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Aaliyah Moore

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WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.080 I think the one thing I'm most proud of is that although all the things that I went through, all the doubts from coaches, from doctors, from just outside noise, and people saying that I'll never play again, I'll never be the same, that I should just quit, I think the one thing is that I didn't quit. 00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:16.879 And kind of, in a sense, like I proved all of them. 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:25.760 Hey y'all, welcome back to the Everything Orange podcast, presented by First Horizon. 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:33.840 Basketball season is officially underway here on Rocky Top, and that means we have some exciting new talent to get to know both on and off the court. 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:40.320 Our guest today is in her sixth year of college basketball, and her story is filled with trials and tribulations. 00:00:40.479 --> 00:00:47.039 With her final season of College Hoops beginning, she is looking forward to leaving her mark on the game that means so much to her. 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:50.560 So please welcome to the Everything Orange podcast, Aaliyah Moore. 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:53.039 Aaliyah Moore, welcome to the Everything Orange Podcast. 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:54.240 Hi, thank you for having me. 00:00:54.399 --> 00:00:55.679 We are so excited to have you. 00:00:55.920 --> 00:00:59.920 It's kind of crazy that you're entering your sixth year of college basketball. 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:04.079 Does it feel like six years, or does it feel like it's gone by super fast for you? 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:06.400 Immediately, yes, it feels like six years. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:08.560 Um, but it also has gone by super fast. 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:12.159 Um, like your parents always tell you, you know, don't blink because you're gonna miss it. 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:12.480 Right. 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:13.359 That's facts. 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:16.239 But it has been a long six years. 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:16.799 Yes. 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:21.200 So we're excited, but also like putting a bow on it in the best possible way. 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:23.760 You being here, being a Lady Vol, being at Tennessee. 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:27.280 I know Lady Vol Nation is excited to get to know you and all the other girls. 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:30.719 So to give them a little bit of a teaser, who is Aaliyah Moore? 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:32.239 Ooh, that's a good question. 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:36.159 Um, okay, Aaliyah Moore is very fun. 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:37.439 She's always smiling. 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:44.079 Like I feel like every game you'll probably have, they'll probably have a picture of me posted on online of me smiling because I'm just a very smiley girl. 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:45.920 Um, I have a great personality. 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:47.120 I love talking to people. 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:48.640 I love to talk in general. 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:51.120 Um, that is why I want to actually go into broadcasting. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:51.760 No way. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:52.959 Okay, we'll cut offline. 00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:53.280 Yes. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:55.599 That's the dream job is sideline reporting, broadcasting. 00:01:55.840 --> 00:01:56.319 Amazing. 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:56.560 Yeah. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:01:58.239 But um, big family person. 00:01:58.319 --> 00:01:59.200 I'm an only child. 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:03.680 And so I feel like I wasn't spoiled growing up, but like I did have a lot of attention. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:05.599 So I'm very close with like all of my family. 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:06.079 Yes. 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:06.959 Um, let's see. 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:07.920 I love to spend money. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:09.120 I love to shop. 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:11.120 Um, and then I play basketball. 00:02:11.280 --> 00:02:15.680 I really have no other talents than God gave me one ability, and that's to hoop. 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:16.960 Um, and spend money, I guess. 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:19.199 Yeah, that's a little bit about me. 00:02:19.360 --> 00:02:23.280 Um, and I'm also getting my second master's, which I think is like a fun fact. 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:24.800 So it's an incredible fact. 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:24.960 Yeah. 00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:25.840 It's so impressive. 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:26.639 Congratulations. 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:27.039 Thank you. 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:27.599 That's amazing. 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:28.000 Thank you. 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:28.960 And it's from both UTs. 00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:30.000 So that's yeah, yeah. 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:31.759 Not many people can say that too. 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:33.439 So add that to your fun fact sheet. 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:33.680 Yeah. 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:40.159 Well, I was gonna say people describe you as having so much positivity, bringing so much enthusiasm to every room that you're in. 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:42.319 Is that how you've always been since you were a kid? 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:47.120 Yes, I think growing up, my mom, like, she did a great job raising me, and she was the same way. 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:50.159 So I had I mean, I have no reason to be mad, to be sad. 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:56.560 Um, and one of my favorite things I tell myself is like, just because today might be a bad day doesn't mean I'm gonna have a bad year or I'm gonna have like a bad week. 00:02:56.639 --> 00:02:56.800 Right. 00:02:56.960 --> 00:03:00.080 And so we get through today and then wake up tomorrow and we try to have a better day. 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:02.319 But yeah, I think like my mom, she's my best friend. 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:04.800 My mom, my grandma, they both helped raise me. 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:07.360 Um, and they're strong, beautiful, powerful women. 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:11.919 And so I guess yeah, I've always been kind of just like a happy person because what's like what's not to be happy about? 00:03:12.240 -->
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00:03:12.639 Right, right. 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:17.360 And when you have such positive, like influential people in your life, that trickles into just who you are. 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:20.319 And I can see that that like totally embodies the person that you are today. 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:20.719 Thank you. 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:23.120 When you get a day away from basketball, what are you doing? 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:25.039 Are you what are you watching, listening? 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:26.400 How are you on winding? 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:26.960 Okay. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:29.759 Um, like I said, I do like to spend money, so I'm usually online shopping. 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:37.599 If I'm not shopping in person, um, you know, after a long day, sometimes I just like to scroll on like skims or something or just like even Amazon. 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:40.000 Um, but let's see, I'm a big music fan. 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:40.560 I love music. 00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:41.840 I grew up with music. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:42.240 Okay. 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:44.000 Um, and so I'm always listening to music. 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:45.520 I usually always have my headphones on. 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:50.159 And so the either pregame, post-game, on the flight back, on the bus there, whatever it may be. 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:51.840 Um, I do love watching TV. 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:53.039 I'm a big movie fan. 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:54.159 I love going to the movies. 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:56.719 I love getting the popcorn, an icy, a hot dog. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:03:58.560 That's the trio right there. 00:03:58.800 --> 00:03:59.599 Um, let's see. 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:01.520 I also love watching new series. 00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:05.599 Um, so like really good series that have like thousands of episodes, thousands of series. 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:07.039 Exactly. 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:07.840 Like hours long. 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:08.560 Love it. 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:10.719 Um, but yeah, that's really that's really it. 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:18.959 Is there anything that you're listening or watching or uh shopping that you would recommend to people listening right now? 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:22.800 So some shows I would recommend is Carrie, which is on Prime Video. 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:31.600 They like did another remake of that because I know it's an older show or an older movie, and then A Different World is on Netflix, and that's another like reboot that they did of an older show. 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:32.160 Okay. 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:34.160 Um, so I'd recommend those two shows. 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:34.800 Very good. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:36.639 Any music right now? 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:37.920 Trying to think. 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:40.480 My favorite artist, I love Rihanna. 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:46.800 Um I probably I know every single Rihanna song, like literally, and probably every single song, like by heart, word for word. 00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:48.800 Um so big Rihanna fan. 00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:49.759 I'm trying to think. 