Sure, there was a game to talk about, a 106-63 loss to the reigning NCAA National Women’s Champions, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.
But University of Memphis women’s basketball coach Alex Simmons made sure to focus attention on the reason for the Hoops for St. Jude Tip-Off Classic: The lives touched by St. Jude and how a recent visit impacted her team about the importance of the iconic institution.
“Our tour guide has a son who found out that he had cancer when he was 8, and she was able to give us some firsthand experience of knowing someone in that situation,” Simmons said, speaking of the visit to St. Jude. “I had the mentality that this could potentially be my child, so what can I do to help?”
The contest was part of a doubleheader, which also saw the North Carolina Tar Heels down Memphis 84-76. The ticket sales from both games benefited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which fights to save the lives of children diagnosed with cancer.
Simmons wasn’t the only person moved by her visit to St. Jude. Memphis guard Tanyuel Welch made her first appearance since 2023 after suffering a knee injury last year. She scored 12 points, grabbed three rebounds, and accumulated four assists in the loss.
Welch is happy to be healthy enough to play, and even after her solid game, her mind was on the kids at the hospital. “Honestly, it felt surreal, and it was a very special moment being back out on the court with the team. This was a very special moment for me,” Welch said.
“However, the experience at St. Jude reminded me to be grateful because there are kids fighting life-changing situations, and yet there’s people who complain about everyday things.”
The significance of the event wasn’t just felt on the side of the home team. South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley grew emotional when discussing her team’s visit to St. Jude.
“St. Jude gives people hope, and being able to talk with research doctors and patients can be overwhelming, but it definitely gives us all perspective,” Staley said after the game. “I just hope our players know that there’s a lot more going on outside of their existence that’s much more dire.”
Memphis shooting guard Tilly Boler, who led the Tigers with 16 points, also shared her thoughts on St. Jude and how she keeps things in perspective. She visited the hospital during her time at Jackson State, but the team’s visit on Monday really impacted her mindset and viewpoint on life.
“I connected with one of the girls there, and I started to get emotional, but I did not let her see it, because she’s fighting something much more serious,” Boler said. “I walked out of there just more grateful and appreciative for what I have.”
