The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1543694
MARCH/APRIL 2026 ■ 31 I'm actually very appreciative of those losses. I feel like it'll pay off come tour- nament time." Growth Opportunity Brooks isn't one to shy away from tak- ing responsibility for her actions. It's part of being a leader, and there is a de- feat that still stings: NC State's 88-80 overtime loss to then-No. 9 Louisville at Reynolds Coliseum on Jan. 18. The 5-foot-10 guard grabbed an of- fensive rebound with the Wolfpack lead- ing by two points and only 10 seconds to play in regulation. But instead of holding the ball and waiting to be fouled, Brooks attempted an errant putback. The se- quence allowed Louisville to tie the score on a pair of free throws at the other end, and the Cardinals prevailed in overtime, turning what would have been a signa- ture victory into the Pack's fourth loss to a ranked opponent. The defeat offered a chance for Brooks to grow, and her teammates took notice. They might have been frustrated in the moment, but they quickly moved on, in large part because Brooks clearly took ownership and showed that she was de- termined to improve. Now, as the Wolfpack prepares for what it hopes will be a lengthy postseason run, Brooks' leadership will be critical. She's already taken a big step forward, but she feels there is still more room for growth. Brooks is a rare player in Moore's sys- tem, one who played significant minutes as a true freshman before carving out a starting point guard spot in her second season. Both campaigns ended with deep runs in the NCAA Tournament, including a Final Four appearance in 2024. With a young core around her, Brooks is look- ing forward to guiding her teammates through it just as Rivers, James and Hayes did for her. "They were telling me what to do, where to be or how to handle stuff," Brooks said. "I just remember Saniya used to tell me, 'You're not a freshman.' I was looking at her crazy, like, 'What do you mean?' But I understand now what she meant." This time, it will be Brooks delivering the pep talks to her teammates. She used to be a quiet presence, and sometimes still is, but she's ready to lead the Wolfpack on another quest for a sustained path through March. ■