The Game

Storrs, Connecticut

"Can you believe this is my last regular season game as a junior?" Paige exclaims to Nika, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as they're walking into the locker room. Paige and Nika were practically sisters. All around campus, people would call them 'The Twins.' They were the duo that caught everybody's attention.

"Yea I know it's so crazy to think about that." Nika replied. Nika was a senior but had decided to stay an extra year at UConn to play basketball. "It seems like yesterday I was on a plane from Croatia to come here and play basketball."

Paige and Nika entered the locker rooms and began to start changing. They were greeted by some of their teammates such as Aaliyah and Caroline.

Before exiting the locker rooms, the team huddled up into a circle and said a chant privately before going on to the basketball court.

"Let's kick some Iowa ass!" Paige yelled as the rest of the team cheered. "Alright, UConn on 3. 1, 2, 3"

"UCONN!" The whole team gladly yelled back

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UConn's starting five had been one of the best starting fives in the game. It consisted of Paige Bueckers, Nika Mühl, Aaliyah Edwards, Azzi Fudd, and Carolina Ducharme. When these 5 were on the court together, it was pretty hard to get past them. Iowa's starting five was just as talented and good though. Their starting five was Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall, Monika Czinano, and the freshmen, Hannah Stuelke.

As the Iowa team finished warming up, Lisa Bluder gathered them all around her. "Alright everybody listen up! This is our last regular season game and to be honest with you, I think this is one of the best years we've had. I know we have March Madness coming up but for one more time." She paused for a moment. "I just want to say thank you to all the Seniors. It will most definitely be so sad to not see your faces anymore next season. You guys have made me so proud and I can't wait to see what you guys will be doing in the future."

There wasn't one face in sight of the Iowa's basketball team that you would look at and not see a tear in sight. The last thing a crowd will probably want to see is a team tearing up right before a game. But this was very emotional for the team of the Hawkeyes because of how close they all were to each other. It was also like an angel in disguise because now that speech just gave them more of a reason to win this last game. To win it for the seniors.

Both starting fives got settled on to the half court logo patiently waiting for the tip off. There was much tension in the air as each person was making serious eye contact with their person. All except one person.

Nika was staring mindlessly into the crowd looking for her boyfriend. Her and her boyfriend, Dayton, have been going 'strong' for 2 years. Or so she thought. Every game, Nika would search for him in the crowds but it was no luck. Nika supported everything he did but he never returned the favor. The last time she could recall him showing up to one of her games, was probably the first three months of them dating.

Dayton never showed up to her games, not even the home ones. Nika was starting to get fed up with it but they had so much history so why should she break it off? And it's not like Dayton went to another college. He also went to UConn and played a spring sport. So there was no reason for Dayton not to be there.

This never went unnoticed by Paige. She knew in her mind that Nika deserved way better than some douche who is probably cheating on her right now. But Paige would never say anything because she knew how easily sensitive and furious Nika can get.

Monica and Aaliyah had done the tip off. Iowa had won the tipoff, and it didn't take long for Caitlin to get the game flowing with a made deep three. Despite it being a home game, Hawkeye fans were true to the team and would travel anywhere to watch their favorite team play.

It was now midway through the third quarter. UConn was up 57-55. Everyone on both teams were playing a great game. But it was fairly obvious the shining stars on each team were Paige and Caitlin.

It was now Iowa's ball and Caitlin had the ball in her hand. Everyone was currently depending on Caitlin to shoot. If she makes a layup, Iowa could now tie with UConn. If she makes a three pointer, then Iowa could now have their first lead since it was overtaken by UConn in the late of the first quarter. Caitlin is beyond the three point line and is looking for someone to screen so she can gather a little room to take a shot. As Kate is coming up to screen for her, Kate gets pushed by Nika and bunks into Caitlin.

"Hey what the fuck do you think you're doing" The Referee finally blows the whistle, but the call was too late.

Nika takes a step forward so the proximity between her and Kate is very slim. "I'm playing the game of basketball."

"Yea and you should know damn well enough that, that is not a basketball play dude."

"How about don't be so damn whiny and suck it up."

Two hands land on Nika's chest and she slightly moves backwards. Nika has no problem returning the favor to Kate.

Before any of this could go further, each of their teammates hold them back as a Referee gets between the two groups. Nika was yelling who knows what in Croatian towards Kate as she was doing the same in English. The technical foul gets called on Nika and so now both Nika and Kate are sitting on the bench.

"What the hell were you thinking Nika?" Geno was fuming and furious at Nika. The slam of his clipboard had made her flinch.

"It's not my fault she's too much of a pussy to handle a push. If she wants to be weak then that's not my problem." Nika refused to look up at Geno. She knew if she looked up at him, all she would see is someone who is disappointed in her. She never wanted to see the people she loved dearly be disappointed in her.

"For you to push someone, almost knocking them to the ground, then telling Kate and the Referee off is very unacceptable behavior Nika. You will sit out the rest of this quarter and you should think about what you have done. Maybe I'll reconsider playing you in the fourth quarter. You are a star player on this team Nika, and you possibly risked our chance of winning."

But before Nika could get a word out, Geno had already walked away. The stubbornness and toughness Nika had on and off the court seemed to be fading away. This was probably the most visibly vulnerable Nika Mühl had been in a while.

Coach Bluder had also been a little mad with Kate, but not too extensively although she had initiated the fight. Kate didn't get the technical foul, Nika did.

Geno had decided to let Nika play in the fourth quarter. He had decided that Nika should play now, and deal with the consequences later. Despite Kate and Nika both being in at the same time, without speaking to each other, it was a mutual agreement for both coaches to decide to make sure they stay as far away from each other as possible.

Iowa fell short of the victory as the final score was 82-77. The whole Iowa team was disappointed in themselves as they really wanted to get this win for the seniors. This was most of their last chances. But they hadn't been as saddened as they normally would be considering they had March Madness coming up. That was far more exciting and big than just a regular season game.

Kate, Gabbie, and Caitlin were all walking beside each other as they were leaving the arena. It didn't take long for Gabbie to break the awkward silence that was existing before her.

"So that third quarter, very exciting wasn't it?"

Kate scoffed. "If humiliating is what you mean then yea. Totally."

"Don't get yourself down on it Kate, it happens. Its normal in sports. Besides, I know there's a bunch of fans ready to make some hot edits of you and that fight between Mühl."

"Thanks Caitlin, you always know how to make me feel better." Kate jokingly said.

"My pleasure."

"Once again, sorry Kate and Caitlin, I don't want to ruin the moment, although it kind of seemed ruined already, but, what's going to happen on the Myrtle Beach vacation now with the UConn team. I mean now there's just going to be a bunch of tension in the air now between Kate and Nika."

Kate's eyes widened at Gabbie's words. She had totally forgotten about the vacation with the UConn team. She wasn't really close with any of the UConn team. So as if it couldn't get any worse, she now had an enemy on the team. Shit.

Author's Note:

What's good yall. I honestly enjoyed writing this chapter and I hope you guys enjoy it too. Before things can get better, things will get worse...