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:51.120 So yeah, just listen to some Rihanna. 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:56.399 So have you heard that like she's got a vault of like, I don't know what she said, like over a hundred songs. 00:04:56.639 --> 00:04:57.360 Yes, and I need them. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:04:58.000 And we need them. 00:04:58.160 --> 00:04:58.480 I need them. 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:01.680 So this is Rihanna to please release those. 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:03.360 For if anyone for Aaliyah. 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:03.759 Yes, please. 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:04.879 I'm a huge fan, Rihanna. 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:07.120 I use all your products, your skincare, your makeup. 00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:08.800 I'm absolutely in love with your skincare. 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:10.160 I I am obsessed with skincare. 00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:11.199 So please reread. 00:05:11.519 --> 00:05:12.639 Please, please, please. 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:13.920 Okay, so that was great. 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:17.600 Um, take me back though, Aaliyah, to growing up in Moore, Oklahoma. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:20.079 What was life like for you growing up as a child? 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:22.800 Um, and kind of when did basketball enter the picture for you? 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:25.279 Growing up in Moore, Oklahoma, there's not much to do. 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:29.920 Um, but we have like we had three main high schools: Moore High School, Westmoor, and South Moore. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:31.439 So Moore was like the main one. 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:31.759 Okay. 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:36.160 And then I always think it's so funny that my name's Aaliy Moore from Moore, Oklahoma, and I went to Moore High School. 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:36.720 Yes, yeah. 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:38.879 And when I was looking at your bio, I'm like, man. 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:39.680 Yeah. 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:41.759 It's literally a coincidence. 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:42.319 Okay, okay. 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:48.079 Um, because we actually ended up moving to Oklahoma because my grandma was in the Air Force, and so they ended up stationing her in Oklahoma. 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:49.360 So literally, it wasn't planned. 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:53.360 Like she just happened to pick Oklahoma, and then I happened to be in Moore, and I went to Moore High School. 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:57.360 Um, but yeah, growing up in Moore, I feel like there wasn't much to do, like I said. 00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:02.560 I went to the main high school, the best high school, and obviously kind of turned out to be really good at basketball. 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:05.600 And so started playing that at a pretty young age. 00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:07.360 I would say maybe I was seven or eight. 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:09.040 Um and I just kind of fell in love with it. 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:11.120 Um, my mom also played at Alabama AM. 00:06:11.199 -->
00:06:11.360 Yes. 00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:13.439 And so she was like, I saw something in you. 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:15.360 And so she was like, I have to put you in basketball. 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:21.839 She was like, you know, I don't know what's gonna come out of it, but she said that I was better than all the kids when I was younger, and so she was like, We'll give it a try. 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:22.160 Yeah. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:28.480 Um, so yeah, I mean, growing up in Oklahoma was very cool, I think, because it was so small, everyone knew who I was because you don't. 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:34.079 We have maybe like a handful of people that came out of Oklahoma that really have done something for the state. 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:35.759 And so I was kind of like one of those people. 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:39.199 So even going back home now, it's like everyone literally knows who I am. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:46.319 So it's it's really cool, and then being able to give back to my community whenever I can, go back and visit my old high school is also really cool and kind of pour into those girls. 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:46.720 Yes. 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:48.959 But yeah, I mean, growing up there was really cool. 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:53.040 I think every single one of our high school games was was packed out because there was nothing else to do in there. 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:55.199 So everyone came to watch me drop 30 every night. 00:06:55.759 --> 00:06:59.519 Um, but yeah, it was great. 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:02.399 Like I said, I think God put me there for a reason. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:04.079 More Oklahoma, more high school. 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:07.120 Like, no one really else can say that they that they did something like that. 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:08.639 Yeah, it was all meant to be for you. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:09.279 Exactly. 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:15.680 When did you know that basketball could be something serious and you could take it beyond more Oklahoma? 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:16.000 Yeah. 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:16.800 Funny story. 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:20.959 So I was in seventh grade and I had just started playing for an EYBL team. 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:21.279 Okay. 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:24.480 Um, Shout Out Sci-Fair, the best EYBL team in the country. 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:27.439 Um, and it was my first year with him. 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:30.000 And I didn't even know that you can get an offer to play basketball. 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:31.360 Like I was just playing just to play. 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:35.040 Again, my mom knew that I could be good, so she was the one that transitioned me to that team. 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:38.959 But me being a seventh grader, I was just like, I'm just gonna show up, put my jersey on and just play. 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:40.000 And that was just that. 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:40.639 I was a kid. 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:45.680 And after one of our tournaments, my mom wasn't, I
was in the backseat of the car, and my mom was like, guess what, Aliyah? 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:46.240 I'm like, what? 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:47.279 She's like, You got an offer. 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:48.720 I'm like, an offer to do what? 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:50.240 I was like, I was so confused. 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:51.680 I was like, an offer to do what, mom? 00:07:51.839 --> 00:07:51.920 Yeah. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:55.360 And she's like, an offer, like a full ride scholarship to play basketball at a certain school. 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:56.399 And I was like, wait, really? 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:58.160 Like they would pay for everything, like my schooling. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:01.600 She was like, Yes, if you keep working hard, you can go anywhere you want in the country. 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:05.199 And so that's kind of when I was like, okay, I'm gonna take this very serious. 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:10.160 Um, because one, my mom wouldn't have to play pay for school, two, I can get a free to like a free degree. 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:10.319 Right. 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:12.399 And then also travel the world playing basketball. 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:12.639 Yes. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:15.360 So from there I was like, okay, I'm I need to lock in. 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:23.040 So you kind of mentioned that your mom played for Alabama AM, which is ironic because Tennessee is playing them in December. 00:08:23.279 --> 00:08:24.800 How's the family feel about this? 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:25.839 Is she excited? 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:26.879 Um, she's very excited. 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:28.639 We actually have a ton of people coming to that game. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:33.279 Um, so we'll I'll have a little section of Alabama AM fans and um UT fans. 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:34.960 Um, but there she's really excited. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:39.279 We actually really wish that it was Alabama AM because that would have been even cooler, but it's okay. 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:39.600 Yes. 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:43.039 And then this was also the year that I actually changed my jersey number to my mom's number. 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:43.440 No way. 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:45.759 So she was 31 while she was there. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:47.360 Um and so it was just kind of like special. 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:49.679 Like I said, God does everything on purpose and for a reason. 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:49.840 Yeah. 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:50.799 So it's just really cool. 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:52.240 I think that game's gonna be fun. 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:54.559 And every time I score, I'm gonna be like, that was for you, mom. 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:55.840 Yes, okay, shut up, mom. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:56.159 Yeah. 00:08:56.320 --> 00:08:59.120 So 31, what was the reason, I guess, for doing that this year? 00:08:59.360 --> 00:08:59.600 Yeah. 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:03.600 So at my past school, I was 21 and 23 when I was there. 00:09:03.679 --> 00:09:09.440 And I just kind of like, I feel like this new chapter of me transferring, like, was just a new chapter for me to kind of change a lot of things. 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:10.879 And I wanted to change my number. 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:13.279 Um, but I don't really have a number that's like significant to me. 