NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL FOUR: UCONN VS SOUTH CAROLINA

April 2, 2022

Victaria Saxton

Target Center

South Carolina Gamecocks

Finals Press Conference

Q. (Inaudible) off the court (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: My favorite memory off the court is, I mean, just being around them anywhere. Like our team is fun to be around. Everybody loves each other. So I think it's just being around each other is fun.

I don't really have (inaudible). I'm just kind of -- I just go with the flow. There's nothing like specific that I do.

Q. (Inaudible) out there this last year (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I think just that everybody has the same goal, which is to get here to the national championship. I think that's just the motivation that held everybody together.

Q. Victaria, congratulations on the win. Just wondering (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: Something that -- what did you say? I'm sorry.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I just think that our ability just to be able to do everything that we can do inside and out. I think one person that really is overlooked is Brea Beal, and I think she's really made a name for herself now and just showing what she can do on the court and just proving to people who she really is and how effective she is for our team.

Q. How much does it help when you come to a stage like this to have the support a lot of people traveling from South Carolina? Obviously, a crowd last night behind the bench. What does that help you guys with when you're playing on such a big stage (inaudible) knowing that you'll have that cheering section?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I just feel like our fans, like they just bring so much energy to us. And I think that helps us a lot, just knowing that they're behind us a hundred percent, no matter what.

Q. The fact that you guys have played UConn this season, do you think that helps? How does that change your preparation, knowing that you guys are about to play (inaudible) familiar with their scheme, their players, how they're maybe going to operate also?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I mean, I think it definitely helps, but I also do think that it comes back to just every game is different. This is the national championship, so it's going to be a tough game. I mean, it won't be like the other games.

Q. How's your experience been?

VICTARIA SAXTON: It's been great. I've been enjoying myself, and it's been exciting to be able to be here.

Q. What was it like (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: As a senior? Student?

Q. As a student.

VICTARIA SAXTON: Student. Oh. It's nice.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: Yeah.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I'm not really sure. Still going to think about it.

Q. (Inaudible) hearing more from your representatives (inaudible) is it easy to kind of put aside those distractions, come to the ultimate game for the season?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I just think it comes back to like us having to sacrifice and knowing that we have to put something ahead of other things and just focus on what's in front of us right now.

Q. Is it a little exciting, at the very least, that those opportunities are there, that when you -- you play well, things go well for you, and now you can kind of enjoy some of the financial as well?

VICTARIA SAXTON: Oh, yeah, it's definitely exciting. It's exciting to get to see other players on our team be able to like make these huge deals, and it's just exciting to see them do things like that.

Q. How has this (inaudible) for you guys? I know yesterday was (inaudible) because of what happened a year ago. Now that you have cast that, it's not like anything is relaxed or anything like that, oh, we made it, there's still more to work for?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I'm sorry, I don't get what you're --

Q. No, just as far as -- as far as just getting to through yesterday isn't the ultimate goal, you still got more unfinished business ahead of you.

VICTARIA SAXTON: Yes, definitely. That wasn't just the goal, like, yeah, it's exciting to get there, and it's exciting to be where we are today, but we have to keep pushing and know that we still have one more game.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I just think I'm really comfortable. I ask a lot of questions. I like to know what's right, what's wrong. So I just think just me going and talk to her and just asking questions have really helped me to build a relationship with her.

Q. What's your favorite (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: She's real. She's going to tell you how it is. She's not going to sugarcoat it, and I love that about her.

Q. Give me a sense of (inaudible) the three of those players have bonded together, their chemistry.

VICTARIA SAXTON: Just over the time, I just think just playing with each other and just trusting each other and everybody just comes in and just plays their role to the best of their ability. So I think that just helps bring everybody together.

Q. (Inaudible) was there a moment (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I've always thought we were a special team, just from the beginning. I just feel like everybody on this team brings something that another person doesn't.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I mean, it just kind of goes back to just playing our role. Everybody comes in and they know what's on the line, what they have to do. Everybody has the same goal, which is to get here to a national championship, and I just think everybody has put into to try to get there.

Q. (Inaudible) UConn was a while ago. Do you look at that game for any similarities, take a scouting report from that game (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I mean, yeah, I'm going to go back and re-watch it of course. But, you know, just this is another game. Like we have to go out there and play like it's our last, because it is.

Q. What do you remember most about that game?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I just -- I mean, I don't know. It -- I mean, I don't think it's like anything that I remember, I just -- you know, the fun time, it was the Bahamas, so, you know.

