Love On The Court

𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕖

📅: February 16th, 2022
📍: Staples Center~Los Angeles, California

"Listen up, Ladies!" Penelope stands by the exit of the locker room. "This game right here is the game that'll determine whether we are eligible for the playoffs," she informs.

The team members' murmurs fill the room and Penelope grabs their attention once more. "We got this, ladies! Don't even worry about it! Today, we go hard. We go hard for our family. For our friends. For that crowd out there. And we take that win!"

"Let's go liberty! Let's go liberty!" the crowd's cheering can be heard in the distance.

"But coach, we aren't in our home town. We always suck at away games."

"Sabrina, since when have we ever let that discourage us? Have we ever lost any of our away games?" the older woman raises her eyebrow.

"No ma'am." the athlete shakes her head. "Exactly. So every single one of you, remove that thought out of your head! Let's win this, understand!?"

"Hell yeah!"

"I said do you understand!?"

"Hell yeah!" they yelled, whoops and cheers following after.

"Now, lady liberties on three. One...two...three..."

"Lady liberties!"

     The whistle goes off and Toni takes the ball from Michaela, following the gameplay. Sabrina is wide open, so Toni makes the pass before dodging her opponent. When she's open again, she's in the paint. Sabrina instantly passes the ball back, and Toni makes the layup.

"Sabrina and Toni are working on their stamina today! The two are on fire, especially in the first quarter."

"Sabrina already has 23 points and it's almost halftime."

"Toni! Here!" Michaela calls out for her. Toni tries to get open as her teammates defend the ball. When she is finally open, Onyenwere passes it. Just as Toni gets the ball in her possession, her opponent aggressively pushes her over, causing the referee to call a foul.

"Foul on Toni Topaz."

"What the fuck?!" Toni scowls at the woman as she jumps back up on her feet. "Toni, aye, no!" Michaela holds her teammate back. Huffing, Toni shrugs the woman off of her and goes to the free-throw line to get her two shots.

"Topaz at the free-throw line. Two shots."

The arena erupts into loud sounds from the inflatable noise makers. Jokes on them, Toni practices for moments like this. The noise makers never bother her.

Toni effortlessly makes her two shots, pushing their points up by 19. Just as the game is about to get into full swing, Penelope calls time out.

Toni drops the ball and follows her teammates to their coach. "Topaz, what the hell was that?"

"I'm sorry, coach. I got a little upset." the brunette says sheepishly. "Upset? Toni, this is a basketball game! Not a wrestling rink!" Penelope scolds. "Dangerfield, you take Topaz's position."

"But coach—"

"You need a breather, Toni. You need to calm down." Penelope doesn't let her get a word in.

"Fuck!" Toni scoffs before untucking her jersey from her matching shorts. She makes her way over to the chairs, immediately reaching for her Gatorade.

She doesn't notice Cheryl sitting there until the redhead looks up. "Are you okay?" the model asks, reaching for Toni's Gatorade. Their hands brush together and Toni's skin breaks out into goosebumps.