The Kentucky women’s basketball overstretched roster will need leadership

If I said I wasn’t slightly worried about the upcoming Kentucky women’s basketball season, I’d be lying. After the team released sophomore guard Erin Toller, the ‘Cats only have 10 players on roster. In other words, there’s no room for injuries and plenty for worrying outcomes.

Kentucky women’s basketball gets better off the hardwood

Though the Wildcats may be down, they’re not out. Nevertheless, for the ‘Cats to truly have the season they’re hoping for, they’ll need some serious leadership. Luckily for the ‘Cats, shooting hoops wasn’t the only thing the team worked on this offseason.

When KSR talked to senior guard Blair Green this summer, leadership was one of the main topics.

“The coaches are really leaning on me and a couple of the other seniors to step up and be leaders this year,” Green said. “We’ve been doing a leadership academy and really learning how to be leaders and really step up and lead this team to success this season.”

Walking the talk

Forget chemistry 101, this is the type of schooling BBN needs to hear more about. Not only have the ‘Cats been discussing leadership skills, but acting them out every day.

The countdown to game 1⃣ begins.

We're ready 😈 are you?#BBN #CommitToIt pic.twitter.com/NQpnxc9e7c

— Kentucky WBB (@KentuckyWBB) October 1, 2021

Took #teambonding to a whole other level this past weekend 💪

Thanks to @FortCampbell and the @101stAASLTDIV for having us!#CommitToIt #ElzyEra pic.twitter.com/SlDyFnwuBh

— Kentucky WBB (@KentuckyWBB) August 24, 2021

From simple team practices to the leadership academy classes, it’s almost as if the Kentucky women’s basketball staff was preemptively preparing for the future. While the ‘Cats may not be psychics, they have a few leaders with nearly supernatural team spirit.

“Coach Elzy picked out four leaders on the team [Green, Rhyne Howard, Jazmine Massengill and Nyah Leveretter] that she wants to represent and go through this leadership academy,” Green said. “Once a week we’ll meet with our new coach, Coach G.”

“We are able to have hard conversations — just conversations about how we can better lead our team and what ways we can go about it,” Green said. “I think it’s really helpful.”

Kentucky women’s basketball finds leadership in unexpected places

While seniors Howard, Massengill and Green are obvious choices as leaders for the Kentucky women’s basketball team, Leveretter is a shocking choice. The sophomore forward received little playing time last year and recorded even fewer statistics. In spite of Leveretter’s slow freshman year, she’s just what the Wildcats are in desperate need of this upcoming season: a surprise.

With only 10 ‘Cats sporting the blue and white as of right now, Kentucky needs players to step up whether there are injuries or not. Howard is an amazing player, but she isn’t a one-person army.

Whether it be Nyah Leveretter, Robyn Benton, Jada Walker or any other player for the ‘Cats, it’s clear all 10 players will have to be at their best. Though the cards the Kentucky women’s basketball team were dealt this season aren’t ideal, there is one trump card for any adversity they may face: leadership. Thankfully for all of BBN, that’s a trait these Wildcats have in spades.