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:14.960 And then I was thinking my mom played. 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:17.200 And I was like, she was 31, like, this is perfect. 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:20.480 It's my last year, and I felt like it was kind of like a year of growth for me. 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:24.480 And so kind of just wanted to do it for her, and I'm very proud to have that number. 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:27.600 What was her reaction when you told her that you're gonna be wearing her number? 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:36.960 Yeah, so actually, before I even transferred here, um, we were at dinner, and I was like, Mom, you know, I've been thinking, I really wanted to like kind of change everything, you know, going into this new chapter. 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:38.639 And I was like, I think I want to be 31. 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:39.759 And like she was like, huh? 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:44.000 And then she was like, oh, she went to Yeah, she was like, Why 31? 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:45.200 And I was like, Because of you, Mom. 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:46.240 But yeah, it was really sweet. 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:48.320 And she was like, Oh, she was like, I I love that. 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:49.440 So that's beautiful. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:50.000 I love that. 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:56.960 So coming out of high school, you're in a McDonald's, all American, and one of the top players in the country, and already had one gold with Team USA at that point. 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:04.080 With all those accomplishments under your belt, what were you hoping and uh looking forward to about college and what that experience could bring for you? 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:05.679 Yeah, let me go way back. 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:11.440 Um, I think I was always really excited going to college. 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:13.440 I think, like I said, growing up an only child. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:17.279 It wasn't that I wanted to get away, but it was like, you know, I wanted to go spread my wings. 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:26.879 And even my mom was like, go, like, you gotta go grow up, become an adult, learn how to pay your own bills, how to get to practice on time by yourself, how to eat by yourself because she wasn't there to do all of that for me. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:29.039 And so I really enjoyed the process. 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:31.200 Um, if I could go back though, I would not. 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:32.960 I'm glad to be where I am now. 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:33.519 Yeah. 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:36.480 But I think, like you said, with all those accolades, like it's great. 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:47.039 Um, sometimes when I have like tough days, I do like to go back and
kind of watch my old highlights or just remember who I am and all the work that I've put in to get here because it has been a lot that a lot of people don't understand, don't realize. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:11:04.320 They never saw the you know, the long nights, the early nights in the gym, the sorry, the early mornings in the gym, um, and just the training, like a lot, lots and lots of training, and then the sacrifices that my mom also made to pay for everything, to drive me to Houston every single weekend, um, paying for us to go to EYBL Nationals and just all of these things. 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:08.879 And so, like I said, I think it's just really cool being able to like reflect on all those things that I did. 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:10.559 Um, and no one can take that away from me. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:11.440 No, absolutely. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:18.799 When you think about the younger version of yourself when you started college, what would you tell her about the woman that you are today? 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:22.960 Oh I would tell her, just keep going, kids. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:25.200 Like it really does get better and you're gonna figure it out. 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:32.559 I think I've dealt with so many injuries that I wish I really could just go back and grab that girl, like put my hands around her face and just be like, it's gonna be okay. 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:38.080 Like I promise, all those nights, you know, you were crying, it was really hard, and you thought you were gonna quit, you didn't know what you were gonna do. 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:44.080 Like you figured it out, and you're at a whole different school of still playing in the SEC and still being able to be dominant. 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:45.519 Um, but that's a great question. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:46.799 No, yeah, you're like me. 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:49.039 I know to really think about that. 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:50.320 That was really sweet. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:55.679 Well, your college career has asked you to work your way back from injury more than once. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:00.480 What has been the hardest part about having to restart that process all over again? 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:01.200 Yeah. 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:08.240 Well, I don't think a lot of people really don't know um, like what I actually had done last May. 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:11.039 Um, I had both my knees done actually at the same time. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:13.039 And one was more major than the other one. 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:13.840 One was pretty minor. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:15.120 I was able to walk on it after. 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:16.480 The other one I was not. 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:20.639 And I wasn't able to walk or run on that leg for maybe about six months. 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:23.200 So way longer than just an ACL. 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:26.799 Um, and so I don't want to go obviously into all the details, but I had a lot of work done. 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:27.279 A lot. 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:30.000 And I was told by multiple doctors that I would not play again. 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:33.200 And thankfully I found a doctor that was like, you will be able to play again. 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:35.120 It will just take a lot of work. 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:39.440 And so, like I said, a lot of praying to God around that time because I didn't know if I would play again. 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:39.600 Yeah. 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:44.399 And really leaning on my mom and my grandma and my support system and just trying to figure out like what am I gonna do? 00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:46.720 Um, am I just gonna go straight into broadcasting? 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:48.720 Do I just want to be done and get a job? 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:52.960 Um, but I ended up, you know, by the grace of God, I'm here right now and I'm still playing. 00:12:53.440 --> 00:13:01.279 Um, and so I think like just thinking about everything that I've been through, honestly, I don't I do know how I did it, but sometimes I'm like, Jesus. 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:01.519 Right. 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:05.039 Like anybody else would have folded and would have quit because it was incredibly hard. 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:09.600 And I there were so many times where I felt alone that I know I wasn't, but you know, just you're really hard on yourself. 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:09.759 Yeah. 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:15.279 And waking up every day and doing the same thing, going to PT, I'm like, okay, I gotta do this again, I gotta do this again. 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:16.960 I have to lift my leg off the table. 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:20.240 My leg won't, you know, just things like that, like were incredibly hard. 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:23.679 And looking back though, I'm just so, so proud of myself. 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:24.000 Yeah. 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:27.519 Because I easily could have, like I said, folded and just stopped playing. 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:35.840 And I decided to one, hop in the transfer portal, which was big, to continue to go to another SEC school, which is the hardest conference in the country. 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:40.480 I could have easily went to a lower conference and averaged like what, 20 and did whatever I wanted. 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:41.200 I didn't want that. 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:42.320 I still wanted to win. 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:45.120 Um, I wanted it to be hard, I wanted it to be competitive. 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:53.440 And I knew at the end of the day, if I could get through, you know, one injury after another, after another, after another, then this is just like another roadblock. 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:56.960 I'm like processing everything that you're saying because it is so true. 00:13:57.039 --> 00:14:03.919 Like I can only imagine the centimeters in which you had this marathon that you had to finish. 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:08.320 And the day in and the day out of the repetitive, like, will I ever get
