September 28, 2023
Locked On Women’s Basketball: Maryland’s Brenda Frese on Alyssa Thomas, Diamond Miller, Shyanne Sellers and more
By The Next
Howard and Brenda Frese talk Terrapins basketball, WNBA MVP discourse, Alyssa Thomas's legacy
It’s time for another Locked on Women’s Basketball podcast episode. Maryland head coach Brenda Frese joins host Howard Megdal. The two discuss the rich history of Terrapins stars, from Alyssa Thomas to Diamond Miller, while breaking down the legends of today. Shyanne Sellers keeps getting better, Faith Masonius is stronger in year two following surgery, and transfer Jakia Brown-Turner is ready to super-charge the Maryland backcourt. Good thing, too: the schedule is unforgiving.
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Brenda Frese talks about the ups and downs of the 2022-2023 season:
“I know, there were a lot of questions and concerns last year and to lose so much and then we have just this remarkable team and chemistry that goes to an Elite Eight. So yeah, we’re really, really looking forward to this upcoming season when you talk about having four grad seniors that are in your program to have that kind of experience with the youthful bliss of adding four freshmen, but I think it takes some of the heat off of your freshmen to really it takes time for them within that journey in that process.
So I love the fact that every single one of our returners is come back better. And that’s what you expect when you look at your veteran leadership. It’s not going to be easy when you look at how front-loaded our schedule is and are not afraid to play anyone. And so I think having the perspective of kind of where the games have fallen, we need to be ready to play right away.”
Brenda Frese talks about Alyssa Thomas‘s legacy and WNBA MVP discourse:
“Yeah, well, you know, first of all, you want to say, like, are we paying attention at all? And no question. I mean, obviously, with Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson, all three had phenomenal seasons. And I’m sure it was extremely difficult; you question when she had the most first-place votes? And what more does she have to do? I mean, when you hold the most triple-doubles, not only have everyone combined, it’s in one season that she has combined everybody else in the league. So, when you’re talking about the most valuable player and what she means to her team with the Connecticut Sun, but I think it is no different when you talk about how she has been disrespected a little bit.
She doesn’t self-promote. She’s very humble. And I think sometimes, if you’re not in that ability to self-promote yourself and put yourself out there. It’s difficult. And there’s a reason she’s the all-time leading scorer and rebounder, not only in the history of women’s basketball in Maryland but in the history of men’s and women’s basketball here. But it was no different coming up, like you said, disrespected with didn’t make USA basketball or McDonald’s All-American. And, you know, I think AT would tell you at the end of the day, she’s had just so much success and so many things to be grateful for. But I think for all of us; we take it really personally because we know what she’s been able to do. And so I think that was the disappointing hit when that came out.”
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