Q. (Inaudible) guys play great defense (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I think that something that we're going to have to come down to is just doing intangible things, all the hustle plays.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I don't get what you're asking.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: Yes, it definitely is. Definitely.

Q. I wanted to ask you about (inaudible) do you allow yourself to (inaudible) or is that (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I just think -- I think that's something that I have to allow to like -- like dawn on me like later. I feel like right now it's like I have to stay locked in and just worry about what's happening right now.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I mean, just being me, don't change anything, just continue to do what I do.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: Yes, it's exciting to be able to represent them. Actually, my high school coach, she's here right now watching. So I got to see her yesterday. And it was just really exciting just to hug her and just, I mean, how excited she is.

Q. (Inaudible) question asked earlier about (inaudible) observing them as a young girl?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I'm going to be honest, when I was younger, I was not even really into basketball. I started playing later. That just wasn't something I wanted to do. I honestly didn't know what I wanted to do.

But, yeah, basketball, I do remember like hearing about them like winning national championships and things like that. And I thought that was really cool, but that's just not something that I grew up doing.

Q. When did you start playing basketball?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I started playing at eight, but I didn't want to play like -- for like three years. My mom just was like, you know, just keep trying. So I kept trying and initially like I just started just playing and liked it.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: Probably middle school, that's when I started, like, okay, I think I like it a little.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I think it's going to be a great matchup. I'm excited about it. I think it's going to be a tough game. I mean, it's the national championship, why wouldn't it be? So I'm excited.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I think Coach is going to continue to be her. I don't think she's going to change for anyone. I think she's going to be her.

Q. (Inaudible) yesterday, what do you think (inaudible) how are you going to manage (inaudible)? What's your strategy?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I mean, she's a great player. She's going to score. She's going to go out there and do what she do. So, I mean, I'm going to give her props, but, I mean, we're just going to go out there and play our game, play our defense.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I think it's really cool to be able to grow up and say like, oh, I was a part of that. I never thought -- you know, I never thought I'd be here like I am today. So I just think -- I mean, I'm excited. I feel really blessed about it.

Q. (Inaudible) the stands were packed last night, you like that kind of support?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I loved it. I mean, it's something that like at our school we're used to having a lot of people in attendance. So I think just having all those fans there just made us feel like we're at home.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I think me personally, I think I've grown, just not being afraid to just be confident in myself. I think I've struggled with that in the past, but I think I grew into myself and just grown to know that it's okay to mess up, and just go out there and do what I do best.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: Of myself or like -- I think I'm just most proud of myself just for growing up and just growing.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I never real like had a like dream of anything. Like I was just an easy child. Like I just went with the flow, just whatever.

Q. (Inaudible) like you said, like you maybe didn't grow up (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: It's exciting to be able to see them. I love the excitement on their faces when they see us. They're like, can we take a selfie? It's like you have to say yes to them. I mean, it makes me feel good when I see them with a smile on their face.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: Aliyah. I love Aliyah. She brings so much to this team that, I mean, you would -- you would be amazed. Like not only on the court, off the court, like her energy off the court and how she is off the court with everybody on the team. She's just -- I mean, she's another mother. Like I'm a mom on the team, but like she's another one of them.

And I love that. She's there. Like she just makes sure everybody is good. And she makes sure everybody is where they are on the court. And I think that's really great. And she's also like just a really dominant player, and I love that about her.

Q. Does her confidence (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I mean, whether she's on or off, I just think like just us all pushing her and letter her know like we need you, I think that just -- I mean, just her being her.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I just think that she has been a great leader. I think she's really great at just making sure everybody is where they are on the court before she runs anything. I think she keeps us in our place, and she's done really great over the years.

Q. The two powerhouses (inaudible) national championship on the line. You've got to be super, super excited. What are you thinking?

VICTARIA SAXTON: Yes, I am. I am really excited. I think it's going to be a really fun game tomorrow.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I mean, honestly, I really didn't care who it was. I was excited either way.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I just think it kind of just shows who we are. We're a defensive team, and defense leads to offense.

Q. What do you (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: Just my personality and the type of personality I am.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I'm excited. I'm glad that we are finally getting to be here. I think everybody on the team is really excited about this position that we're in, and we're ready to go out there and do what we do.

Q. How much does this account (inaudible) so you don't have that (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: You know, like I just think we're ready. Like we're going to go out, we're going to go play our game. I mean, we're excited. It's going to be a fun game. I think everybody and the fans are going to be excited to see this matchup. So, yeah.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: We're just going to go out there and play our game. I mean, we're going to go out there and do what Coach want us to do, what she tells us to do. So, yeah.

