It’s Hump Day! Did you know that the starting kicker for the Dallas Cowboys, Brandon Aubrey, grew up playing soccer, played at the collegiate level at Notre Dame and eventually got drafted into the MLS? It was only recently when he received a call from the Dallas Cowboys to join the team. And now he’s a part of the starting lineup.

Let me throw some stats your way. Successfully transitioning skills at a professional level is a mere 0.5%, and snagging a starting position further slashes those odds. From a player level, this is incredibly difficult, but you’re young and green, and have the life-advantage to do so.

Now, shifting gears to coaching. How often do you hear about a coach seamlessly transitioning into a head coaching role in an entirely new domain? Well, today, we're diving into the remarkable journey of former Head Coach at Duke University (also Michigan State and Maine), Coach Joanne P. McCallie. As the Executive Director, she, alongside many others, orchestrated the inaugural Cayman Islands tournament for women's college basketball and today, you get the exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the operations that went into pulling this off!

LAST WEEK TODAY
💯 MVP’S

Player of the week: Alissa Pili, University of Utah

Utah’s Alissa Pili almost single handedly served #1 ranked South Carolina their first loss of the season. Many people learned Pili’s name for the first time, and others were introduced to her tattoo for the first time. Hello!

Coach of the week: Joanne P. McCallie, Former HC @ Duke/Michigan State/Maine University

Most recognizably known for her established coaching careers at Duke, Michigan State, and Maine University, Joanne P. McCallie was the first Executive Director for the inaugural women’s basketball tournament for the Cayman Islands Classic. As if owning a business, writing books, and speaking to organizations wasn’t enough, we get the exclusive insight as to what goes into launching a women’s college basketball tournament for the first time with legendary Coach P.

Team of the week: University of Central Florida

In only UCF’s second season under Head Coach Sytia Messer, they are 1 out of 10 teams to remain undefeated thus far AND have set a program record with their 8-0 start. When you look at where the AP standings stood pre-season versus today and the outcome of games week over week, this is pretty freaking impressive. Especially from a first time Head Coach with barely a season and a half under her built. Kudos!

TODAY’S STORY
💥Exclusive behind-the-scenes look into building a women’s college basketball tournament in the Cayman Islands

What is the Cayman Islands Classic?

As legendary Bob Starkey, LSU Assistant Coach puts it, this was the greatest MTE [LSU] has been a part of. When you have someone like LSU describing an inaugural tournament as so, that’s got to get you fired up as you continue to build.

Today we’re “sitting down with” legendary, inspirational, former Head Coach at Duke, Michigan State, and Maine University, Joanne P. McCallie—AKA: Coach P and getting the behind-the-scenes access as to what goes into being a part of an inaugural women’s college basketball tournament.

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The idea for the women's tournament in the Cayman Islands originated after the success of the men's tournaments spanning nearly five years. Joe Wright, a Kansas State alum, reached out to Coach P regarding the potential expansion as the Executive Director, which would involve handling team communications, securing commitments, coordinating with officials, and managing logistical details.

Given Coach P’s 28 years of coaching experience, her focus was on attracting top-tier programs and coaches for the tournament. Engaging with esteemed individuals like Kim Mulkey, Geno Auriemma, Kenny Brooks, and Lisa Stockton was a strategic move to elevate the tournament's profile through personal connections. As Coach P puts it, “I’ve coached against many incredible coaches, and I was committed to getting fabulous programs and incredible coaches. I admire what those coaches have done, so it was an easy motivator to pick up the phone.”

The tournament's unique format, featuring a two-game structure instead of a traditional championship setup, initially sparked interest. Teams such as UConn, LSU, Kansas, and UCLA were among the first to commit, drawn by the flexibility of the two-game format that accommodated their schedules. Coaches appreciated the concept of predetermined opponents, providing clarity on matchups and minimizing preparation during their stay in the Cayman Islands.

Now, I’m sure Geno may have doubted that decision after falling to UCLA, but as a pro-UConn account, we won’t stand for that slander, so we’re going to move on.

As a fan, you might initially question the absence of a championship-crowning format in the tournament. But, after further examination of the caliber of teams it attracts and the heightened coverage and attention it generates for us fans, any reservations about this format become hard to dispute.

Why would you start a women’s tournament?

The motivation behind starting a tournament is multifaceted. For Coach P, it involves wearing many hats and addressing various aspects like exposure, community engagement, and the competitive landscape. The success of the men's tournament fueled intrigue, with the event expanding to include volleyball.

Reflecting on the hours spent, Coach P acknowledges the immense dedication, with her assistant working full-time on the project for about a year. The team in the Caymans, along with the efforts of Joe Wright and his team, added many moving parts to the equation.

💥 Often times when a coach retires, you don’t hear too much from them. Meanwhile, Coach P is out here paying her respects and putting her money to work for the good and growth of the game. “It was an investment for me to give back to the game.”

