PAC-12 CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 1, 2023

Tina Langley

Haley Van Dyke

Hannah Stines

Washington Huskies

Postgame Press Conference

University of Oregon - 52, University of Washington - 50

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with an opening statement from coach and then take questions.

TINA LANGLEY: First of all, I'm just really proud of this team and all the work that they have put in all season. Love the way we came out and competed today. It's two great teams playing each other. I think we'll look back and know there was a lot of things that we could have done better. But we also have to credit Oregon for that.

So excited for what could still be ahead for us and love these young women very, very much, so as long as we can play together we're excited to be playing.

THE MODERATOR: Open it up to questions.

Q. Where have you seen this team grow this season from last season? Last season you're playing in the first game of the day. Now you're battling with Oregon. You beat Stanford. Where have you seen this team grow? You've talked about playing more. If the opportunity to play in like the WNIT arrives, how excited are you guys for that opportunity?

TINA LANGLEY: Yeah. I think this team really loves each other a lot. I think they have put in a ton of work. They have worked on everything, not just basketball, culture has been incredible for this team, the way they care for one another and serve each other is our leadership style. They are beautiful servant leaders.

But the work that they put in is really special. So I think that's probably one of the things that's toughest for us is we know what we're capable of now. We know that we can continue to battle and we would be really excited to have that opportunity.

Q. Hannah, in terms of Endyia Rogers, your program held her in check during the regular season, I think to the tune of 25 points -- or 17 points on 25 field goal attempts. What made her so illusive today?

HANNAH STINES: I mean, I think that's just the kind of player she is. She's really skilled. She has experience. Obviously Haley's a great defender, but it takes a whole team to guard a player like her.

Q. Hannah, for you, it seemed like in that fourth quarter you and Endyia were just trading baskets sort of late going back and forth. Just the confidence that you have in yourself to hit those shots and confidence you've gotten from your coaches to trust you in a game like this where you need big shots that I'm going to be the one taking 'em and I can hit 'em?

HANNAH STINES: Yeah. I mean, I definitely get my confidence from my team. Like the first half I was struggling to hit shots, but my team, the never give up on me. I know they have confidence in me, so it makes me confident.

Q. During that 9-0 run in the fourth quarter it seemed pretty much like the first time since the first couple of minutes of the game that your team kind of didn't have it going on both ends. What did you see from your advantage point?

TINA LANGLEY: Yeah, I think there's probably some things I could have done differently. I think that we're a team that can change up what we do defensively. I really trust our players individually. I think that collectively we could have made some adjustments as well.

But obviously I think it would take a lot away from Endyia to say that she didn't just make some great plays too. There was some times that we were in some pretty good position and I thought she made some tough buckets.

Q. Haley, for you, where have you seen this team and this program grow this season from last season? I know at the end of last season you said you had a lot of belief in where you guys were. But just the steps that you guys have taken forward and where you guys can even grow from there and get even better. You have a lot of great freshmen right now, a lot of good incoming kids. What can you do to build from this season and make this program great again?

HALEY VAN DYKE: I think the biggest area of growth from last season to this season is definitely our culture. I think just the way we care about each other and how selfless we are. I think it's just really special. This group of girls, we have great chemistry on and off the court.

So I mean that makes a great team, and I think this can just continue with just the great girls we keep bringing into this program. Yeah, I think our growth on the court has attributed to our culture, I think, for sure.

Q. Tina, could you just talk about Daniels' game today. She had a really solid double double for you. And then also just what you think your team can get out of perhaps a deep run in the WNIT if that is what happens.

TINA LANGLEY: Yeah. Yes, sir. Yeah, I thought Dalayah did a great job battling today. We asked her to do some different things defense scheme-wise. I thought she did a great job offensively, had some big makes for us, late clock especially.

I just liked the way that she continues to develop. She's been able to get back on the perimeter and she can also go inside and use her speed and quickness against bigger defenders. So yeah, she had some great moments of help and just a lot of things she did for us.

When it comes to the team, when you asked the question about the end of the season again, I'm sorry.

Q. Using the WNIT as a springboard, do you feel like that could happen again for your team?

TINA LANGLEY: I think this is a team that was fighting to get into the NCAA tournament. So we've had some really good moments. We've played our best basketball late. I obviously have had the opportunity to play in the NIT and I think there's a lot of teams in that tournament that are really special that have won their conferences that have battled and have great résumés. So it's very similar in that it's an incredible competition. You're learning to play in post-season, in tournament. You're learning to play deep into March. It's been a little bit since we've been in post-season and so I think it's important that we get back there, get back to work in post-season and feel what that feels like and try to battle to win a championship.

Q. Haley, is it safe to say that the team was a little tight to start the game? You guys closed the first quarter on a 7-2 run, went on that big run in the second quarter; and if tight isn't the word, what word would you use?

HALEY VAN DYKE: I think, yeah, that's a good word. But also I don't think we cared about that. We didn't really let it faze us. I think we're really good at that, just next play speed and just focusing on what we can do in the next moment to make up for it. So, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: All right, thank you.