𝟎𝟓.

xvii.

— CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"TALK OF THE TOWN."

december 2023

WWW.ESPN.COM/LE'ANARODES/RECENTARTICLES

"THE ALLEN IVERSON OF COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL; LE'ANA RODES."

        It is hard to articulate exactly how terrible of a player Le'ana Rodes is. When hearing of her transfer from LSU to UConn the world stopped in silence. There was a lot of discussion when she moved teams about what would happen and eventually, we got to see it.

        Kim Mulkey is an infamous coach in the world of college basketball. She's scouted some of the best players and even faced up against Caitlin Clark to win last year's national championship. So truthfully, many of us were shocked to hear Le'ana Rodes announce her departure from LSU. After dropping over thirty points in the final along with eleven rebounds and five assists, many assumed Le'ana to continue her senior year at LSU so that they could win a second one. If Le'ana had stayed at LSU, she would've been involved in their twelfth straight win in a row. Instead, she's been involved in UConn's measly eight.

        So why would she transfer? In her press conference, Le'ana spoke up about Coach Mulkey's decision to bench her for many minutes this year. Whilst Del Rosario, Le'ana's replacement, has not been of greatness this year it's definitely not the wrong choice as Le'ana isn't much better of a change.

        Standing at 5'11", Rodes possesses the physical attributes necessary to excel in the demanding world of college basketball. However, her recent struggles raise doubts about her ability to translate potential into consistent performance. As she grapples with the pressures of being a star player on a highly scrutinized team, Rodes faces an uphill battle to silence her critics and prove that she belongs among the elite ranks of women's college basketball.

        Adding to the mounting pressure on Le'ana Rodes is the presence of Paige Bueckers, UConn's standout guard and reigning national player of the year. Bueckers, with her electrifying play and clutch performances, has become the face of the program and a beacon of hope for UConn's championship aspirations. However, Le'ana finds herself competing for attention and opportunities in Bueckers' shadow, making it even more challenging to carve out her own identity and make a significant impact on the team.

        While Bueckers' brilliance may elevate the team as a whole, it also casts a daunting shadow over Le'ana, who must navigate the delicate balance between supporting her talented teammate and asserting herself as a force to be reckoned with on the court. In the bright lights of UConn's spotlight, Le'ana faces yet another hurdle on her journey to prove herself as a worthy addition to the Huskies' storied basketball tradition.

        Her points put up this year have been nothing short of, well- short. She's struggled thoroughly in the game against NC State, where Coach Geno Auriemma sat her out after only ten minutes of playtime. She's had some memorable performances against teams such as Maryland however she fell short again after their loss to LSU but over ten points.

        As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Le'ana Rodes as she navigates the challenges and expectations that come with being a standout player in one of the most competitive arenas in sports. Whether she can rise to the occasion and fulfil the promise of her potential remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the Allen Iverson comparison may have been premature, and Rodes still has much to prove if she hopes to leave a lasting legacy in the world of college basketball.

        It's safe to say many of us have no hope for Le'ana Rodes so when making your bets this year - maybe count UConn out.

Written by Avery Morgan

ELLE'S NOTES!!!
this ones a little
shorter but i wanted
to try something a
little bit different

HAVE WE HEARD ABT
THIS MYSTERY UCONN
TRANSFER ???

also like two of u asked for
this so somethings
cooking... 🫣