Benefits of mid-season tournaments

Beyond the games, the tournament aimed to offer student-athletes an unparalleled experience, particularly in the post-COVID era. The allure of the Cayman Islands, with its beauty and serene oceanic surroundings, added to the overall appeal for the women’s programs.

Leaning into the charm of the Cayman Islands, Coach P and team sought out to create a memorable and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. The goal was to emphasize the tournament's contribution to the broader landscape of women's basketball while showcasing the unique appeal of the Cayman Islands.

Logistics

Planning an event like this takes at minimum a full year to plan. Quickly after pre-season, teams were deep in division play and preparing for March Madness, so when it came to organizing the event, Coach P and team had to secure teams in the Fall of ‘22.

A topic heavily coming onto the scene is overplaying, which is something Coach P brought up when discussing factors being considered when setting up the tournament. While the landscape of women’s basketball is ever changing, it’s possible we could see a rise in interest in a similar format to the Cayman Islands Classic with the 2 game series that perfectly captures fan engagement and still balances competitive team play.

Organizing an event of this magnitude is no walk in the park—it's a year-round commitment. Coach P and the crew dove into the intricate dance of scheduling in the fall of '22 since teams will be soon gearing up for division play and eyeing March Madness.

One key player in this strategic choreography is the concept of overplaying, a hot topic that Coach P didn't shy away from when delving into the tournament's logistics. As the landscape of women's basketball undergoes constant evolution, overplaying is something being discussed in the present day and the format at the Cayman Islands Classic is a way to strike that balance for competitive play, while not over-working our million dollar babies.

Investment

While a substantial chunk of the BC audience comprises coaches and players, a noteworthy revelation hit me—universities participating in these tournaments are doing so on the sheer investment of their institutions. Coach P enlightened me that some programs will raise funds for such trips, but let's take a beat to acknowledge the magnitude of this commitment. The financial resources poured into travel costs, hotels, meals, and who knows what else—this is a significant investment! As fans advocating for progress in the game, it's worth giving a nod to the commendable dedication of universities willing to send their women's programs to exotic locations like the Cayman Islands.

Coach P drives home this point: "Universities are having to commit resources to women as they should. When you think about the progress of women's basketball, it's a no-brainer, and it's shown through the exponential growth that you've seen over the last 3 years. There's been an incredible awareness to this." It's a testament to the shifting tides and the recognition that women's basketball rightfully deserves.

The growth potential and financial viability make it an appealing venture. If this were a stock, I’d be all in at this point.

Coach P invested her own resources, leveraging her network, assistant, and working independently with Joe Wright’s team to drive the initiative. It was a significant personal investment aimed at giving back to the game, rather than a lucrative endeavor.

Engagement

How difficult do you think it is to entice a fan base to travel to the Cayman Islands over a holiday?

Well. Survey says, with a destination like the Cayman Islands, it’s actually not that difficult. When asked about fan engagement, Coach P says, "They book rooms faster than you can blink." I would expect nothing less from the audience of the UConn Huskies and LSU Tigers.

The focus extended to the local kids on the island, providing them with a unique opportunity to witness the caliber of programs and players they've never seen before. Coach P emphasizes the heartfelt community and tournament atmosphere, with full stands on both sides.

Final Thoughts

Let's wrap with this: While much goes into the intricate build-out of such events, with countless individuals working behind the scenes, often unrecognized, Coach P's decision to be part of this endeavor is truly inspiring. In her words, "I just wanted to honor [the coaches]. I have so much respect for their programs. You know them so well, and coaching against them and being in the sport for that long, I was in the mode of honoring and feeling great about having them."

Big shout-out to Coach P for being our featured guest today. She's a legendary coach, an inspiration to many, and now, an esteemed author! Check out her books below and share your thoughts. Who knows, maybe we'll kick off a Between Courts book club. 📚

👉️ Link to Choice Not Chance

👉️ Link to Secret Warrior

👉️ Watch the 2 minute trailer for Secret Warrior below:

NEWS
👂️This Week’s Locker Room Drama

What’s been going on in the world of women’s college basketball recently? We’ve got you covered.

• Paige Bueckers ties Maya Moore for fastest person in UConn program history to reach 1,000 points (Greenwich Time)

• Caitlin Clark inks another NIL deal with Gatorade (Sports Illustrated)

• Kateri Poole is dismissed from LSU’s team (The Athletic)

• Jolette Law, South Carolina Assistant Coach, has been inducted into the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame (For Iowa)

• Clemson guard, Amari Robinson puts the student in student-athlete by being a student teacher for the youth (X/Twitter)

• Kerry Jenkins loses job as Head Coach at Wilmington University (WhoopDirt)

• Fred Castro loses job as Head Coach at Eastern Michigan University (WhoopDirt)

• Oh ya, we’ve re-branded. We’re BETWEEN COURTS now! (Follow us on Instagram)

MEDIA
🤳Video of The Week

HOT TAKE: PJ Taylor says Caitlin Clark would only average 10 points per game if she was on the Iowa men’s basketball team. Agree or Disagree?

@iowaeverywhere

Thoughts? 👀