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

April 2, 2022

Zia Cooke

Target Center

South Carolina Gamecocks

Finals Press Conference

Q. Tell me what it means to have made your way back to the Final Four championship?

ZIA COOKE: It's great, except what I really wanted just to get past this Final Four, got a little relief that we made it (inaudible) last year, but now let's go out here, attack it, and finish it out.

Q. Talk about unfinished business, what will it take tomorrow and what will it take to get the job done?

ZIA COOKE: I think it will just take us to continue to stay focused, being a fourth-quarter team, a second-half team, just doing all the little things. I think it will also be a mental game. Whoever can be mentally strong the longest will be the one that comes out with the W.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: I don't really see too much changing. I think we can execute the same way we did when we played them the first time. Of course, Paige is a great player for them. They're a great all-around team. So just being able to lock down their perimeter players and our post players doing their jobs.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: That's part of the sacrificing, that was the best thing to do, at the end of the day I have to roll with it no matter how I feel. It really doesn't matter. We have to win a national championship, whether I'm playing or not playing. As long as the people on the floor are helping us win, it doesn't matter to me.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: I think it just comes from just turning the page. Gotta always turn the page in order to play well. And Coach has always taught me, I have to move on. If I don't play well in one game, gotta move on to the next game. That's the beauty of basketball, you have a chance to redeem yourself.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: I think the recovery part. Last year I remember my body was like, by the Elite Eight, my body was almost done for. So definitely just keeping my body together, getting the recovery part and just being ready to play.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: I definitely gotta go back and watch and see exactly what we did to execute that game. But I think it's the national championship. So they're going to give their best. We're going to give our best. We'll see what the outcome is.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: Honestly, I think we've just got to limit Paige's production. As long as we can do that, try to get their post players into foul trouble and do all the intangibles in this game.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: She's got to stay the course no matter how it goes, just stay the course of believing in herself, staying mentally strong. She's been executing well, for sure.

Q. Used to playing a home court, a lot of stuff on the road. (Inaudible) have you guys talked about that how to lock in on that mentally? But Paige is playing in her hometown.

ZIA COOKE: Honestly, I didn't think about that. For me personally, I'm locked in so much. I, honestly, just see my team in our opponent. I don't really pay attention much to the outside noise. But I think our fans, they might not be that big of a group, but I think they're going to be just as loud.

Q. Talk about the matchup with Paige.

ZIA COOKE: I think Paige is a great player. With the injury or not, she's still doing some fantastic things for her team. We know that it's going to be pretty hard to lock her down. Paige is a great player, like, all around. So definitely just trying our best to lock her down and limit her production.

Q. It's a team effort. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: Yeah, definitely, definitely. We like to play as a team regardless of what's going on. I think we have Brea Beal, which is a great defender for us. I think what makes it special, we all play our roles, do what it is that it takes to win.

Q. (Inaudible) do you see anything, when watching them (inaudible)

ZIA COOKE: I think we game plan different for each team. I'm not sure we can game plan -- that's something I haven't really thought about.

Q. (Inaudible) talk to me about your game plan (inaudible).

ZIA COOKE: (Inaudible) is my favorite artist. I'd say probably his whole album before the game. But my favorite song by him is probably Aha.

Q. What do you think of the program you've developed means to the state of South Carolina (inaudible) Title IX, the fact that it's such a big program and sport (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: I think Coach has done a pretty good job at keeping our fans engaged. She built history with our fans before I even got here. So I didn't get a chance to see the uprise on that, but I know I could tell, just from the way she is with fans now, that it wouldn't haven't happened if she wasn't able to reach out to them.

And Coach is a voice to young girls. She's taught us how to lead and be positive for young girls. So definitely everything we've learned we've got it from her.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: I want to win a national championship regardless who it's against. Not just because it's UConn that it will mean more because we played them. Winning a national championship, regardless, it's just a blessing and a dream come true.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: Memories? I can't really think of one moment, but we've definitely had some great times. I guess I could talk about how we have a game room here. We go in there. We've been having fun in there just being together as a team.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: Any award games, like?

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: My favorite would be (inaudible) to play (inaudible)

Q. (Question about challenges)?

ZIA COOKE: I think they have some length to them. I think they have some pretty good 3-point shooters. Of course they have one of the best guards in the country, Paige. So definitely it's a lot of challenges that will be put in front of us. But as long as we execute the game plan Coach has for us, I think we'll be all right.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: I honestly feel it does help us in a way because it gives us a chance to actually know personnel, to have been able to have played them before, we understand what their plays are like, who they want to run through, little things like that. I think definitely playing a team more than once is good, especially when it comes to when it's a moment like this.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: I think it was a turning. I saw -- I don't think I was here. I think I actually watched it at a hotel room with my dad, I think. I can't remember, though. That's a while back.

Q. Have you allowed (inaudible) to take a role (inaudible)?

ZIA COOKE: I try not to get too excited yet because it hasn't happened yet, but honestly it's a blessing to be in this position to go to a -- to have the chance to win a national championship.