there? 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:11.120 Is it ever is it in my cards to even get there? 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:12.720 But you had to believe in yourself. 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:12.879 Yeah. 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:14.159 And it was what you wanted. 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:17.600 And you were not gonna give up on yourself, which I think is a true testament to your story. 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:26.399 I do want to look to you a little bit more at the timeline of it all so that people really know from like where we started to where we are now, all the parts. 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:31.840 After your sophomore season ended early, you returned to have the best statistical season of your career. 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:42.159 What did that come back teach you early on about how you ended up needing to face other setbacks, seeing that you had done it once before and knowing that you could do it again? 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:43.759 Yeah, that's a great question. 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:47.120 I think again, it's just a testament to how much work I put in. 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:52.720 Like, you don't just come back from an ACL, wake up, and it's like, oh, okay, I'm gonna go dominate every day. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:53.759 Like it's so hard. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:57.919 And then on top of that, I had to play in that brace, which I'm unfortunately back in this year. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:58.080 Okay. 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:01.039 But people do not understand, like that brace really is restricting. 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:01.360 Yes. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:05.279 And it's like something just hanging on your leg and it's hard to move laterally. 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:10.399 It makes you slower running up and down the floor, and constantly like if it falls, having having to pull it up. 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:12.879 But it's just little things like that that people don't realize. 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:13.200 Yes. 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:22.240 And things that like we have to overcome, like little daily battles in our head, like, okay, I'm still gonna be able to defend this girl, even though I do have this brace on and I'm on surgery number three. 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:28.000 Um, but I do think like going back to the first ACL, after that, that was my first ever major injury. 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:28.320 Okay. 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:31.039 And that was a whole situation in itself. 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:37.679 But when I finally did get cleared, I just remembered how much I missed basketball and how much like the love for it immediately came back. 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:39.440 And the same thing happened this time. 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:42.320 And I think just like something about March Madness as well. 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:49.039 I don't know what it is, but like something about me being on a big stage and I know people are watching, I always perform well. 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:54.639 Um, I don't know if that is like a testament just to like I was made for the
moment or just God put that in me. 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:55.039 I don't know. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:56.720 I got that from my mother, I'm not sure. 00:15:56.960 --> 00:16:01.039 But like you said, like something about March Madness, I just always am like, yeah, it's go time. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:01.360 Yes. 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:03.519 Like that's time to turn it up a notch. 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:07.120 You spent all of last season rehabbing, like you kind of talked about. 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:17.279 What is a part of that year that people don't know or didn't see the day in and day out that helped you get ready for the season that we're about to have? 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:22.240 Um, well, number one is I actually ended up moving like 20 minutes off of that campus. 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:30.240 So I was so basically I went from living on campus, um, an apartment on campus where I was like by so many people, by everything. 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:33.120 And then I decided I'm taking this year to get the surgery. 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:34.399 I kind of wanted to take a step back. 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:41.360 So I ended up moving off of campus and I was like 20 minutes away living in my own apartment, which I loved, um, but I was not around a lot of people. 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:48.879 And so I think having to kind of go from where you're around a team every day, you're around so many people, and I'm such a social person. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:52.000 I went from that to not really seeing many people. 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:56.240 And so I do feel like during that time, and I wasn't alone, but it can just kind of feel like that. 00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:56.559 Yes. 00:16:56.720 --> 00:17:00.799 But I felt like I also needed to be alone in order to get through that, if that makes sense. 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:02.559 So again, God knew what he was doing. 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:03.919 Um so that was number one. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:09.359 And then number two is I was driving, people don't understand, I was driving almost an hour there and back for PT every single day. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:15.519 And so just like the sacrifices that I made, um, just to be better and be able to be where I am now. 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:16.400 Um, but yeah. 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:23.200 Through all of that time playing away from basketball, what kept you looking forward to the return to the game? 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.720 That's a great question. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:27.680 When you think about that, what did keep me? 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:34.880 I think I honestly think I just my love for the game, if that makes sense. 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:41.440 I think there was always a part of me that like even though I might say out loud I might quit, there was a part of me that was like, you're not gonna quit. 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:42.640 Like you know you're not. 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:48.720 You might say it, you might have days where you're complaining about PT or this hurts, this sucks, but you're not gonna quit. 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:51.119 Like you've been through, you've been through hard. 00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:53.039 This is just another thing that's hard. 00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:54.319 So like figure it out. 00:17:54.400 --> 00:18:00.400 And that's kind of how I always felt like that voice was always in the back of my mind, even though everything else was like, oh, I'm so I'm so tired. 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:00.720 Yeah. 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:05.599 And so I think like having that voice, again, I think that was just from it's been instilled with instilled in me. 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:07.039 I just I love hard work. 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:10.000 My mother, she's kind of taught me life is hard in general. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:15.279 No matter whether you're not you're an athlete, you're an artist, you're a singer, whatever it may be, you're a teacher, life is hard. 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:17.200 Um, just being human on this earth. 00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:22.240 And so I think she always told me that if you want something, you can persevere and you can do it. 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:23.359 And only you can. 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:29.839 No one else can pick you up, no one else could drive me to PT every day, no one else could make me do a leg raise, no one else could make me dribble the ball. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.799 I had to do that. 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:37.599 And so I just feel like kind of that want, that little voice in the back of my head that was like, You can you're gonna keep playing, kind of is what got me through. 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:43.279 So after spending your entire career at your previous school, you decided to take a chance on somewhere new. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:49.359 What was it that you were really looking for in this new chapter and uh your basketball journey? 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:54.799 Yeah, number one was just to go somewhere where I honestly had a better relationship with the head coach. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:57.680 I wanted to be able to have mutual respect between the head coaches. 00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:01.440 Me knowing I was only gonna be there a year, I didn't obviously want to be best friends. 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:06.160 Um, but I did want a coach that I knew was going to pour into me and really have my best interest at heart. 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:08.319 And that is 110% Coach Kim. 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:10.720 And I felt that immediately on my visit. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:15.599 Um, and that's honestly the whole staff, like Coach Bill, Coach East, Coach Angel, Coach Alex, Coach Jenna. 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.559 I don't want to miss anyone. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:17.359 They're gonna get me. 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:20.880 But honestly, everyone, our supporting staff, everyone was amazing. 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:23.119 And I just really wanted to feel like I was wanted. 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:29.440 I kind of felt like that was missing
at my last school, and especially when you go through so many injuries, you already kind of battle with that yourself. 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:33.680 It's hard when you have the system around you also making you kind of um question that. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:34.559 Yeah, question that. 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:36.880 And so coming here, I they didn't make me question that. 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:44.079 And I had multiple conversations with Coach Kim about where I was PT-wise, where I was physically, how I was mentally, and the things that I wanted this year. 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:46.160 And she never once said, That's not attainable. 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:47.839 Like, you're not gonna be able to do that, Aliyah Moore. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:49.599 You had all these injuries, that's no. 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:52.960 She always said, Okay, here's the way that we can do this. 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:54.319 Here's how I can help you. 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:56.799 I think this is you can get this done for sure. 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:59.920 This might be a little bit harder, but you can do it, and here's how I can help you. 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:01.599 And then we have Nolan, who's amazing. 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:03.839 And I will rave about Nolan until the day I die. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:05.440 Our strength coach is amazing. 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:07.440 He's the best strength coach I've ever worked with. 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:09.279 And he's never said anything negative to me. 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:11.680 Like, some days I'll come in and I'm the negative Nancy. 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:13.119 And he's like, Aliyah, get it together. 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.240 And I'm like, you're right. 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:20.559 So it's hard when you're around such positive, great people to want to be down because then you're the one that's sticking out like a sore thumb. 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:28.720 Did you feel like it was a risk to go into the transfer portal given your history with injury, given your you hadn't played the last season? 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:32.720 Did it make you feel any kind of nerves about am I making the right decision? 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:34.000 Should I be doing this? 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.759 A hundred percent, yes. 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:36.880 I had many doubts. 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:39.039 Um, and I'll never forget what my mom said to me one day. 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:41.519 I brought that up to her right when I entered my name in the portal. 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:44.799 I was like, mom, like what if, like this whole time I've been talking about am I done? 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:47.359 I might actually have to be done, because what if the school doesn't reach out? 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:49.839 And she was like, Aliyah, remember who you are. 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:55.519 She was like, at the end of the day, you've gone through so much and like look at what you've done. 00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:55.920 Right. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:58.559 She was like, look at your accolades, look at your resume. 00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:02.240 And she was like, if a school doesn't want to take a chance on you, that's on them. 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:09.279 She was like, but I promise you, there's going to be ice school, certain schools that are going to take a chance on you just because of the player and person that you are. 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:10.000 And she was right. 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:10.720 And she was right. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:12.640 And now you're here at Tennessee as Lady Vol. 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:12.960 Yes. 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:20.160 What does that mean to you to be a Lady Vall and Pat Summit and just the legacy and the history that's here on this campus? 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.119 What does that mean to you? 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:22.160 It means a lot. 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:29.519 Like it's when you walk on campus, you kind of like feel like the legacy of Pat Summit and like the Lady Valls that came before me and what how they paved the way for me. 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:33.759 And it's, I think it's really cool to just be able to say that I'm also a part of this year's team. 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:33.920 Yeah. 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:35.920 Like this year's team is gonna make so much history. 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.799 We're all new. 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:37.039 Yeah. 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:39.839 And I was one of the girls, one of the 15 that took a chance. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:46.559 And so, like, 10 years from now, I have a little girl or a little kid, and I'm like, yeah, your mom was a part of this team that accomplished this and accomplished that. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:48.400 Like, I think that's super, super cool. 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:54.799 And I think there's so many women that came before me that also had to overcome something in their own way or like a trailblazer in their own way. 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:59.759 And so I I honestly feel like this team is kind of like will be that for the generation, you know, 10, 20 years from now. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:01.039 So it's super cool. 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:03.759 And I'm just super blessed that I have I'm one of the 15 girls. 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:10.240 Yeah, I really just feel like with this, with this new team this year, everyone has a different pace of them that they're trying to prove. 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:15.200 And for whatever, like whatever that looks like for them, everyone's coming here kind of with a chip on their shoulder. 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:22.319 How have you seen the attitude or maybe the um the culture of this team start to develop as the season's beginning? 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.920 Yeah, honestly, you never know. 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:28.079 Like when you bring a group of girls together that have never met, you don't know what's gonna happen. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:32.559 But thankfully, I think Ham did a really good job of just getting good
people. 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:37.279 So when you get good people, the most you have to worry about is like, okay, just getting their skills better on the court. 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:38.960 And she did a great job of getting great people. 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:41.279 And so immediately when we got on campus, we all clicked. 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:43.039 All we did was hang out over the summer. 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:44.640 And mind you, we did not know each other. 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:44.960 Right. 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:45.759 Like at all. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.160 Right. 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:47.680 But we clicked so quickly. 00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:51.440 Like I said, I think when you just have great people, it's hard not to click with other great people. 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:53.759 And then I think that translated to the court. 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:56.799 And they did a really good job putting certain pieces together. 00:22:56.960 --> 00:23:00.559 Like I feel like we have a good inside inside presence with me, fats, and Zen. 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:01.839 And then we have shooters. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:09.519 And when you have great shooters, I mean that opens up the floor for me, Fats and Zen, to be able to go to work down low, um, get get O boards and just stuff like that. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:14.000 And so, like I said, I think Coach Kim and the stats did a great job of just putting good pieces together. 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:21.119 And then us as a group, we've done a great job of just hanging out because we could have easily just been like, uh, you're we're all new, like I'll just stay in my room. 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:22.400 But no, we're all people. 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:25.200 We're all like very, what's the word I'm trying to think of? 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:25.920 Like social people. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:26.160 Yeah. 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:27.920 Um, and so we all clicked very quickly. 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:28.160 Yeah. 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:32.480 And since arriving here on Rocky Top, you've been building your way back, learning a new system, it's pace. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:34.640 Take me back to kind of those first workouts. 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:36.319 What was the most, right? 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:38.240 I'm like, do we want to go back there? 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:40.319 What was the most challenging part for you? 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.359 Was it more mental? 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:42.480 Was it more physical? 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:46.400 What were you working through as you were just kind of trying to figure everything out? 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:48.079 Yeah, this one, and it's so interesting. 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:49.440 All my injuries have been different. 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:51.279 My first ACL, it was more physical. 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.960 Getting back in shape was the hardest part. 00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:55.440 But mentally, I felt like I hadn't missed a beat on the court. 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:55.680 Okay. 00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:58.079 This time, it was all mental. 00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:59.279 I don't know what it was. 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:07.599 I don't know if it's just because I was out longer this time, but like I mentally was just so not scared to play basketball again, but like overthinking everything. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:11.920 Um, and like kind of like, okay, I can trust my knee, but like, can I really trust my knee? 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:18.400 Um, and then just kind of like moving timid like on the court because again, embracing contact, that's something people also don't realize. 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.359 You have to learn again. 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:24.720 I went a whole year and a half not experiencing contact every day, not like dribbling the ball every day. 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:31.359 And so kind of just gaining the confidence back in my ball handling, my shooting, um, my aggressiveness because it was always inside of me. 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:32.880 I just kind of had to like wake it up again. 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:33.440 Yes. 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:37.279 You mentioned earlier having to work with the brace on your leg. 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:46.160 How have you been able to navigate that and the challenges that come with that and not letting it impede your progress as you've been trying to get back out onto the court? 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:46.480 Yeah. 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:53.359 Well, I think Nolan and Cassie, um our trainer, have done a great job of just kind of like instilling the confidence in me because I I complain to them all the time. 00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:55.519 I'm like, this brace, like I just want to throw it away. 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:57.359 And Cassie's like, I know, but she can't. 00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:59.440 And she's like, just look at what you're still able to do. 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:01.359 You're still able to practice, you're still able to move. 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:04.240 She was like, it might not be the way that you want, right? 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:06.799 But nothing in this life half the time is the way that we want it. 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:08.000 It doesn't go the way that we want. 00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:16.160 Um, and so I kind of just feel like when you, like I said, when you have people that are constantly telling you, like, it's gonna be okay, and like just look at what you've already done and how hard it's been. 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:18.079 And so I just have to remember those things. 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:18.400 Yes. 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:19.680 And I'm like, you know what? 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:23.279 It's yes, the brace is there, but I'm still gonna dominate you. 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:25.440 I'm still gonna defend, I'm still gonna rebound. 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:28.720 And at the end of the day, I'm still going to think that I'm better than any opponent in front of me. 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:28.960 Right. 00:25:29.279 -->
