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Thank you.

Coming up on "Gamechangers," Coach Jack and I break down an exciting start to the new season and we'll get to know team captain Sophie Burrows and see how she and her teammates are making a difference in the community.

And finally we'll look ahead to the games to come and what the team needs to do to keep the wins coming.

>> We are growing this thing the right way.

We are our authentic self and guess what?

The community is receiving us.

>> I really just think we are going to go far this year and I'm excited to see what happens.

>> Every day you shape their skills, their confidence.

And now their financial future.

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A parent-owned bank account, a hands-on banking experience for your child.

No monthly maintenance fee until your child turns 25.

Their first debit card.

Mobile and online banking access.

Flexible parent controls.

Fright from where you manage your account.

Set spending limits.

Manage where they make purchases.

View their account activity.

When they're ready, they can grow into an account they own.

The same account and debit card numbers with more features.

Each step helps them on the path to financial freedom.

What would you like the power to do?

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♪ ♪ >> The start of a new season.

You guys played Stony Brook.

What is the message to the team before you tip off a new chapter?

>> This year we are talking defense.

Defend what we think belongs to us.

And so I think our team has really bought into it.

How cool is that, you know?

If I would have stuck with somebody, maybe we would have been better last year.

But this year I think defense has really been our main thing.

Our shots are going to fall.

Sometimes they're not.

Right now they're not.

We are not scoring a whole bunch of points at the three-point line but we are defending.

I think we held Albany to like 10 points in the first half.

We only scored 27.

But if you can hold somebody to 10, that's still darn good.

>> What did you take away from those first couple of performances Stony Brook and Albany?

>> I got good kids, man.

They are buying into what we are selling.

They understand the assignment.

Give your best effort.

Period.

Yes, you are going to make mistakes.

Let's not hang our hats on mistakes but on the next moments and the opportunity to be with your sisters and on the battlefield and over coming things and having obstacles and having success and sticking together.

If we continue to do those kinds of things, it will be a fun year for all of us.

>> The leading scorer in the Stony Brook name may surprise a few people.

Shy Hawkins.

What did you take away from her performance?

>> She has been working so hard to become the best version of herself.

She is not one of those players that said I need to be the best.

Need to be the best whatever.

She just wants to be the best version of herself.

She is becoming and she's working her tail off.

She is getting with coaches and watching film.

She is really understanding that the offensive segments and what, and she is becoming the best version of herself.

>> Your pair of transfer guards, Layla and Dominique, they combine for 24 points and 12 assists in the first game but defensively more impress with their steals and blocks, how much emphasis are you putting on them and setting the tone with them.

>> That's who they are.

That's innately who the person they are.

They're the biggest cheer cheerleaders on the bench when they get subbed out.

They're the biggest stickler when it comes to the coach making a bad decision and sharing that with me.

They're mature.

They have been through some things, as you can tell.

And they have won a lot of games.

And I have given them permission to not just be a student athlete, but also pour into me, so I can be the best version of myself.

We've not been around all these players that have been to a final four and two of them-- both of them have.

So how do you help me help this team.

>> From the upper classman to an underclassman, Camden Nelson got her first college start in the game.

How do you think she handled that moment?

>> The first, you know, quarter and a half, she was just a freshman trying to, you know, not drown.

But then it settled and she became the player that we knew she could become, a leader, talking to upper classmen, telling them where to go.

Understanding that the plays were not just from her position but every position.

And you can almost watch it chronologically the game slowed down in her head and she has been really good ever since.

>> Albany, next game.

Leading scorer in that one, Uche Izoje.

I want to know have you ever coached a player with her combination of size and skill?

>> I was working with USA basketball so I coached the best players in the world at the collegiate level.

Absolutely not.

Just to have that kind of talent in the gym on a daily basis, it just makes you smile.

And what makes you even smile to the point you can see my tonsils is her personality.

She is such-- Shy is a young lady that will play so hard and oh my God, that's the star player.

And then you come to film session and you have Journey carry her in her arms.

Like put her down.

You know.

This is a fun group of young ladies.

And Uche can score 25 points without blinking an eye.

Another young lady reminds me of Dyaisha Fair.

And Uche has the possibility of doing it and she will do it with grace and within her team.

She won't try to take advantage of, you know, I'm the star player, give me the ball 100 times a minute.

She is just, as the game comes to me, I'll do whatever it takes for us to have success.

>> Sophie Burrows, another one of your Uber talented players on this roster.

She hasn't shot the ball up to her standard in the first couple of games but it seems like she is still contributing in a lot of ways.

>> She is our leader.

She is our captain.

