Last year the Baylor women’s basketball team was knocked off in the finals of the NCAA tournament by Texas A&M. In this vein, Coach Kim Mulkey decided to put basketball psychology into play. At the beginning of this season Coach Mulkey had green bracelets made for each player to wear all season that said “Unfinished Business.” It was used as a motivator and a reminder of their loss in the finals the preceding year.

During the season the Ladies Bears mental game in basketball and their physical game was nothing but outstanding. As a result they achieved finished business. They beat Notre Dame the NCAA National Championship which meant they finished the season with a first ever in NCAA history 40-0 season. Unbelievable accomplishment.

Throughout the tournament whenever Coach Mulkey was asked about the 40-0 season her answer was always the same, “If we want to win the National Championship and that has been our goal all season then we must go 40-0.” And 40-0 they did.

The basketball mental toughness involved in not losing one game in an entire season is incredible. It involved an approach of belief, confidence and trust in themselves and the ability to make adjustments as needed. Coach Mulkey felt that all year teams have thrown ever kind of defense and offense at them they could imagine but their team and coaching staff had the mental toughness and confidence to make the adjustments needed and to put them into practice successfully.

After the Tuesday game, Baylor’s Destiny Williams acknowledged there was a mixture of elation, relief and even just a little sadness when her team won the NCAA women’s basketball title.

Of course everyone who follows women’s collegiate basketball knows that Griner is a 6’8 powerhouse in only her junior year. When asked how Griner responds to young fans she replied, “She stays until the last kid gets an autograph at camp.” That speaks volumes of the commitment to the game that Griner possesses.

Team ball: Baylor had 20 assists Tuesday, the fourth most in an NCAA title game.

Kimetria “Nae-Nae” Hayden and Jordan Madden had five each; Mulkey said all season that those two guards would be the key to Baylor winning the national championship. With their playmaking and their defense, it proved to be the case. Both were also able to make timely baskets for Baylor. Their mental game in basketball, determination, focus and basketball mental toughness was absolutely a rarity that most cannot maintained over 40 games, yet the Ladies Bears did it.

Griner’s legacy: She has another year in college, but Mulkey said she already knows how she’ll talk about Griner when she’s gone.

“The thing I’ll tell people is, ‘That child brought her lunch pail to work every day,'” Mulkey said. “She never had a bad day in practice.”

Coach Mulkey had the complete package. A team that had superior physical skills and basketball mental toughness and to that, they finish business.