The Lady Bucks Bring Home the Gold!
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The Wits Women’s Basketball team was a force to be reckoned with at the 2024 USSA tournament and they made their presence known.
The Lady Bucks had an exciting USSA campaign in 2024, placing first and taking home gold to fill the hearts of the Wits community with pride. The Lady Bucks walked into the USSAs with a point to prove and they made sure to settle the score. They completed the tournament with a first-place victory and a player crowned the MVP of the tournament, Chineye Eneanya.
The team spent months preparing to hone their skills and ensure that they made the most of their time at the competition, which proved to be a fruitful exercise. “Our main focus was on redeeming ourselves from the previous year’s performance. It was important for us to push ourselves not just physically but also mentally.” Said Natash Dobah, the Wits Lady Bucks team manager for the 2024 USSA Basketball Tournament.
Dobah was fairly new to the role, before her appointment she was a small forward and a power forward for the Lady Bucks. With the inevitable challenges that came with competing, her experience as a player created new dimensions for her ability to understand and sympathise with her team as the new team manager. “The greatest challenge we overcame was achieving collective mental toughness—being on the same page, going the extra mile, and wanting it more than anyone else.”
The team displayed cutthroat resilience and a sheer drive to win, and they took action on that goal. The squad saw a dominating 60-point victory against NWU Vaal in their first game and that set the tone for the remainder of the competition where they continuously outclassed their competitors.
In addition to the stellar team performance, Eneanya was awarded the All-Star player and MVP of the tournament, a well-earned feat. “It was a very vindicating moment. It really emphasized how all of the work, the running, tears, the injuries, it was all worth it in the end. That all my own hard work was recognised and that I was showing the effort that I wanted to display to everyone. It was so gratifying and I'm so grateful that I was given MVP.” She said about her achievements at the USSA tournament.
Eneanya not only made MVP for the tournament, but she also received a call-up to participate in the South African national women’s basketball team.
Dobah stated that the team intends to defend their title in this year’s tournament, “As defending champions, the stakes are higher, and we have a target on our backs. The pressure is definitely on. Most importantly, we must remain a strong, united team, ready to overcome any challenges that come our way.”
All of these achievements showcase the dedication, passion, and love that the team has for their sport. It is clear that even more achievements lie in their futures.