I want her to not be our leader or captain right now.

I want her to get inside of herself and find that tiger that displayed itself against Virginia tech and the multitude of other games last year.

And she got mad.

They hurt her player teammate.

Her teammate could have had a blown ankle and she got mad and she showed her madness.

She got the ball, she shot that thing with a fire.

She defended with vigor, passionate on the bench and pointed to the team about what we need to do and we haven't seen that yet.

And I know one thing that we got to do is just turn that light on for her and it's going to happen.

I think her best days are ahead of her.

>> You went deep into your bench on both of those games.

Is that a sign of things to come or the result of early season moments?

>> Everyone is getting better.

Jasmyn Cooper, I mean she was on that bench like the ninth or tenth person down there.

I put her in.

She knew what we were doing.

She played very well.

She got the minutes that she has earned.

Top 40 kid showing up and doing her thing.

I love what she can bring to the table.

Keira Scott is playing better.

You have to love Justus Fitzgerald and how she goes for the rebounds.

It is nice how we have 15 players and in any given day somebody can become better and I'm that coach that will play anybody that earns it.

>> You have a lot of new faces on the court, of course.

A lot of new faces on the sideline and new staff.

What does that take as far as adjusting with all the coaching staff and the responsibilities that everybody takes on.

It's a lot of fun and a lot of focus from my side because when there are no games, and there are no real responsibilities, everybody is doing their thing.

It's really cool.

But I always prepare for tomorrows.

And tomorrow is I might have to yell at a coach I haven't yelled at.

I have to tell a player right now for this game, you won't play.

And we have been really cool but now you are not getting what you want or what you think you have earned.

We have to be able to massage that to the point where it still works well for the team.

And I think we have great people in our circle.

I think that everyone is going to want to be in the right frame all the time.

But you got to always see if it comes up short, how do you get us back into the hugging embrace and I'm prepared for that.

I think we are going to be okay.

>> Sophie, I want to take things back to the start of your basketball journey.

Who is the first person to put a basketball in your hands.

>> Probably my sisters.

This growth played growing up and I just wanted to be like them.

I wanted to do everything they did.

Once I started playing, I practically begged my parents to let me play and the rest is history, I guess.

>> Absolutely.

The Syracuse women's basketball program has a rich recent tradition of great Australian players, yourself and Maddie Potts, Georgia Woolley before you and the late great Tiana Mangakahia.

What is it about you Aussies that makes you love Syracuse so much?

>> Honestly have I no idea.

Because the weather is not invite is at all.

It's not like Australia, but I mean coach Jack for sure, she is an amazing coach and amazing person.

And through the recruiting process, she was like so amazing.

And that was definitely a big drawing factor and the rest of the coaches are equally amazing.

>> Let's talk about a little bit about your relationship with coach Jack.

She recruited you here to Syracuse but she told the story of the end of the last season.

On the bus ride home after the last game, she told you she needed you to come back to make this work.

What was that conversation like?

>> I think it was a pretty deep conversation.

There was a lot of ups and downs last year and it definitely didn't end how we wanted it to end so I think, you know, with the transfer portal and everything like that, it's very much an option to leave nowadays when things don't go according to plan.

You know I trust coach Jack and I trust the program that we have here.

And as much as it wasn't the season we wanted last year, I knew that this season was going to be better and I knew that the coaches and everyone was going to do everything they could to make it that way.

So I had full faith in coach Jack and I wanted to stick it out.

And she had full faith in me and that really helped me in my decision.

>> This new look team that the coaching staff has constructed, eight newcomers along with the seven returners.

How have you been able to mesh together so well?

>> Honestly, like the chemistry we have was pretty natural, I think from the start.

From the summer, we all got along really well off the court.

I think that's translated to on the court.

Everyone has really bought into the process and bought into coach Jack's system.

And I think like it really just happened naturally, which is pretty rare, I think, so it's very exciting for the team.

>> I know as a student athlete, you don't have much time outside of the court and the classroom, but what does Sophie Burrows like to do in her free time?

>> I like to read.

I like to cook a little bit.

I'm no chef.

I have to put that out there.

But, yeah, I like to cook.

I like to eat.

I just hang out with my teammates.

That kind of thing.

>> I feel like a lot of people don't know this about you but you played the last two seasons pretty much with a torn labrum in your non-shooting shoulder.

This summer you finally had the chance to have the surgery.

How has hat recovery process been for you.

>> It was definitely tough.

I have never been out for an extended period of time it was an adjustment tore me.