And it definitely will mean the whole entire world to me, especially with the year we've had. It's been a great year for us. From the outside looking in, it probably looks like it's been great. But we've had some struggles. And to be able to win a national championship, it will be totally great for us.

Q. Is there a (inaudible) that you guys know you have to face?

ZIA COOKE: I've said it three times. Definitely stopping Paige, limit her production, knowing she's a great player and she an get them going. They have great length on their team. They have 3-point shooters. Just executing the game plan that Coach put in play for us.

Q. How do you stop Paige?

ZIA COOKE: Oh, my God. Oh. I mean, I don't want to give -- I'm not going to give that out because that's something that's within the team. I don't want it to get out and someone hears it. So definitely just executing the game plan, stay on course.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: We've had challenging meetings. My freshman year was probably the hardest because I came from high school being the leading scorer on my team, doing it all.

Definitely have to say adjusting my role my freshman year was the hardest. I think throughout the years my role has been the same. Just to be that teammate and be that scorer for my teammates, being that defender. I kind of have that understanding of what my role is. Without her telling me, I kind of understand what my role is.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: That's honestly the best part about her, honestly. That's why I came here, because she's so real. She tells exactly how she feels regardless if she thinks it's going to hurt your feelings or not.

But I think the best part about it, it's not hatred or anything. She's super genuine. So you know if she says something she doesn't like, it's because she wants the best for you.

Q. How has Dawn connected with you guys? Seems like there's times you listen to her and times (inaudible).

ZIA COOKE: She connects super well. I think that's what attracted us to her. She was just being herself, during the recruiting process for me, personally. She was to me like a mother figure but like a best friend figure. It's definitely a true blessing.

You don't find that in all coaches. Some coaches might not even show that goofy side; they might be serious all the time. Definitely off the court and sometimes on the court she can give us that sense of humor, be that great coach for us.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: Honestly, I didn't even know that. So you just gave me some information. But that's not something I think about. I think however much time we get out there, just making sure we go out there, execute; if we get 30 minutes or an hour, doesn't matter how long it is, as long as we go out there, do what we need to do. For me it's not an issue.

Q. Have you allowed yourself to (inaudible).

ZIA COOKE: Honestly, like last night when we won, I think we all went into the locker room, man, this does not feel real; we're honestly in the Final Four. And for me, growing up, watching Final Four games, it still doesn't feel real that I'm in one.

Like I said, I don't want to get too excited yet because the job's not done. But oh, my God, if we win the national championship, I know I'll feel it then. I'll actually know, wow, we're in this moment.

Q. When you're locked in, can you step back and look (inaudible).

ZIA COOKE: Yeah, of course. You can't never doubt UConn. UConn is a great team, any given moment it can go either way. Being locked in, I think that's super important for us. We've got to continue to stay locked in and do what we've done all year.

Q. Are you aware of Coach Geno Auriemma?

ZIA COOKE: Yeah, definitely, definitely.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: Definitely, I think they're both two competitors as well. I think you'll definitely see that competitive side from both coaches.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: This is honestly like a dream come true, being able to come to the Final Four two times in a row is definitely a blessing. I think we got shorted one year. I think my freshman year would have made three times in a row for us.

We just committed ourselves to this program. Committed ourselves to Coach. We listen in depth what she wants from us, and I think that's what makes us a great team.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: Definitely look at it just to see some points that we can attack in. We definitely look at it to see if it's a place we can attack in. But at the same time we have to kind of turn the page because, like I said, they might be a different team. We haven't played against them. It's been a while. And sometimes it can be hard to beat a team twice. So just making sure we keep that our back knowing that, okay, we to do beat them once but this is how they could have confidence. They can be hungry to beat us. We have to make sure we keep our foot on the gas and be that team we know we've been all year.

Q. You mentioned, like, you were watching film during March Madness. Have you been watching these games and now (inaudible) women's basketball in this tournament, what does it mean?

ZIA COOKE: It means a lot. It's so different, like, watching it than being in it.

For me, it's like I know I'm here but I don't really know I'm here. So I don't know, it's hard to explain. But definitely watching it, I knew what I was seeing. And I'm like, wow, this is a huge moment. Look at these girls playing in the Final Four, but knowing that I'm in it I can't really process it.

Q. (Question about March Madness)?

ZIA COOKE: It means a lot. Definitely means a lot to me.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: Something I've been saying all year, you become mature. We've become a team that holds each other accountable. We're just being able to learn within each other. And for me, personally, I've noticed, like in games where we've played in a previous game, that I'm not as nervous. If the game gets tight, I don't get nervous. I'm pretty calm. We listen to each other. We see what we need to do.

