How Kaylene Smikle has elevated Maryland’s offense

Each script and symbol reminds the 6’0 Maryland junior guard that every challenge and triumph is part of something greater.

“Every one of them are meaningful,” she shared.

But her beliefs go deeper than ink. A gold cross rests against her chest when she’s not on the court — a quiet but constant presence. She prays in the stillness and during the storm. “For I know the plans I have for you,” a passage from Jeremiah 29:11, steadies her spirit, serving as a message of promise, hope, and purpose.

Spiritual guidance and resilience have been the foundation of Smikle’s success for the Maryland women’s basketball program, both on and off the floor. Even though she has done the work and put in the necessary time to develop into one of the elite players in the country, Smikle still values the bigger picture.

“It’s a blessing being here at Maryland,” Smikle told The Next while standing on the floor of the XFINITY Center in College Park. “I believe in Christ, so I know this is where I’m supposed to be with this team. Maryland has just been a gift. I feel like I’ve learned a lot of things about myself and who I am as a person, on and off the court.”

A moment to remember

Surrounded by her teammates, Smikle erupted with the giddy energy of a child on Christmas morning as Maryland secured its 15th straight NCAA Tournament berth. As the announcement flashed across the screen, Smikle shot up from her seat, arms flung into the air, her phone raised high to freeze the moment.

Minutes after the selection show, Smikle stood under the bright lights of Maryland’s XFINITY Center. The arena still buzzed with excitement, but she carried a quiet sense of purpose beneath the joy. It was the same mood she basked in before learning that Maryland had earned a No. 4 seed in the Birmingham Region 2 and would host No. 13, Norfolk State on Saturday.

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Now, when she steps onto the court to line up for the jump ball against Norfolk State for her first career NCAA Tournament game, Smikle’s dreams will have become a reality.

“I feel like if I look back on my freshman year [at Rutgers], I didn’t see myself visually there,” Smikle shared. “Now, the moment is here. So, I’m just embracing it and taking it day by day. Playing at home at XFINITY in March is exciting, and I look forward to it. Being here and doing it with a great staff and teammates is amazing.”

The journey that built her

This isn’t just a dream fulfilled — for Smikle, it’s a blessing, a fulfillment of a path set for her long before she ever stepped onto the court. During steamy summer evenings, when the sun sank low over her Long Island driveway, she played with her brothers, who pushed her harder than anyone else ever did. They never took it easy on her, but it strengthened her resolve and shaped the player she is today: competitive, ruthless, and determined.

“I’ve always gravitated towards basketball,” Smikle said. “I’ve always had a ball in my hands since I was young. So, I feel like I just drifted to it. I love the sport, and I play for my family. They put a lot into supporting me through this journey … Remembering everything I’ve gone through and everything my family sacrificed for me to get to this moment is why I always stay humble.”

Making an impact

Even with the support of her family, who make regular appearances at her games, Smikle still needed her faith to navigate frustrating moments. Her patience was tested when an ankle injury ended her sophomore season at Rutgers after 15 games. Through this adversity, her faith became a source of strength, guiding her through the challenges of recovery and providing clarity about her future.

Scoring in double figures in 27 of 30 games this season, Smikle has been an offensive spark for Maryland this season, averaging a team-best 17.7 points per game. She was named to the Big Ten Conference First Team by the media and second team by the league’s head coaches. Her influence has helped Maryland’s offensive rating increase from 102.0 last year to 107.1 this season, Maryland’s best since the 2021-22 campaign when it had a 108.3 rating, according to Her Hoops Stats.

Also per Her Hoops Stats, Smikle ranks 37th nationally in points per 40 minutes (24.7) and sits in the 91st percentile in points per possession (0.97) while boasting a 50.3% effective field goal percentage.

With a 57.4% actual shooting percentage, Smikle excels in transition, generating 26.6% of her points according to CBB Analytics. She’s been as deadly from the corner, hitting 52.6% (10-for-19) of her threes — 19.8% above the Division I average. She’s just as efficient at the rim, finishing at a 61.3% clip (95-for-155) — 4.0% above the national average.