All I wanted was to get out there and play basketball but you know it's got to the point where I'm playing like comfortable and I'm not in pain anymore which is amazing so I'm just ready to go for the reason.

>> You are the longest tenured member of the roster.

How has your leadership developed over time?

>> I think I have stepped into more of a leadership role this year.

I think last year I was a captain but I had a lot of older teammates who were also captains.

I think in this year having played under coach Jack for the longest time, I think I'm really trying to step into the role and help my younger teammates and help the transfers who don't necessarily know the system as well as I do.

But I think, you know, having such amazing teammates around me makes the leadership easy because it runs like-- everyone is like a sponge.

We all want to get better for each other and it has been an amazing process.

>> After having an early look at your team this season.

Two things stand out: A lot more talent, a lot more size.

What stands out to you about this team?

>> I think just the buy-in from everyone, the energy, the excitement.

We have taken it up a notch in all aspects.

That's the most exciting part because you can have as much talent as you want but if everyone doesn't buy in, you are not going to see it on the court.

We have talent, we have the buy-in, we have the energy, the energy from the coaches, the community, everything.

And I really just think that we are going go far this year and I'm excited to see what happens.

>> And how have you seen the women's basketball fan base, orange nation as a whole, take to you and this team so far?

>> I mean they have been amazing.

You know, we go out in the community and as much as we try to give to them, they give us back tenfold.

So I think, you know, having them in the crowd just seeing them in the community, that kind of thing, it really helps us and drives us to be better.

So I think, yeah, just super grateful for everyone in the community for sure.

>> I know that you have really taken to the Syracuse community.

I've read that you and Maddie Potts have done service community work.

Tell me about that.

>> We have tried to get into the community in the last two years.

This year especially.

Last-- two weeks ago maybe, we went and did some urban gardening with the local primary school and I think that was such an amazing experience, not only did I learn a lot about gardening, which I had never learned before.

But you know, just being out there in the community with the kids I think it really puts into perspective like it's a lot bigger than basketball.

And to be able to be that figure for the young kids to have them strive towards something is really-- it really makes you feel good.

And I think it's-- yeah, it really puts into perspective like the position I'm in and how lucky I am to be where I am.

So, yeah, it's a really amazing experience.

>> I want to thank you for coming down.

>> Thank you for having us.

>> Of course, our pleasure.

>> It is so important because in our community, this is classified as a food desert and a lot of young kids, their parents would have to go probably about a mile to get fresh vegetables.

We try and get the kids to do more.

We want to get the kids started at a young age, plus not only that, to show the neighborhood that we care; the kids care, and get some of these corner stores to have some fresh vegetables.

And we would like for you to help them to do that.

And I'm going to have them have a chance to introduce themselves.

>> Kind of easy.

>> Do you know... >> I just got here and look how much I got left.

>> These are all grown from seed that the kids have put in the soil to grow.

We are going to transfer the seeds that have grown this far into some of our towers.

Kids have really gotten attached to it.

The more we grow and do that for the kids, we want to start to educate them a little bit further because we all know people are putting hydroponics right in their basement, getting tomatoes, lettuce and various other vegetables.

>> 2, 3... >> (Cheering).

>> Your next opponent Wagner, the end of the season opening four game home stand.

What do you want to see from your team.

>> Better.

I want to key everybody getting better.

I want us to keep loving each other and learning from our mistakes and keep understanding mistakes are a part of this game.

It's called a microcosm of life.

It's how you handle those mistakes that are going to help you with the rest of your life.

I want to keep going hard defensively.

And I think if we can continue to defend, we can have a chance.

And we keep defending all the way through January, I think March is going to be fun to be a part of.

>> Things will pick up after this Wagner match in terms of the opponents at the invesco QQQ showcase at the Mohegan Sun.

What are you expecting from your team in that showcase?

>> Better.

I think a lot of teams are better than us.

A lot of teams are going to be better than us.

And there might be some at Mohegan Sun but we just want to be better than them for 40 minutes.

That's it.

We want to defend them for five minutes at a time.

We want to box out five minutes at a time.

We want to transition the way we do it.

We want to talk and be passionate and enthusiastic the way we do it.

And if we can do that for 40 minutes, we can be better for 40 minutes, we can be better than anybody in the country.

>> I know you said you are expecting better.

Any players in particular you are looking forward to seeing what they can do in that environment?

>> No.

One thing about our teams, even when we had a special player like Dyaisha, it was never about her.

But when you made it about her, that's when Elena rice showed up and that's when Georgia Woolley showed up.

I think that our team is so even keeled and talent and skill set, if I say I expect these two people to be the ones I look at, I will eliminate the other 13 that could become.

