Jada Walker fights through adversity in a career night

Despite the burden of a nose strip, a plastic mask and no experience, freshman Jada Walker put on a show in Kentucky Women Basketball’s first game of the SEC Tournament.

In the Wildcats’ 83-67 win over Mississippi State on Thursday evening, Walker dropped 21 points and eight rebounds on 7-12 shooting from the field and a superb 6-6 clinic from the free-throw line. The win was Walker’s first-ever SEC Tournament game, yet the 5-foot-7 guard performed like a veteran.

𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒄𝒂𝒕 😺

⭐️ @jadawalkr11 @KentuckyWBB x #SECTourney pic.twitter.com/IOHocu7gPp

— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) March 4, 2022

Jada Walker on her spectacular performance

Walker was modest in discussing her standout performance after the contest.

“I felt real good. Especially coming back with the mask, I wasn’t really sure how I was going to play, but I played well.”

Walker played better than “well.” The rookie’s 21 points are the most by a Kentucky freshman in their first SEC Tournament game since Rhyne Howard scored 25 against Missouri on March 8, 2018. Although, Walker did grab two more rebounds in her SEC Tournament debut, but who’s counting?

Perhaps Howard is. Kentucky’s All-American guard compared herself to Walker in the postgame press conference. Despite the jokes, Howard gave Walker legitimate praise.

“I had pretty much the same numbers when I was a freshman in my first SEC game too. Jada has done this before, so it’s not a surprise to me. I know that she can continue to play like this, and it’s great to have a freshman as confident as she is.”

Overcoming adversity

Walker’s performance is even more impressive considering her adverse circumstances. The Richmond, Va., native suffered a blow to the nose in Kentucky’s final game of the regular season. As a result, Walker sported protective gear in today’s game.

Walker didn’t let the mask hurt her play.

“I don’t think it affected my play,” Walker said during the postgame press conference. “It was an adjustment for me just because I’m not used to wearing something on my face while playing.”

Jada Walker has been “baptized by fire”

Walker is excellent at adjusting. While Walker has been a contributor all season, she has continuously made massive leaps to her game. Head coach Kyra Elzy spoke on her young point guard’s improvement after the win.

“The game has slowed down for her. She knows when to push now and when to bring it out, what’s a good shot, what’s a bad shot, and as you are a freshman, just learning the intricate details of your offensive system and your defensive system, it is a lot.”

Kentucky will need Walker to answer the bell once again on Friday night when they face the two-seeded LSU Tigers, who are ranked No. 6 nationally. In Kentucky’s 78-69 loss to LSU earlier this season, Walker dropped 21 points in a season-high 37 minutes of play. Nonetheless, if anybody believes in Walker, it’s Elzy.

“She’s been baptized by fire, but she has answered the challenge.”

Kentucky Women’s Basketball will face LSU at 7 p.m. EST on Friday in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.