Q. (Question regarding Aliyah.)

VICTARIA SAXTON: Yeah, I love playing with Aliyah. I mean, just her energy on and off the court, I love it.

I think it's exciting to be able to see her grow, because I've got to watch her grow from her first year to now. And just to see how she's grown as a person on the court and off the court, I just think it's exciting. And I'm happy for her. I congratulated her so many times on her awards. I think she definitely deserved it.

Q. How does she make you better?

VICTARIA SAXTON: She talks to me a lot. When I'm like feeling down on myself, she's always there. She makes sure that I'm good. And she lets me know like -- you know, she talks to us on the court. If somebody has an open shot, she's letting them know that they got the open shot or if somebody needs to go get that rebound, she can't get it, she's like, You got it. Or, you know, we're just constantly having conversations.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I think we both become better. I think we're a better defensive team. I think we're better in our half-court sets now compared to then. I mean, I also think they're a very efficient team shooting.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I mean, that's just us. That's our main focus, is defense. Like we're a defensive team.

Q. How much time do you guys take (inaudible) defensive mindset (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I mean, I just think it's all of us wanting to be great and just building into each other, just knowing that one another are going to go out there and give everything that we have.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I mean, it doesn't matter to me.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: Yes, I think you need things like that. Her energy, I think we feed off of her energy. So when she has energy like that, I think it just fuels us and helps us go out there and give what energy we have.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I don't think so.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I just think everybody comes in and plays their role. I mean, of course, we have that defensive player, Brea Beal, like she comes out there and she gives it her all, everything. She'll go out (inaudible) on the court. When she plays great defense, I think it's just fuels everybody else too. Like we just go out there and do all the small things and things like that.

Q. And going off that (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I just think that it plays a big role, just going to out there and have to guard the perimeter. I think it takes a lot of communication, and I think we do that very well.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I just think we're -- I think we've grown to learn how to communicate with each other and trust each other. And I think that just comes with playing with each other over time.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I mean, I do, but at the same time I feel like we have -- I mean, everybody on our team is a leader, and everybody on the team is open to just be open with each other and not be afraid to talk.

Q. And how much (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: She plays -- I mean, she plays a big role in that, of course. I think she just makes sure everybody knows (inaudible). I mean, if I have questions or Aliyah have questions, we always go to her, and we let everybody know what's going on, things like that.

Q. (Inaudible) able to be vulnerable with each other (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I love their sessions. I just feel like it's a time for us to come in there and be real with each other and get out what we need to get out. And I think it's very helpful. Every time we've had a session, I think it's been very helpful for the team.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I just think that us just going in there together and just talking to each other, being real with each other, I just think that sticks out every time.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I mean, it's March Madness, like you said. I just think we have to go out there with a mindset of anything can happen.

Q. And now when you first take (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I just think that it comes back to we -- at the beginning of the season, we all talk about our roles, like, and I just think that I take that in very well. I've always been the type of person that just go after the intangible things, go get the rebounds, go get the loose balls, save the ball. So, I mean, I just take pride in that.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: She's a great offensive rebounder. So I know I have to like be aware of that and things like that. But, yeah, I just got to be physical.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: It would mean a lot. It would be a lot of excitement.

Q. (Inaudible) what does it mean to have fun with Aliyah? You've been dominant.

VICTARIA SAXTON: It means a lot. She's so dominant on the offensive end and on the defensive end, and I think that just does a lot for our team.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: Oh, definitely. I think when she's out there doing good, I mean, I feel like everybody else does good. Even if she's not, I feel like we do a great job in making sure that she gets herself together and she gets up.

Q. Do you have (inaudible) priorities next game, Xs and Os (inaudible) you got the experience (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: For me personally, I just think I need to go out there and do what I've been doing, go out there and do the intangible things, go get rebounds, loose balls, get on the floor.

Q. (Inaudible) the fans might be at home, but a lot (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I think we're going to have the same mindset, just go out there and play our game. Don't let anything affect us. Our fans are going to be there to give us our energy. And, I mean, that's going to be great, but we just know that we have to go out there and do our part.

Q. (Inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: No, I'm not -- I'm not intimidated by anyone. I mean, we're just going to go play.

Q. I was just curious, when you guys have those meetings (inaudible) what does it mean that she's really honest (inaudible)?

VICTARIA SAXTON: I think it means a lot for her to be honest with our players and let everybody know from the jump so that nobody comes in thinking that they're going to get something that they're not.