Photo from Google Images
The Lady Vols lost the legend, Pat Summitt, this past June at the young age of 64. For the first time in 42 years, Pat is not physically part of the Lady Vols. Head coach Holly Warlick is entering her fifth year after taking over for Pat when she was diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type. With eight NCAA National Championships, Pat was the pioneer for Women’s college basketball and the University of Tennessee.
In October, former Lady Vol, Candice Parker won her first WNBA championship and when asked in a post game interview what does this moment mean to you, an emotional Parker struggled to say “this is for Pat, this is for Pat”. As the tears of joy and relief ran down Parker’s face, there were also tears of sadness. Pat Summitt was everything to Parker and the hundreds of other players Summitt coached. The Lady Vols lost more than their coach. They lost their mentor and the reason women’s basketball is where is it is today.
Watching Candace Parker in the moment were current Lady Vols Diamond DeShields and Jordan Reynolds. The raw emotions of Parker were sincere and the impact of what it means to be a Lady Vol has never been felt more by current players. DeShields declared that she wanted to be the player who helped put Tennessee back on the map. (The Lady Vols haven’t fallen off the map. Since winning back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008, they have made been to two Sweet Sixteen’s and five Elite Eight’s. They have never failed to make an NCAA tournament appearance.) But, not winning a National Title in eight years is considered a down period.
DeShields said “we have yet to get to the Final Four, we have yet to get a championship in the post-Pat era.” The Lady Vols are currently ranked #13 in the country and have the talent to keep their eyes on a ninth NCAA National Championship. The motto is simply Play for Pat.
The constant reminder for DeShields and all of the Lady Vols will be the patches on their jersey to honor Pat Summitt. The “P” is taken from Summitt’s signature. There is no question that Pat Summitt has left her imprint on the University of Tennessee and on all of women’s basketball. Every female playing today is because of Pat.