Florida State lost to North Carolina 60-56 in the ACC women’s tourney but still earned an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Seminoles only won 10 games in 2021 but have now won exactly 23 games for the 3rd year in a row and are heading to the NCAA tourney for the 5th year in a row. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Florida State women’s coach Brooke Wyckoff about coaching the top scorer in the country and making the NCAA tourney.
You are from West Chester, OH: what made you choose Florida State for college? I loved the family atmosphere here at Florida State and felt the most comfortable here. I felt it was a great opportunity for me basketball-wise: they were an up and coming program and I had a chance to make an immediate impact.
You set a school record with 80 BLK as a freshman in 1997 and were twice named to the conference all-defensive team: what is the secret to being a great defender? My secret was desire: I just had that desire to compete and win. I loved the feeling of denying someone: blocking a shot was a very fun feeling!
You were FSU’s only 4-time Academic All-ACC performer and in 2001 you received an ACC postgraduate scholarship: how did you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? I had a great support system and FSU did a great job supporting its athletes, whether it be study hall or academic advisors helping us with time management and our studies. Our basketball coaches made academics a priority, so I felt like I had time and people who cared about those things.
As a player for Connecticut in Game 2 of the 2005 WNBA Finals you made a 3-PT shot with 2 seconds left in regulation en route to a 7-PT OT win over Sacramento: did you think the shot was going in, and where does that rank among the highlights of your career? That one ranks very high as a memorable moment. I had a great pass from my teammate and just knew that I had to shoot it. It was not how we drew it up: I was not supposed to get the last shot, but the ball came to me and I was fortunate to make the last shot. It was a really fun moment for our team in front of a packed house in Connecticut.
In 2010 you were named an ACC Legend and in 2011 you were inducted into your school’s Hall of Fame: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It means a lot. At the time when you are an athlete in the middle of all of it you do not really realize the impact you have and the legacy you can build: you are just doing it. To be recognized for that is a huge honor and I am glad I am still part of it here at Florida State.
You had a 4-PT loss to North Carolina in the ACC tourney quarterfinals but still earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tourney: how did it feel to hear your team’s name called on Selection Sunday? It felt great: I will never get tired of that feeling of having our name called! Especially this year, I was pleased with what the committee gave us and what we deserved. I felt like it was a great draw and I am really excited.
You have spent 4 years as head coach at your alma mater and made the NCAA tourney every single year: how have you been able to be such a consistent winner during your time on the sideline? We maintain consistency because the path was laid out for me by former coach Sue Semrau. She consistently got to the NCAA Tournament for so many years, and being a part of that as a player/assistant coach I watched what it takes to do that. We will remain consistent and keep following the plan.
Your PG Ta’Niya Latson is leading the nation with 24.9 PPG and your team’s 87.2 PPG is #2 in the nation: where does Ta’Niya rank among the best players that you have ever coached, and how have you been able to create such an unstoppable offense? Ta’Niya is definitely one of the best (if not the best) who I have been fortunate to coach. She is unique: there has not been anybody like her who I have coached. She came in with a hunger/desire and obviously the talent to take the opportunity she was given and go with it.
You have a birthday coming up this month: what are your plans for the big day? I would love to still be playing, but I will just be enjoying another year of life.
How do you feel about being a #6 seed, and what do you know about George Mason? I know their coach (Vanessa Blair-Lewis) pretty well. She has been a friend for many years and is part of the “Moms in Coaching” group that I started. She is a phenomenal basketball coach/person: you can see that her team just exudes her personality/character/work ethic. They are a really solid, confident, and capable basketball team so we will have our work cut out for us.
