But we never got the answer. Staley interrupted with, let’s say, a generational difference that might make the choice tough for the 22-year-olds.
“I wear too much clothes for probably these two,” Staley said. “They don’t have an appreciation for the fully clothed. These two? Uh-huh.”
The two players cackled in rebuttal.
“Just her,” Paopao said, touching the shoulder of Johnson. They cracked up even more.
Nothing about this whole scene suggested the biggest game of their lives was on deck. But it wasn’t obliviousness. It was comfort. Ease. Familiarity. This is what they do.
The remaining quartet in the Final Four is star-studded in every sense. This may be the first time for a couple of teams and their stars. But none of them seem new to this.
They’re so familiar with the warmth of bright lights that they no longer sweat. They’ve either been on massive stages before or boast an aura made for such elevation. They’re familiar with the weight associated with such stakes or know the kind of adversity that gives pressure a proper hue.
No Cinderellas here. These are bona fides. They exude it. Thursday’s session seemed fun to them. The best teams, featuring players unbothered by the moment, figure only to add to the quality of the matchups.
Perhaps most impactful in their comfort on this stage is how their sport groomed them for this pinnacle. Unlike in years past, the Final Four isn’t their introduction to a mass audience. They’ve long been magnets for attention as their wing of basketball is steadily growing in popularity.
This stage isn’t too big for Paige Bueckers. It may not be big enough, actually.
The face of this Final Four has been out of this world in this tournament, and nothing suggests she won’t be ready for UConn’s showdown against UCLA on Friday.
She missed the 2023 tournament after tearing her left ACL. Last season, she wore the heartbreak of an epic duel with Caitlin Clark and Iowa. She’s been hurt. She’s endured heartbreak. She’s missed shots. She’s turned the ball over. She knows none of it will break her.
She’s made big shots. Won big games. Graced magazine covers. Won awards. Earned respect in the culture. And now the 23-year-old is headed to WNBA stardom as the presumed top pick in the draft 10 days from now. Some franchise will hand her the keys to its kingdom.
Her peace is tangible in her play and how she wears these dramatized settings. ...
