brown stepped into a program transitioning from Division II to Division I and embraced everything that came with building from the ground up.

Her philosophy starts with two golden rules:

1. Be a good human being.
2. Work hard-ER.

That ER matters.

Coach Brown wants players and staff members who aren't afraid to challenge themselves, grow and bring their authentic personalities into the program.

Her vision for Queens carries some of that Brooklyn DNA.

Grit.

Passion.

Toughness.

Competitiveness.

If you play Queens, Coach Brown wants you walking away saying one thing:

“They play HARD.”

The Royals want to play with pace and freedom while developing players who understand how to read and react instead of simply memorizing plays.

And when Coach Brown hits the recruiting trail, she's looking beyond points, rankings and highlight reels.

She watches the INTANGIBLES.

How do you react to a bad call?

How do you come out of a game?

How do you respond to your coach?

How do you treat teammates?

Can you play without the basketball?

And most importantly…

Are you a PALMS-UP player constantly questioning everything?

Or a PALMS-DOWN player saying, “We good. Let's go.” 👀

That tells Coach Brown plenty.

Then there's the SportsLifeTalk Initiation. 😂

Her Top 5?

DMX. Jay-Z. Lauryn Hill. Yolanda Adams. Kirk Franklin/God’s Property.

That's gangster rap to gospel in one car ride. 😂

And yes—that lineup earned a MAMBA 24. 🐍

Black Panther is her favorite superhero, while Jay-Z's “Encore” gets the nod as her theme song.

Her favorite WNBA player?

Cynthia Cooper.

And if SLT pulls up in Charlotte, Coach is sending us to Showmars for a fried fish sandwich.

Away from basketball, she's MOM first. Her son Jace—who was almost named Jabron because of her love for LeBron James 😂—keeps her busy with schoolwork, outdoor activities and trips to the pool.

But Coach Brown's bigger purpose extends beyond wins.

She wants to mentor the next generation of young women as they navigate basketball, money, branding, social media and opportunities that didn't exist for previous generations.

Her goal is to hold the door open for the next Jen Brown coming behind her.

And at Queens, the mission is clear:

MEET THE MOMENT.

MTM.

Build winning habits.

Develop champions.

And eventually?

Take Queens University to the BIG DANCE. 👀🏀

At SportsLifeTalk Media, we're committed to amplifying the athletes, coaches and leaders shaping girls' and women's basketball.

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SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER.

🎧 Mo McKinney | You Got Next

Detroit basketball is built different.

Mo McKinney is proof. 🔥🏀

On this episode of SportsLifeTalk’s You Got Next, Savage Season heads to Michigan to introduce one of the rising point guards in the Class of 2029: Mariah “Mo” McKinney of Belleville High School.

Standing around 5-foot-5, Mo doesn't need size to control a basketball game.

She has the HANDLE.

She has the VISION.

She has the SPEED.

And most importantly?

She has that DOG in her. 😤

Mo plays with a blue-collar Detroit mentality—attacking downhill, disrupting opponents defensively, controlling pace and competing on every possession.

Ask her to describe her game in one word?

“Crazy.” 😂

And she's not wrong.

Mo's basketball journey started with trips to the park with her parents. As her love for the game grew, so did the work. She remembers being one of the smallest players in workouts with her trainer Randy in Lansing, Michigan, but those sessions helped develop one of the biggest weapons in her game today:

The ball is on a string.

Behind the handles is something even more important—CONFIDENCE.

Mo credits her family, especially conversations with her mother, for helping develop the belief she carries onto the court.

When we give her three words—confident, relentless and athletic—Mo immediately puts CONFIDENT at No. 1.

Because when she steps on the floor, you can see it.

But there's plenty of work still happening in the lab. Mo is focused on improving her midrange game and three-point shooting to become an even more complete point guard.

On the grassroots circuit, she competes with Sports City Angels, where she's getting tested against some of the best young players in the country.

One matchup against Iowa Attack came down to the final possession, with Mo's team losing on a buzzer-beater.

Those are the battles helping prepare her for what's next.

And when college recruiting gets serious, Mo already knows one thing that will matter:

TEAM BONDING.

She wants a program where teammates are genuinely close both on and off the court.

Then there's the SportsLifeTalk Initiation. 😂

Mo's playlist brings straight Detroit energy with NBA YoungBoy, Babyface Ray, Babyface E, Lil Durk and Skilla Baby.

Her favorite superhero is Spider-Man because of the way he moves with the webs.

Her jersey number 2 has two meanings: her birthday is July 2, and she's the second child in her family.

And if SLT pulls up in Detroit looking for food?

Mo says we're getting shawarma. 😂

Basketball has also taught her something bigger than the game:

“It's levels to this.”

The game has allowed her to meet different people from different places and understand that everyone's journey is different.

Away from basketball, Mo keeps things simple—hanging out with friends and teammates while continuing to work toward her goals. She also enjoys Spanish class and is beginning to learn the language.

But don't mistake the laid-back personality for a lack of competitiveness.

Ask Mo whether she'd rather hit a huge shot at home or knock down a game-winner on the ROAD and silence the opposing crowd?

She's taking the road game.

MAMBA. 🐍

So what's next?

Mo has one major goal in front of her:

WIN A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH BELLEVILLE. 🏆

With talented teammates around her and several years still ahead, the future of Belleville basketball could be special.

At SportsLifeTalk Media, we're committed to amplifying the athletes, coaches and leaders shaping the future of girls' and women's basketball.

Support our 4 Quarters Program with just $1 and help us continue traveling, covering basketball and giving young athletes a platform to tell their stories.

Subscribe to You Got Next on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave a rating and review, and share this episode.

SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER.