The Heart of a Champion: Zia Cooke’s Rise from South Carolina to the WNBA
Description
The Coop is back with a brand-new episode that you've all been waiting for! Zia Cooke: From USC Champion to WNBA Rising Talent! Former South Carolina Gamecocks star and now a standout with the Seattle Storm. From humble beginnings in Toledo to earning her place in the WNBA, Zia opens up about her path to success, her game-changing mindset, and how her defense-first approach is shaping her career. She shares powerful stories of overcoming challenges, the lessons learned from her time at USC, and the impact of her mentors like Coach Dawn Staley.
Learn more about our partnership with Garnett Trust & South Carolina Athletics: https://www.collegesportsco.com/news/...
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
01:39 - Welcome Zia Cooke
02:45 - Media Day
04:13 - Working on Defense Strategies
07:01 - Playing with Veteran Players
10:02 - Community Involvement
13:28 - NIL Opportunities
14:06 - Future Endeavors and Goals
17:07 - How Zia Got Into Basketball
22:45 - Relationship with Dawn Staley
25:30 - Favorite Year at South Carolina
27:46 - Starting as a Freshman Player
31:34 - Defining Moment in College Career
33:32 - Coach Staley's Confidence in Players
35:44 - Playing in Empty Arenas
38:35 - Reconnecting with Former WNBA Players
42:48 - Best Piece of Advice Received
45:03 - If Not a Basketball Player, What Would Zia Be?
#collegebasketball #ncaa #scbasketball #gamecocks #ncaabasketball #sec #wnba
United States