And I think the main thing that we've done coming on to our junior year is just being able to have maturity with each other.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: Super big. I think she's locked into us -- I don't want to say young age, when we were freshmen she put these in our head. So definitely just listening to her, trusting that process, that she told us we have to trust the process and everything just falls into place.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: That's definitely I'm thinking about 100 percent. I know how bad our seniors want it. So definitely that's what I want to do for them. It was the same way my freshman year as well with Kiah and Kiki, I wanted to get it done for them. And it's the same for (indiscernible), V. Lele, E, or all of our seniors. Definitely want to get it done for them because I know how bad they want it. Want to send them home with one.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: A lot. Especially Lele, she's the total whole package, an example of someone who trusted the process. If I'm feeling down on myself or I feel like it may be over with me, just knowing that she trusted her process and look where she's at now.

She's definitely shown me a way when it comes to trusting my process.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: I think that just shows that it's become a change. I think college basketball for women has been something that people engaged on. I don't know if it's ever been as big of a stage, especially for us, our fans are amazing. I think they take accountability to be there for us. They want to be there for us at all times. They showed us that they're there for us. So definitely being able to see the stands packed like that, it shows that people are actually being able to watch us and they enjoy seeing women's basketball. They know it is exciting to watch.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: Oh, 100 percent.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: Literally, like, Coach is like a friend. Literally, she could have conversations with us, you think she's the same age because she just gives us that vibe. Sometimes we're, like, around older people, you don't want to say certain things, you don't want to talk about certain things. But she literally gives that vibe of being like a friend, a best friend, someone you can talk about anything.

Q. Tara is 68, Geno is in his in 60s. Kim is in her -- (inaudible) play for young coaches?

ZIA COOKE: That's a good question. I mean, I don't really know. I don't really know the answer to that. But I think Coach just went in, she went in for it, went in for it at a young age, being a coach at a very young age. I don't really know if that's something that other schools will want. I don't know.

Q. (Question about level of excitement on a national level?

ZIA COOKE: The fan base -- we're kind of in a bubble kind of not. I think it's a huge difference from last year. Our fans are, they get the opportunity to send us off. And it was so many people at our hotel yesterday sending us off. Literally coming here we had some people clapping for us. So we definitely see that support is there. I think the support would have been there whether it was UConn, anybody that we played, I think we would have that support.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: It was definitely like the best. UConn was the best. It was no stopping them. That's all I'm going to say about that.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: I try to avoid questions like this, honestly. I think the narrative could be different for whoever the person is. It's really an opinion, whatever someone thinks.

Q. Talk about your relationship with (inaudible).

ZIA COOKE: I have a super special relationship. It's just that we're super connected. We want the best for each other. We're super genuine with one another. And I think that's what makes us such a great team.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: It is there. It's there. I think our connection outside of basketball is so on the court and it keeps the chemistry between us. Literally they're some of my favorite people in the world. I think that's something you can tell on the court as well.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: They would say me, but if I was to pick, I would say Brea. And I think Brea is funny because she doesn't try to be funny. She's super calm, cool, laid back. But I think it's funny for me when she, like, locks down a defender they might say something to her. She says something back it's super funny because Brea is super chill and calm. If you get her out of who she is and make her give you that back, it's kind of funny to us.

Q. What are your thoughts on Aliyah's (inaudible) not just scoring and rebounding, 6'5", she can hit the 3 and get assists, thoughts all around?

ZIA COOKE: Aliyah is literally the best post player I've played with my whole life. She's even one of the best people I've ever met. Just as her as an individual, but she definitely can go -- I say this a lot. I love playing with her. I'm so happy that I have her on my team and no one else does. I don't know how anyone can stop her.

In my opinion, I think she's unstoppable, no matter how many people you bring at her. And she's learning. And it's scary because each year she's coming in with something new. She's never the same. And it's just going to be crazy to see how she's going to continue to make history. And I honestly think one day she'll be a legend in this game.

Q. How popular was she when she walks on campus and wants to have fun?

ZIA COOKE: Me and Aliyah have all our classes together. We don't really run into many people. We went on campus one time and everybody was walking up to her. We need to start coming on campus more because these people never see us. But I think our fans are definitely engaged for all of us knowing that Aliyah is our star. They see our engagement, everyone that's a part of this team.

Q. (Question off mic).

ZIA COOKE: That's a good question. I think it's something that everybody wants to do, but in this moment, I just want to focus on winning the next championship, because I've got a while for that, another year for that. Definitely my main focus right now is just worrying about the national championship.

Q. Talk about this year, what it's meant for the process.

ZIA COOKE: This year has definitely meant a lot for us. But we dealt with some adversity throughout this year. I think it's been times we got comfortable. And we had to basically -- people had to put us in our place and let us know, yeah, you're the number one team but please don't take any of us lightly. So for us just knowing that we literally can't take that one team lightly no matter who it is because everyone's coming for us, especially with us being the number one team in the country. So definitely just being able to face adversity.

Like I said before, I feel like a lot of people think that everything's been peaches and cream for us. But we've had tough practices and had some crying moments with each other and it has been hard. Just like it's been for any other team. Of course, we've been winning a lot of games, but we work very hard for everything that we get.