ODUSports.com asked several of the Monarch women's basketball team to describe why they chose their jersey number.
#20 Maggie Robinson, Gr. - Mobile, Ala.
Before I ever picked up a basketball in middle school, I played baseball my entire childhood. My favorite player as a kid was Andruw Jones — center fielder for the Atlanta Braves back in the day. And if you asked me, I was going to be the first female to play for the Braves just like him. His number was #25, so naturally, I adopted that to be my baseball number —and eventually my basketball number as well. In high school and in juco I ran into a problem. The jersey for #25 was always too big. Even though it was kind of big, I wore #25 for the majority of my high school career. However, one year I decided comfort was more important to me— I wore #20 instead. In juco, I faced the same dilemma: Comfort/Size VS. Jersey #. I wanted to have #25 but I was swarming in the large jersey as a freshman. #20 was a size down and the closest number to #25 still available, so I went with it. The number kind of grew on me that year, but some part of me was still holding on to #25. We got new jersey's my sophomore season, and my coach asked if anyone wanted to change her number. I felt like this was the opportunity I had been waiting for—finally, I would get to wear #25 in the RIGHT size. But, my teammates convinced me to keep #20. They told me #20 "fit me" and it would be weird to see me wearing #25. So, I listened—and I'm HAPPY I did! (Shoutout to my juco teammates).
I'm a numbers person, so I feel like I see a lot of 20's these days—the number is always catching my eye. Not only did I graduate in 2020, but the year has been one full of adversity, growth, and revelations to say the least. I think some things are meant to be, and my jersey number is one of those. #20 is me. #20 is my journey. #20 is who I am. It's so much more to me now than just a jersey number. The number has followed me throughout my entire collegiate career —no matter what school or what state I was in. I have worn it over the past 4 years through ups and downs, wins and losses. I've grown as a person and a player in it each and every day. I know year 5 with my number is going to be special. I wouldn't feel right reppin' any other.
#5 Victoria Morris, Sr. - Cincinnati, Ohio
Inspired by Rajon Rondo, my original number I hooped with growing up was #9. Loved it all the way, and I felt like it fitted me so well. I got to HS and #9 wasn't allowed. I grew up watching my big cousin play at our HS with #5. I wanted to keep it in the family, so I chose the same number. After my freshman year of HS ball, I decided I will be #5 for the rest of my career and it stuck with me since. S/O to my cuzzo ?? #5
#14 Dejah Carter, Sr. - Chesterfield, Va.
I always had really big numbers growing up like 40,42, and 44. When I moved to Chesterfield, I wanted a smaller number that still had the number 4 in it because that's my favorite number. 4 wasn't available, and a senior just graduated that had 14, so I snagged it. I have been happy with it ever since.