00:25:34.319 It's the shift in perspective and also having that confidence in yourself to like not make excuses. 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:36.559 Like, I'm still gonna go out there and do what I do best. 00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:36.720 Yes. 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.519 Regardless. 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:44.880 Well, you put on the Lady Vol jersey for the first time earlier this week against Florida AM and this team's exhibition. 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:49.039 You got the start, scored eight points, and wait went six for six from the free throw line. 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:55.680 When did the moment really hit you that you were about to step out onto the court and play your first game in over a year? 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:56.960 Yeah, wow. 00:25:57.200 --> 00:26:04.079 Someone told me, I think it's been like 640-something days since my yeah, and funny enough, the last game I actually played was It was! 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:07.119 It was against Tennessee, which like full circle bending days. 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.319 Full full circle. 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:10.799 Um, but I think a reporter had told me that, and I was like, wow. 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:23.440 Like some, like you said, really puts it into perspective of what I literally have done and how incredibly hard and insane it can be to really like think about that's how much time I was away from this game. 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:25.440 But I honestly I think it hit me. 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:30.480 We were when we ran out the second time in our like full Pat Summit blue warmups that are beautiful, by the way. 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:31.119 Stunning. 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:37.440 And I just like saw a lot of people in the stands, and then I saw my my family in the stands and I waved at them, and I was like, wow, I'm really bad. 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:37.839 Right. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:40.160 It was like a deja vu all over again. 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:41.839 What did that first bucket feel like? 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.720 It felt really good. 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:47.279 And then I think too, I wish it would have been an and one, but I think I did it in true Aliyah fashion. 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:52.799 Me posting up, getting fouled, an aggressive move, and then I made both free throws 100% from the free throw line. 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.680 So I cannot complain. 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:54.559 Right, period. 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:56.319 And I'm sure Coach Kim loved that too. 00:26:56.880 --> 00:27:04.319 Um, what's something about just simply being able to play, just stepping onto that court that you appreciate more now, given everything that you've been through? 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:08.640 Yeah, I think because even again, like after this year, I don't know where I'm gonna end up. 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:15.839 Um, there's always a chance of me, you know, putting my name in the draft, going overseas, like I told you, wanting to go into broadcasting, shoot, maybe even getting a coaching job. 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:18.240 Like there's just so many different avenues I could go down after this. 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:21.759 But I think I'm really just trying to live in the moment. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:28.880 Because again, there's a very low percent chance that anyone thought I was gonna ever be back and playing this last year. 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:31.680 And so I'm really just trying to enjoy it. 00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:32.880 Keeping it simple. 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:33.359 Exactly. 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:36.480 Fans are getting to know an entirely new team with this roster. 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:37.440 We talked about that. 00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:43.440 What's a moment where you felt like this team really started to click and has uh kind of found their identity? 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:44.079 Yeah. 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:45.680 Oh, that's a good question. 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:54.480 I would honestly even say the exhibition we just had, because people I people know we've had a couple scrimmages and we actually ended up scrimmaging, I don't know if I'm allowed to say the team. 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:56.319 So I'll just say like it was a top five team. 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:56.640 Okay. 00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:59.200 Um, they're projected to be a Final Four team to be really good. 00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:02.799 So we ended up scrimmaging them a week before we had our exhibition. 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:06.000 And let's just say we learned a lot from that scrimmage. 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:06.240 Okay. 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.519 But I think it was needed. 00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:13.119 I think when you bring a different group, when you bring a lot of different girls together that have all played at different levels, yeah. 00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:16.559 And some people on this team don't know how hard it's going to be. 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:18.079 They have not ever played in the SEC. 00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:20.160 I am someone who has won a lot in the SEC. 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:22.480 I have lost some as well, but I've won more than I've lost. 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:22.880 Yes. 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:27.039 Um, I've I have a couple rings, I have a couple trophies, and so I genuinely do know what it takes. 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:32.480 And on top of that, I'm not, I've never even won a national championship, and I still know it's incredibly hard. 00:28:32.640 --> 00:28:35.440 Like just getting to the final four, the one that I got to. 00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:48.640 And so, excuse me, I just feel like when we had that scrimmage and it did not go the way that we wanted, we all kind of were able to take a step back and be like, okay, the things that Coach Kimmer's saying that we need to work on, we do need to work on. 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:48.960 Yes. 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:57.599 And it's and I think it's gonna take everyone in this room to really hone in and really look at themselves and reflect on what they need to do
better for the team to be better. 00:28:57.920 --> 00:29:02.160 So we had that scrimmage, and I think our exhibition, we played so much better. 00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:07.359 And obviously, I know competition was is different, different levels, but just the things that we personally needed to work on. 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:10.960 I could tell a lot of my teammates were focusing on that in that game. 00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:12.559 And that's the only way you can get better. 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:13.119 Right. 00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:21.359 Especially going up against that top-level competition that will expose some parts of the game of the system, and honestly, give everybody a little bit of a reality check. 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:23.839 Like, hey, we're about to start, season's gonna begin. 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:24.160 Exactly. 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:28.640 And here's everything that we need to do in order to accomplish everything that we want this year. 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:34.559 You talked about though, that you've got a lot of great experience from really big games, really big moments. 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:48.960 As a leader on this team in your sixth season of veteran, what are some of the pieces of advice that you found yourself giving to the younger girls, or like you mentioned, the girls that haven't been playing in the SEC to know what they're about to get into? 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:53.279 Yeah, I would say two things that I probably say almost every week to all of all my girls. 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:57.119 Number one is that like I know the word of the day is like probably hard. 00:29:57.200 --> 00:30:00.400 I've said it so much, but winning, guys, is so incredibly hard. 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:04.319 And unless you've gone through it and won, you understand what I'm talking about. 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:13.200 But just like being able to win an SEC championship, which I've done, winning a Big 12 championship, which I've also done, I remember the sweat and tears that went into those games. 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:19.440 And excuse me, and then for me, like I said, coming off of the injuries and still being able to be a part of that win for my team is huge. 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:19.680 Yeah. 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:21.279 But it was incredibly difficult. 00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:22.880 And like the attention and detail. 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:34.400 So I tell them all the time, like, guys, I know right now we're very, very early on in the season, but the little details such as like rebounding and like taking away the middle in our press, three months from now, that's gonna kill us. 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:36.799 Like we have got to get it under wraps now. 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:44.880 So then when we're in January playing South Carolina um LSU, it's not killing us as much as it is now, and we are able to keep up with those teams. 