During my recruiting process, I was so uncertain that I just kind of decided at the end to play basketball for Fairfield University. I absolutely loved the school and the team, but after two years, I was ready to get more action on the floor. I am super competitive and did not mind the commitment at the DI level, but I wanted to be contributing on the court during games.
As an athlete, I learned that it is okay to transfer and begin a new chapter. You get new opportunities, another chance at a great education, a chance to compete somewhere new, and more lifelong friendships.
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Going Back to the Drawing Board
After my sophomore year I went back to the drawing board and looked at the schools that recruited me in high school. Amherst College was a stretch academically for me in high school. I called the coach and discussed what my goals were on the court. After our first call, he asked if I could join the team. I had a huge decision to make – transfer to the first school I looked at and repeat my sophomore year to make up for credits that wouldn't transfer, or stay? If I transferred, I would be at Amherst for a fifth-year, ineligible to play.
Related: 8 FAQs about the NCAA Transfer Process
Struggles at My New School
I did it. I had not met the team or visited the school since high school, but I went for it and became a part of the Amherst College women's basketball team. The transition was really hard. I knew no one, and I did not fit in at the academic caliber my peers were at. I struggled for the first few months – I really had to get out of my comfort zone, meet new people, and work harder in the classroom than I had at Fairfield.
Basketball did not come easy either. I had to prove myself to a new team and coaches. They lost in the final four the year before, so they were already competitive. There were four returning starters, which left one spot to be earned on the roster. I was competing against four freshman recruits, but I wanted the spot.
Related: Realities of Being an Upperclassman Transfer Athlete
New Season at a New School
The start of the season finally arrived on November 1st, after months of practicing and lifting. We set big goals, but we knew from the start it was achievable: a National Championship. For the first seven games, I was the sixth man off the bench. I knew I needed to work harder on my defense because that is what our team prides ourselves in.
We made it to the NESCAC Championship and won by 4 points to our rival: Tufts. It was so thrilling to be a part of something so exciting on our home court. We got to cut down the net and move onto the NCAA tournament as #1 in the country, still undefeated.
Playing Tufts Again
We made it to the Final Four, which was in Grand Rapids Michigan. The returning players prepared us for the madness of the experience. Lots of media and formalities the NCAA needed accomplished while ultimately, we needed to focus on what we were there for.
As it turned out, we played the NESCAC Championship game all over again, just in the NCAA National Championship. It was us and Tufts, going head to head for the third time in the same season. Everyone kept saying “it's the hardest thing to beat a team three times!” Wherever we turned in Grand Rapids, there were remarks about how we could not seal the deal.
Well, we proved everyone wrong! We became National Champions and finished our season 33-0.
Related: How to Build a Championship Culture
The Injury
The story doesn't end there; it gets more exciting. I started my senior basketball season with a torn labrum in my left hip. It went undiagnosed for a few months because everyone thought my body just needed a break from the madness of athletics, but that did not solve the problem. After finding out what was wrong, I was faced with getting surgery immediately or playing through the pain. I decided to play through the pain and to be a part of something really special.
The decision was another tough one, and people thought I was crazy getting shots into my hip every few months just to play a sport. I saw it differently: my teammates and I were creating history.
Related: Arielle Sanders: Having an Injury as a College Athlete
NCAA Championship, Take Two
Going into the season, the polls had Amherst ranked 2nd in the country because they did not think we had what it took to go back to back.
We won another NESCAC Championship on our home floor and went into the NCAA tournament at #1 again. The Final Four was in Rochester, Minnesota, and we did it again. We won back to back National Championships. We faced Bowdoin, another NESCAC school, in the finals. Nothing was going to get in the way of the going 66-0.
The Opportunities
The opportunities that presented themselves after our story was heard were amazing. After both wins, we were invited to Fenway to throw the first pitch before the start of the games. We were also invited to the Patriots preseason game versus the reigning Super Bowl Champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. Not only were we on the field and honored – we met Robert Craft and even more impressive to a basketball team, Joel Embid hung out with us on the field.
From the time I was just 8 years old and barely able to hit the rim, to the moment when I became the NCAA tournament MVP of the National Championship game – my time on a basketball court was time well-spent. I created amazing memories and friends on a lot of different hardwood floors, and I do not regret any of them. My time at Fairfield gave me the chance to create amazing friendships and learn so much about myself. Likewise, at Amherst, I have developed academically and socially. Transferring ended up being the best decision for me.
Everyone goes through the highs and lows, but when you look back on the journey you took it becomes something very special.
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* Originally published on February 11, 2022, by Emma McCarthy
