𝐰𝐡𝐨'𝐬 𝐚𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐞? - paige bueckers

twenty-four | the portal

15th April, South Bend Indiana

KYLA HAD BEGAN PACKING HER THINGS. She hadn't even told her team that she'd made up her mind. To be fair, she didn't know how.

Notre Dame was her childhood dream; it was what she had always wanted to achieve. Now she was leaving and moving to the basketball powerhouse of the NCAA.

Notre Dame may have been her past, but Connecticut was where she would genuinely be able to grow. Basketball was never the end goal. Kyla knew she didn't have what it took to make the WNBA. All that meant was that this was Kyla's last season of basketball, and the thought of that saddened her more than she thought it would.

She still hadn't mentioned the move to Paige, and now that she had officiated her entry into the portal with the NCAA, she knew that the media would be finding out sometime in the next few days. Yet, she still couldn't bring herself to tell her past fling and future teammate.

Kyla began packing her things into boxes, her AirPods on full blast as she did so. The music drowned out her thoughts, but not the underlying anxiety gnawing at her.

Change was always an adjustment, and despite knowing all of the Connecticut girls it was still daunting entering a new program this late in her collegiate career.

As the hours passed, her room slowly emptied, the boxes stacking up against the walls. Kyla took a break, sitting on her bed and looking around at the bare walls and empty shelves. The reality of her decision hit her hard. She was leaving behind everything familiar for a chance to grow, but the uncertainty of what lay ahead was intimidating.

She had been on the phone with Natalija constantly, both of them figuring out how to announce to the team their respective moves, despite Nat's being more expected.

She had organised a team dinner with the Notre Dame girls who were still in South Bend, yet word had gotten around, and her teammates and friends all had their suspicions.

As she walked to the nearby diner, she found herself uncharacteristically nervous. Her heart pounded as she approached the corner booth where most of her teammates sat.

"Ky, we missed you, babe," Kylee smiled, walking over to embrace her.

Kyla returned the smile, greeting her teammates before taking her seat next to Natalija, who also planned to explain to the girls her plans to attend UMiami.

The diner's familiar buzz was a comforting backdrop as Kyla looked around the table. Her friends chatted, but she could sense the underlying tension. Natalija gave her a reassuring nod, signaling that she, too, was ready for this difficult conversation.

"So, I'm transferring to UConn," Kyla blurted out, the chatter at the table dying down as her teammates all looked over at her.

Maddy was the first one to speak up, "Kyla we're so proud of you."

The tension eased as her teammates began to nod and smile, offering words of encouragement and support.

"I know it's a big change," Kyla continued, feeling a wave of relief. "I just think it's what's best."

Kylee reached across the table to squeeze her hand. "We get it, Ky. It's your future, and we want what's best for you."

Anna spoke up, "We're all gonna' miss you so much, Ky."

Kyla smiled, feeling the warmth and support from her friends. "I'm gonna miss you all too. This team has been my family, and leaving is really hard. But I need this."

The rest of the dinner was filled with shared memories, laughter, and promises to stay in touch. It was bittersweet, but Kyla felt a sense of closure and relief.

Kyla struggled to say goodbye to the place that had been her home for so long, yet it was needed and it was necessary. The unwavering support gave her the real courage to be completely transparent, announcing her departure officially.

Yet, one thought... or better yet person had slipped her mind completely, Paige Bueckers.

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kylakovlova12 thankyou, irish nation ☘️
this team has been my family for the last three years and i cannot thank @ndwbb, @irishcoachivey, the support staff, the fans and everybody who has been involved in this incredible program throughout my time enough. my time here in south bend has been incomparable and i am forever grateful for the opportunities this program has granted me. i've made life-long memories and friends, i've played in tournaments i could only ever dream of. but, on that note, i have decided to officially enter the transfer portal to use my senior year of eligibility elsewhere. so much love for you, notre dame. love, your #12 💚💚💚

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@kamoreaarnold: HOLD UPPPPP

@natalijamarshall: So much love for you, always 💕
—> @kylakovlova12: love you forever

@themauraburwood: i love you so much.

@n.kovlova: Proud
—> @kylakovlova12: 😊

imessage

paige bueckers —> paige
kyla kovlova —> Kyla Kovlova

paige
Got anything you wanted to tell me?

TASH's CORNER
okkayyyyy so it's been like a month 😇
genuinely so sorry... i kept tellling myself i was gonna write but then never did once i got back
SORRY AGAIN, love u all