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:47.279 So that's number one is just details really do matter. 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:47.680 Yes. 00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:51.440 And then number two would be to enjoy it because it goes by so fast. 00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:54.799 And um, our freshmen, Gabby and Irene, I love love them. 00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:56.960 They're great freshmen and they work so hard. 00:30:57.039 --> 00:31:00.640 But they have days where they're just like exhausted and they're like, Oh my gosh, I'm so tired. 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:01.599 Like, am I doing good? 00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:05.039 And I had to pull Gabby to the side one day and I'm like, Gabby, you're doing amazing. 00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:09.359 I said, You're really hard on yourself, and I and I get why I am too, but you're a freshman. 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:13.440 One, a lot of freshmen don't play, and you got great minutes when we played our exhibition. 00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:13.680 Yeah. 00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:16.079 And two, you do a lot for this team to help us win. 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:17.200 And same with Irene. 00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:27.039 So I think just kind of letting the girls know, like, attention to details matter, and that this is gonna be freaking hard to even just want to get where we want to, we want to be top three in the SEC, that's incredibly hard. 00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:29.519 And then the details really do matter if we want to do that. 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:33.440 And then second, enjoy it though, because it goes by fast and winning is so fun. 00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:38.480 So I want to get a little bit of an introduction though to this group, since we are learning a lot of new faces and names. 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:41.039 I'm gonna rapid fire go through a couple of questions with you. 00:31:41.119 --> 00:31:41.279 Okay. 00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:42.960 Who keeps everybody laughing? 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:45.279 Fats, and I'm sure you get that answer. 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.720 I should have known yes. 00:31:47.599 --> 00:31:48.720 Um, she is someone. 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:56.400 If I had to describe her, somebody asked us if you were like woke up in a graveyard by yourself, like in the middle of the night, who's a teammate that you would call to come help you like get out? 00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:59.519 And everyone said fats, because fats would fight a ghost. 00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:03.759 She would fight I don't like anything that got in the way, immediately calling fats. 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.240 Right. 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:06.640 And if and honestly, making it like a fun adventure. 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:08.160 Like she wouldn't even be stressing about it. 00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:09.759 She'd be making it a fun time. 00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:10.240 Yes. 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:13.119 Who is the hardest person to go up against in practice? 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:14.079 Ooh. 00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:17.440 Oh, can I say myself? 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:18.160 No, I'm just kidding. 00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:19.599 I'm just kidding. 00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:21.279 My
teammates, I love them all. 00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:23.519 Um, and they're all great competition. 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:25.039 That's a good question. 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:27.759 I would have to say fats are zen because we play the same position. 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:28.559 Right, right. 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:32.559 Who always brings the energy even through a tough workout? 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:33.519 Hmm. 00:32:34.160 --> 00:32:36.160 Again, I'm gonna have to go me or fats. 00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:36.480 Okay. 00:32:36.640 --> 00:32:39.359 I think with both of us kind of just having the outgoing personalities. 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:46.160 And fats, the difference between me and fats, though, is like I'm funny, but she like can just say something because of her accent and like everyone just starts laughing. 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:49.279 And then she's like already goofy, and that girl is she's off a rocker. 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:51.279 So she just makes everybody laugh. 00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:54.480 And then I can kind of be that person where it's like, okay, now let's come back together. 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:55.759 Yep, let's really talk about this. 00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:56.960 Yeah, let's be serious. 00:32:57.119 --> 00:32:58.000 So it's a good balance. 00:32:58.160 --> 00:32:58.400 Yes. 00:32:58.559 --> 00:33:01.519 Who was one of the first people you clicked with on and off the court? 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:02.799 Ooh, Riley Mack. 00:33:02.880 --> 00:33:03.359 That's my girl. 00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:04.160 I love Riley Mack. 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:05.680 And we call each other yin and yang. 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:11.599 Um, and it's so funny because the other day I had my hair in a braid and she had hers in a braid, and we were like, Coach East, can you tell us apart? 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:15.119 Which obviously you can, but it's just like funny things that we do. 00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:19.119 But she's definitely someone that, like, after I leave here, will be invited to my wedding. 00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:19.920 So sweet. 00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:22.960 Who do you think is going to have a big impact on the team this year? 00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:23.519 Yeah. 00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:25.039 Ooh, that's a great question. 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:27.519 I think I'm gonna have to go back to Gabby. 00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:27.839 Okay. 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:28.880 And I would say Naomi. 00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:29.279 Okay. 00:33:29.359 --> 00:33:34.319 And I think Naomi kind of put people on notice in our exhibition, but that was just like a slither of what Naomi can do. 00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:37.920 Like, Naomi is one of the best shooters I've ever seen and played with. 00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:40.880 And Naomi also can put the ball on the floor. 00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:44.400 Like, I think once she's really able to show everyone what she can do, it's gonna be really cool. 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:49.039 And then, like I said, Gabby being a freshman, she's gonna help us so much this year with just like the intangible things. 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:50.240 Like, she rebounds so hard. 00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:51.440 The kid plays so hard. 00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:55.359 Like she's always exhausted because she's trying her best and she's she just goes so hard. 00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:55.599 Yeah. 00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:59.839 Who is somebody that could end up missing the bus because they sleep through their alarm? 00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:01.359 Oh God. 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:02.880 I'm gonna have to go with. 00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.759 Oh, there's a couple. 00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:08.880 Which I pray this never happens. 00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:10.400 I'm gonna have to go with Irene. 00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:10.880 Okay. 00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:13.519 Kennedy, and maybe Fats. 00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:13.920 Yeah. 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:14.639 Yeah, okay. 00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:24.239 Yeah, and it wouldn't be on purpose, but it would just be like that one day where like either they sleep through their alarm, like you said, and then we're blown up their phone, and they're like, oh my god, I'm on the way, I'm on the way. 00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:24.639 Yeah. 00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:26.719 Who has the messiest locker? 00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:28.079 Riley T. 00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:29.760 Oh my god, Riley T. 00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:30.559 And she knows it. 00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:33.519 And so it's like every time we say it to her, she's like, I know, guys, I'm working on it. 00:34:33.679 --> 00:34:34.719 Baby girl's not working on it. 00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:35.599 Yeah, she's not. 00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:36.320 No, no. 00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:39.039 If anything is gonna take sometimes, and that's okay. 00:34:39.280 --> 00:34:39.519 Yeah. 00:34:39.760 --> 00:34:43.119 Who packs for an overnight like they're going on a week vacation? 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:43.920 That would be me. 00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:46.639 Hey, yeah, and everyone would say that as well. 00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:51.119 I do that with any trip though, and I also pack like a month in advance, so that's me. 00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:52.239 Yeah, 100%. 00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:54.960 And who gives the best words of encouragement? 00:34:55.199 --> 00:34:57.679 Ooh, best words of encouragement. 00:34:58.559 --> 00:34:59.519 I would say Avery. 00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:05.440 And I think because Avery's out this year with an ACO, uh, me and her have been able to get closer and talk a lot. 00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:07.360 And I've been able to kind of help her through this process. 00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:09.360 Definitely, being that I've been through it a lot. 00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:14.880 But Avery is someone that one is very close with God, and I'm the same way. 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:16.159 And so we talk a lot about that. 00:35:16.239 --> 00:35:19.039 But I feel like Avery also has a lot of wisdom for her age. 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:20.639 She has a ton of