So I coach a positionless team.

I have always had a situation where just a player, Elena was just a player.

Stretch was just a player and she started at the five for us.

So I want to continue to do that but I also want them to know that any given day, even if you struggle, we can still have success.

But any given day, you can become that special player that goes for 25 and 15 and give us the success that we deserve.

So just if there is no cap, there is no ceiling, there is no limitation on your success, the potential success you can have.

So let's just stay open to everybody show up and the ones that show out and become, we celebrate you with a hard hat.

>> How much of a bonus do you think it is to have the depth that you have this year going into the level up in the non-conference schedule?

>> We got so blessed with so many great players at the end of the signing period.

You know, it all ended when my coaches were considering taking head jobs and moving.

I just made recruiting my priority.

Others were helping but I stayed more locked in as if I was the recruiting coordinator.

And we got it done.

We got it done with some incredible talent.

And we were able to solidify the seven that could have transferred but all stayed.

And so to have these numbers and be able to-- oh we got to play this team here?

I'm going to with this kid first and this kid second.

To have choices like this says a lot of what hard work does.

We worked hard to get this group together.

And to have them connecting, liking each other as much as they do, that's a blessing on top of a blessing.

>> Positional versatility on your team is something I noticed in the first couple of games.

In the back court, Layla brought up the ball, Dominique has brought up the call, cam din has brought up the ball.

How much is that a benefit for you as a coach to know you have multiple players that can handle the ball and put your team in a good situation?

>> We have guard play and Angelica Velez is the real deal.

If you got guard play, now-- last year we didn't have guard play and we had a pretty good post play.

I think that this year is going give us a chance to dance a little bit.

>> What is the next step for your team to mesh together in these upcoming games?

>> Got to make layups.

I'm not saying the three point shot.

I think we missed 20 layups against Stony Brook and I think about 15 against Albany.

Wide open too much energy, throwing up against and clanking it.

We got to own our power.

You already made the move.

You already see your best friend which I call the back board.

Now all you have to do is kiss it and you are good.

You don't have to be with that nervous energy.

I call it nervous energy when you lose yourself at the end and once we learn how to handle and channel that energy, as we do our work and the plays already work.

And all you have to do is kiss it off the glass, we are going to be fine.

Three-point shot is going to come and go but the layups we have to come through with the layups.

>> Lastly from Stony Brook, we have a highlight, hard hat recipient presented by Bank of America.

Why did Journey Thompson earn that honor?

>> She has been doing the little things, setting the screens, rolling, not expected to get the ball but getting it, catching it and finishing it.

Running the floor like a deer.

Talking on the bench, encouraging the younger host players on what we do and how we do it here.

I just think seeing a young lady who came here last year who was so over it, if you will, coming to the east coast was just getting her closer to home.

I got that.

I understood that.

To now loving it.

Loving her teammates.

Laughing, I'm almost like sometimes having to say hey, journey, quiet down.

I'm trying to talk.

I couldn't get her to say a word last year.

So the game is amazing, what it teaches you.

It teaches you how to win with grace.

How to not have a mini score as an opponent but to have learned enough where winning still continues to happen.

And you see young people emerge into the people they're going to become and journey, has been exemplifying that for the last month and a half.

And for her to get a hard hat to do those little things in a game situation, it was like poetic justice.

Delicious game?

Let's take the next question.

First she just liked it more than any of y'all.

She knew it was going to be a 400 victory.

She said I'm gon' show how much I love her!

I'm gon' get that hard hat!

[ Cheering ] You played 15 minutes and went four for five, seven rebounds eight points.

... [ Cheering ] >> Speech, speech, speech, speech.

>> I'm not really a speaker, but I don't know.

I thought it was good.

I know we hit some adversity but like coach said it was a good opportunity for us to work through it so we did a good job.

Let's go!

>> Brought some life back... >> Yeah, for sure.

I think for us, it doesn't have to be like a single person.

When we start playing off each other and like scoring, we all come to like, no matter who it is... >> Every day you shape their skills.

Their confidence.

And now their financial future.

Introducing bank of America advantage safebalance banking for family banking.

A parent-owned bank account.

A hands-on banking experience for your child.

No monthly maintenance fee until your child turns 25.

Their first debit card.

Mobile and online banking access.

Flexible parental controls.

Right from where you manage your account.

Set spending limits.

Manage where they make purchases.

View their account activity.

When they're ready, they can grow into an account they own.

The same account and debit card numbers with more features.

Each step helps them on the path to financial freedom.

What would you like the power to do?

Bank of America.

This program is brought to you by the members of WCNY.