‘Bigger than basketball.’ Kentucky women enjoy inspirational visit from VP Kamala Harris.
Kentucky women’s basketball celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day with words of encouragement from U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris was in Columbia on Monday to deliver a speech in front of the South Carolina House of Representatives in honor of the holiday at an annual event hosted by the NAACP. Afterward, she spoke to both the Kentucky and South Carolina women’s basketball teams individually about inspiration, ambition and courage.
“These days so many people feel so alone,” Harris told the Wildcats. “The circumstances make people feel alone. And you guys know, in the way that you demonstrate it, that no matter the differences, we all have so much more in common than what separates us. You are living all those truths in one person, each of you, who make up a beautiful team.”
Kentucky head coach Kyra Elzy began her press conference after Monday night’s game at South Carolina with an opening statement (which she typically forgoes), during which she acknowledged the holiday and the Rev. Martin Luther King’s contributions, as well as thanked South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley for “extending the opportunity” of meeting with Harris.
Just a casual run-in with the @VP!
Thank you for your time and words of praise and encouragement! https://t.co/QuyKo0lO5I pic.twitter.com/81Yalxdkg8— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) January 15, 2024
“I want to acknowledge MLK Day,” Elzy said. “Amazing opportunity to be here in Columbia, South Carolina, with Coach Staley on the other side, but all the things that Mr. King did for us. A great leader and the impact he had on our country. I also want to thank Coach Staley today for extending the opportunity for our team to meet Vice President Harris today. When you talk about women empowerment. Yeah, that’s what I love about Coach Staley. It’s bigger than basketball. To have our players be able to meet the first female vice president is something that they will remember their whole life and me too, for that matter.”
Staley said it was an experience not many people get, and that she’s “glad our players got to experience (Harris’ visit).”
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