wisdom. 00:35:20.800 --> 00:35:25.840 And I think I told her, I was like, it sucks that you got hurt this year, but I think everything happens for a reason. 00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:30.400 And you are going to be even better than you were before this injury. 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:34.480 Like when she comes out of this, I'm she's gonna, I'm telling you, y'all are gonna be so excited to watch her next year. 00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:36.400 I think she's gonna come out just way better. 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:36.719 Yeah. 00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:52.559 I didn't even think about like knowing what she's going through this year with her injury, how much you guys, I'm sure, have been able to relate and create a bond over that, but also how much you're helping her through like this tough time, having a different shift in perspective and seeing you on the other side knowing that it's possible. 00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:54.320 Okay, real quick as we wrap up. 00:35:54.480 --> 00:36:00.400 You mentioned this, but you already have a bachelor's degree and a master's degree, and now you're working on another master's degree. 00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:03.920 It is like so incredible and should not be understated. 00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:06.719 I just finished my master's and girl, that's hard. 00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:07.920 That's some hard stuff. 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:08.239 Yeah. 00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:09.039 Where do you hope? 00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:13.440 And you you did touch on this, but like, where do you just hope life takes you after your time here at Tennessee? 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:13.920 Yeah. 00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:22.400 Um, one thing I do want to say is like for any young kids that might listen or any parents that want to pass this on to their younger kid, is that use these schools like they use you. 00:36:22.639 --> 00:36:29.760 At the end of the day, we are here to yes, win and to train and do all of these things, but you also can get a free education out of these schools. 00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:30.719 And so use it. 00:36:30.880 --> 00:36:34.639 Like, really, if you can get a master's, let's say you're you can like the whole fifth year rule now. 00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:34.800 Yeah. 00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:36.239 You can get a master's, get a master's. 00:36:36.400 --> 00:36:36.480 Right. 00:36:36.639 --> 00:36:41.840 Like, do if you want to travel the country, if you want to do something, let the school, like they have lots of money, guys. 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:43.760 Let the school help you do what they want to do. 00:36:43.920 --> 00:36:44.000 Right. 00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:45.679 Um, we're more than just basketball players. 00:36:45.760 --> 00:36:50.239 So I just wanted to put that out there, and that's something that my mom really told me like a lot growing up. 00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:52.800 And so I ended up doing the whole master's things. 00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:54.239 I'm getting my one another one right now. 00:36:54.320 --> 00:36:57.599 But the reason I'm doing that is again, because I don't know how much longer I'll be playing. 00:36:57.920 --> 00:37:02.719 And the dream job, like I said, is sideline reporting, um, commentary, broadcasting just in general. 00:37:02.880 --> 00:37:10.639 I want to be the next Holly Rowe, Latina Robinson, um, Andrea Carter, and even what Candace Parker's doing with the um NBA would be really, really cool. 00:37:10.800 --> 00:37:10.960 Yep. 00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:13.199 So I want to be as versatile as possible. 00:37:13.360 --> 00:37:15.679 And then I've always been told I'll be a good coach. 00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:20.639 I think just because of how like social I am and I'm really good with people, and I really do know the game. 00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:20.960 Yeah. 00:37:21.119 --> 00:37:22.480 So possibly coaching. 00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:22.719 Yeah. 00:37:22.880 --> 00:37:26.400 Um, Avery told me the other day she was like, You'd be a really good WNBA commissioner. 00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:27.280 So I was like, okay, okay. 00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:29.119 I'll like add that to the list. 00:37:29.199 --> 00:37:33.280 Yeah, like maybe like 15 years down the line, um, possibly that. 00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:40.000 But yeah, I think I've worked so hard to get the two masters that I definitely just want to be able to have multiple options if I do want to stop playing. 00:37:40.239 --> 00:37:46.559 How has your idea of success of a successful season changed from your freshman year to now? 00:37:46.639 --> 00:37:49.199 And what do you think that looks like specifically for this year? 00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:53.760 I think my freshman year I was all about kind of wanting to get accolades. 00:37:53.840 --> 00:37:59.280 I think coming off of high school, when I was getting a ton of accolades, I was just like, okay, I want to be the freshman of the year, I want to do this and do that. 00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:00.320 Obviously, got hurt. 00:38:00.400 --> 00:38:02.480 And so then it shifts your whole perspective. 00:38:02.639 --> 00:38:06.239 And I think now all I care about is having a fun and healthy season. 00:38:06.559 --> 00:38:08.400 I just want to have fun playing basketball again. 00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:08.559 Yes. 00:38:08.800 --> 00:38:10.480 And I finally I have that again. 00:38:10.639 --> 00:38:12.559 And so I feel like the awards will come. 00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:19.360 Like people don't realize if you just have fun, you play as a team, the individual awards will come because you're doing well within the team. 00:38:19.440 --> 00:38:19.599 Yes. 00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:23.519 So all I care about this year is just having fun and doing what I need to do in order for the team to win. 00:38:23.920 --> 00:38:28.719 Your story is one of perseverance and relentless pursuit of doing what you love. 00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:31.599 What are you most proud of when you look back on your journey? 00:38:33.360 --> 00:38:35.039 Dang, that's a hard question. 00:38:35.360 -->
00:38:38.000 Um There's so much to be proud of. 00:38:38.239 --> 00:38:38.960 Yes, yeah. 00:38:39.280 --> 00:38:54.480 I think I think the one thing I'm most proud of is that although all the things that I went through, all the doubts from coaches, from doctors, from just outside noise, and people saying that I'll never play again, I'll never be the same, that I should just quit. 00:38:54.800 --> 00:38:58.719 I think the one thing is that I didn't quit. 00:38:59.199 --> 00:39:05.760 And that I am able to stand here today and kind of in a sense like I proved all of them wrong. 00:39:06.159 --> 00:39:08.400 And it's almost like, what can you say now? 00:39:08.719 --> 00:39:09.519 Because I'm doing it. 00:39:09.920 --> 00:39:10.639 So what can you say? 00:39:10.960 --> 00:39:11.119 Right. 00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:17.199 You're writing your own story and no one's taking away your voice in that because you're doing what you wanted to do at the end of the day. 00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:18.480 And on top of that, I'm happy. 00:39:18.800 --> 00:39:19.679 Yes, very happy. 00:39:20.079 --> 00:39:21.280 Which is the most important thing. 00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:29.039 When you look back on this chapter here at Tennessee someday, what do you hope you'll be able to say you made the most of? 00:39:29.519 --> 00:39:31.039 I think just meeting new people. 00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:36.559 I think there's so many, like you said, former Lady Vols that came before me and networking. 00:39:37.039 --> 00:39:47.760 Like, yes, I am here to play basketball, but like I when Andrea Carter and Candace Parker came to our um exhibition or scrimmage, sorry, our scrimmage against the practice guys, I got to talk to both of them about broadcasting. 00:39:47.920 --> 00:39:48.000 Yeah. 00:39:48.239 --> 00:39:51.840 And so I was like, like, yeah, basketball's great, but can I also talk to you guys about something else? 00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:52.159 Right. 00:39:52.320 --> 00:39:56.239 And so I again just being able to network, like, I cannot wait to meet to Mika Catchings again. 00:39:56.320 --> 00:40:00.400 Um, I've met her multiple times just throughout basketball and traveling and stuff like that. 00:40:00.559 --> 00:40:03.360 But I think that's the biggest thing is and I'll that's what I'll take away. 00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:12.559 Like, yes, the winning games is great, but just all the memories with my teammates, meeting these people, and then being able to come back five, 10 years from now to this university, to games, watch the girls play. 00:40:12.639 --> 00:40:12.800 Yeah. 00:40:12.960 --> 00:40:15.199 I'll always have a great relationship with Coach Kim. 00:40:15.280 --> 00:40:17.039 Um, and that's all you I could really ask for. 00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:26.800 Yeah, I think um when I we even we had Ron Slay on a couple weeks ago on the podcast, and he just like harped on the fact that you come to Tennessee and you are not forgotten when you leave here. 00:40:26.880 --> 00:40:31.280 And this place will open doors for you and will always be here if you ever need to fall back. 00:40:31.440 --> 00:40:35.440 Because he had played overseas and then he came back and was like, what am I supposed to do? 00:40:35.519 --> 00:40:47.920 He finished his degree, he got into doing um analyst work and now has a show where he talks about the vols, and um it just goes to show that like when you're a lady vol, like you are Lady Vol for life. 00:40:48.239 --> 00:40:51.280 Thank you so much for hopping on and doing this podcast. 00:40:51.440 --> 00:41:06.800 It has been so amazing to hear your story and your perspective, and I think it's so inspiring for others who have been through anything similar similar to what you've gone through because I'm sure yours is on the extreme end, and knowing that if you can do it, anybody else can do it. 00:41:06.880 --> 00:41:11.360 So um, you're a testament to a lot of great things, and we're just really proud to have you as Ladyball this year. 00:41:11.440 --> 00:41:12.880 And good luck this season. 00:41:13.039 --> 00:41:16.480 I'm so excited to see what this team is gonna do, and uh, we just can't wait. 00:41:16.559 --> 00:41:17.440 We're so excited for you guys. 00:41:17.599 --> 00:41:18.639 Well, thank you so much for having me. 00:41:18.719 --> 00:41:26.320 And I hope, like I said, anyone listening, if there's one thing you take away, is just keep working as hard as you can, um, get that degree and listen to your parents. 00:41:26.719 --> 00:41:33.119 Thanks so much, y'all, for tuning in to another episode of the Everything Orange podcast presented by First Horizon. 00:41:33.360 --> 00:41:41.199 We so enjoyed getting to learn a little bit more about Aaliyah and her story, as well as this new Lady Vall squad. 00:41:41.280 --> 00:41:44.159 And we're so excited to see what they do on the court this season. 00:41:44.320 --> 00:41:53.039 Make sure to keep up to date with all of our social platforms, including utsports.com, for all the latest information on your Valls and Lady Valls. 00:41:53.119 --> 00:41:55.119 And with that, we will see you guys next time. 00:41:55.280 --> 00:41:56.480 Bye, y'all.
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