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Behind the Jersey Number

Behind the Jersey NumberBehind the Jersey Number
Old Dominion Athletics

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.