During a torrid November stretch, Smikle scored 20 or more points in five straight games against Coppin State, Duke, Syracuse, Towson, and Saint Francis. That ankle injury? Truly behind her.

But her signature performance came in a road win at Washington on Feb. 9, when everything just clicked. Dominating with an unstoppable rhythm and finishing with panache, Smikle exploded for a career-high 36 points on 13-of-18 shooting, the most by a Maryland player since Kaila Charles’ 36 in the 2019 Big Ten championship game. She also added eight rebounds.

But it wasn’t just about the numbers; it was about the journey, and the proof that her lessons in resilience had paid off. Maryland had trailed by 15 points in the first quarter. Instead of folding, Smikle, believed they would rally. She lifted her team when they needed it the most, and cemented one of the season’s defining performances.

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A coach’s dream

Maryland head coach Brenda Frese was already familiar with Smikle, having coached against her when she played at Rutgers. There, she averaged 17.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 47 games. In her freshman year, she averaged 25.0 points against the Terrapins in two games. Smikle entered Maryland after earning 2023 All-Big Ten Freshman Team and All-Big Ten Second Team recognition at Rutgers.

“She was someone I had always said to our staff, after we would play Rutgers, if she ever entered the portal, she’d be a kid I would love to coach,” Frese said. “Now, seeing that play out is a dream come true. She’s been a perfect fit. To have this be her first NCAA Tournament, she’s watched for the last couple of years, no one deserves it more. She’s been through a journey, and with her skill level, to be able to score, she’s seamlessly been able to come into this roster and make an immediate impact.”

The three things Frese wanted to see from Smikle this season were improved offensive efficiency, more vigorous defense, and a sharp assist-to-turnover ratio, which she has worked hard to enhance. Smikle has honed her shot selection, decreased wasted movement, and is lethal.

She doesn’t hang her head when she’s not shooting well; instead, she focuses on different ways she can contribute to the Terrapin’s success, like when she handed out six assists in a road win over Northwestern. In addition to scoring 26 points in a massive win over Ohio State in its regular season finale, Smikle collected eight rebounds, the fourth time this season she earned that many in a game.

“All the kid wants to do is win,” Frese said. “She just continues to want to be a leader at everything. I love that she wants to be elite. She wants to be great at everything she possibly can do to help this team be successful.”

Since arriving at Maryland, Smikle, who has 1,345 career points, has been intentional about her growth. Already an exceptional and explosive offensive performer, she focused on improving her defense. With quick fingers, Smikle anticipates passes, studies angles, and pounces on loose balls like a panther. She leads Maryland with 45 steals, 1.5 per game, 22nd in the Big Ten.

During a game earlier this season against George Mason, Smikle made a game-changing play that started on the defensive end of the floor. With the Terrapins clinging to a two-point lead and under four minutes remaining, Smikle stripped George Mason’s Kennedy Harris at midcourt, raced in for a layup where she was fouled, and made the ensuing foul shot. It triggered an 11-3 Maryland run to close the game. Smikle scored 11 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter of that victory.

“I know I have length, and she was dribbling in my face, and I just took it,” Smikle said to reporters following that 66-56 victory on Nov. 30 with a shrug, her deadpan delivery sparking laughter around the room.

Faith first

Everything Smikle does is intentional. From her measured responses to questions in postgame press conferences to her meticulous warmup routine, she knows where to turn for reassurance.

“God is why I’m here,” Smikle said with a steady and sure voice. “I’m not self-made. You can put in all the work, but without guidance, you’re lost. The world throws so much at you; I wouldn’t have made it through without Him. My talent, opportunities, and purpose are all because of Him.”

She paused, then smiled.

“I’m just grateful. Grateful for basketball. Grateful for this team. I am grateful for all the little things that remind me … I’m never alone.”

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