Signing off: Looking back on my time at KSR

It’s been fun.

After nearly two and a half years, I’m moving on from KSR. When I joined the company, I dreamed of writing about the next Anthony Davis or Josh Allen. Instead, I wrote about Rhyne Howard, an athlete with a better all-around Kentucky career than both.

Finding my spot

It wasn’t just Rhyne Howard, though. Joining KSR in Dec. 2020 — with the pandemic still a part of our everyday lives — Kentucky women’s basketball immediately became my niche at KSR. I covered a first-year head coach named Kyra Elzy, who stepped up after Matthew Mitchell’s shocking resignation.

The first year wasn’t spectacular. The team went 18-9 and lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to a freshman named Caitlin Clark. However, with almost every player returning, fans were optimistic about the 2021-2022 season.

Witnessing history

That excitement was stifled when starting guard Blair Green ruptured her Achilles tendon in a preseason scrimmage. Green’s injury was the first snowball in an avalanche of issues. The team faced setbacks all season long, playing with seven healthy players at one point in February of 2022.

Then, something magical happened. Kentucky went on an improbable four-game run to secure the program’s first SEC Championship since 1982. Walt Disney couldn’t have written a more picture-perfect ending. I was able to witness it first-hand.

The Kentucky Wildcats are SEC Tournament champions for the first time since 1982🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/p08LNmgODb

— Grant Grubbs (@grant_grubbs_) March 6, 2022

Rhyne Howard’s legacy was solidified, Kyra Elzy was the future and Kentucky WBB was an unstoppable locomotive. 13 days later, the Cats lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Princeton. Just a few days after that, Kentucky lost three of its starters to the transfer portal and Howard to the WNBA Draft.

Not an ideal ending

What followed was not simply mediocre, it was ugly. With Robyn Benton, Jada Walker, and Maddie Scherr at the helm of the program, the Cats went 12-19 in the 2022-2023 season. Worse, they finished second from last place in the SEC and fell to Tennessee after burning out in the conference tournament.

Nothing like that empty press room after the final game of the season. Thank you all for the support this season. I can’t wait to provide some closing coverage for you over the next few days. pic.twitter.com/qTsTx6e9Cr

— Grant Grubbs (@grant_grubbs_) March 4, 2023

The offseason has been tumultuous. Walker left, Kennedy Cambridge jumped ship and Tionna Herron deserted the program. As time has gone along, there’s been little good to write about. Yet, I’ve enjoyed typing every letter.

My takeaway

Furthermore, I’ve been honored to do so. Women athletes face more criticism for trivial issues off-the-court than they do for their on-the-court play. People have bigoted opinions without ever watching a game. If I can say I even slightly changed that perspective, I’ve succeeded.

I hope people continue to follow my career as I move on to a national news desk position for On3. But, more importantly, I hope people continue to pay attention to women’s sports. The storylines, skills and fun times are there.

So, yes, it’s been fun. Now, I hope others are willing to give that fun a proper chance as I did two and a half years ago. They won’t regret it.

Congratulations @grant_grubbs_ !! Thank you for your coverage of Kentucky Women’s Basketball! 💙 We appreciate all of your hard work the past two years. Wishing you the best of luck in your new position. https://t.co/iQLTN4xCoE

— Kyra Elzy (@UKCoachLZ) May 20, 2023