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♪ >> Coming up on "Gamechangers," the team took on Howard and Auburn at home before hitting the road to face SMU in the first ACC matchup of the season.

Then we'll get to know team captain, Laila Phelia.

>> This team can do it.

I get the chills thinking about it.

>> Next, Olivia Schmitt gets into the spirit as the team has three games to prepare for before the start of ACC play.

>> Every day you shape their skills, their confidence, and now their financial future, introducing the Bank of America advantage safe balance banking for family banking.

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>> Coach, let's start with Howard, first game back after may playing in Mohegan Sun.

Back and forth the first quarter and the team carried it away.

What impressed you the most in that one.

>> Our defense.

Our defense is doing a really great job of just effort, you know, some people play defense and angle smart and do... but the effort isn't there.

Our effort is there with every single person that we put out there.

And once they adjusted to one side of our defense, we put in a zone and that really stifled them a little bit but the effort on both defenses that we played was contagious and they all jumped in on that thing and that's important because we weren't shooting the ball as well as we wanted to.

>> One of the players that seemed to exemplify that was Shy Hawkins and her first start of the season.

I know you would say she earned it, you didn't give it to her.

What made her earn that opportunity?

>> Flying around in practice, you know, communicating in practice, coming in first in the sprint, first to the water cooler.

Those things like that, they matter.

Coaches watch and shy really has earned her opportunity, not because she is better than a lot of people on the team but the little things she is doing, has been doing, has been really noticeable, and she has earned that right to be on the starting lineup.

>> Another player that stood out, Angelica Velez, Jello as she is known in these parts.

What sort of a difference does she make in her style.

Aid assist, she brings a different style point guard play to your team, it seems.

>> To make it make sense to the world.

She brings the Bronx to Syracuse.

She is one of those cats that is flash dances and she shows, you know, she makes a pass.

Not this pass but around the back pass.

And it works for us and it's good sometimes.

Sometimes it's too much, and sometimes I have to take her out and let her understand, that was a little bit too much.

But it's what is needed for our team because there are so many different ways we can do the point position.

Donna is more of a controller of the ball.

And manages it through controlling the ball.

Angelica pitches it up and assists.

More turnovers, but something that's fun.

And then you get the other kids like Liv is going to manage the game going forward and then our rookie, she likes to do the dance inside the key and do the reverse layup but Angelica brings the Bronx to Syracuse.

>> Let's move on to Auburn, ACC, SEC challenge.

Big matchup at home in the dome.

Not the prettiest offense performance from either team.

But you got the job done.

What does it say about your group that even on an off night offensively you can still grind out a win.

>> The word we are using for the whole year: Resolute.

We are unwavering.

We are not going to take no for an answer.

If we cannot score, we will defend you, and there will be a problem for your scoring as well.

We have 15 players, and we will use them all if we have to and we are resolute in what we stand for.

We have a story to tell and we believe that we are enough and we decided that sometimes you want to sit there, and you want to shoot the ball and you want it to go in and sometimes you go 0-16.

Probably the first in my career from a three-point line but what you can still do is win if you continue to own what you can own.

That's your effort through the defensive side of the ball.

>> You are going to go 0-16 for threes, you might as do it in a win.

>> Yes, that's the only way to do it.

If you lose, coach is going to come off a little different in practice.

>> You outlasted Auburn, a game that went to overtime, after the four quarters, what was the message to your team in the huddle as you prepared for O.T.

>> To be a great team, a great coach, a great program.

A team on five other occasions we played them and couldn't find success.

And on the 6th try, we found a way to defend, and I just think that our resolute is coming out.

It's loud and clear.

We are just not going to compromise certain things and we can certainly try to be a great shooter, make the right pass but sometimes that will fail you.

But what you can control is the defensive side of the ball.

And I think that against Auburn, we are a great team for the first time and I'm excited about the possibilities of this future of this season.

>> Down the stretch, in that game, it was Dominique Darius who took over in overtime.

What is it about her that, so far this season, it seems like when the moment gets bigger, she performs even better?

>> Amnesia, she doesn't remember her bad stuff.

You know, it's so funny.

She comes out and she has always got something to say.

And I just teach her to listen.

She listens and she's really astute.

And she-- because in three to five seconds, you hear her chanting for the team.

Y'all got this, cut off the baseline.

Things I've said to her, she is now barking out to the team.

So I'm like, whatever that kid gets back on the court, I know she is going to make it do what it do and that's what she does through the bigger moments she rises higher.

She shines brighter, and we talk the game.

She is an I.Q.

kid.

And the bigger the challenge, the more she will be ready.

>> This team went on the road for the first time in ACC play this year.

ACC opener at SMU.

You talked about the Auburn game where it was more of a defensive battle.

You scored 25 points in the first squatter at SMU.

What got into the team that they were able to be so prolific offensively from the start?

>> The message was to punch first.

Coach Adair put together a toughness plan for the game and our toughness was cut the angles off.

Don't give up certain things.

Whatever our rule is, don't let that become the thing we do the next time.

Do it the first time.

We reiterated that prior to coming out to the game.

The last thing we said was "don't get punched first."

You punch first.

Not physically, but figuratively speaking.

Who are we?

We know who you kind is.

We know who South Carolina and UCLA is.

Who are we?

We are a defense team that can shoot the ball.

Not always make it but once you start shooting the ball in the rhythm you have to take it, people you see in journey and Aurora, they can rebound the ball for us.

If you start doubting yourself and hesitating, you are going to let them get their glory on the floor.

Punch first in what you bring and that gave them a sense of freedom to become.

That first quarter is really what we are striving to do for four quarters.

Second quarter we lost that by one point, but the defensive side we only gave up 15 points for a whole 10 minutes.

So we are learning who we are and we are becoming who we are supposed to be.

And it's really a joy to see.

>> A player who punched early and punched often, Sophie Burrows.

Kind of the coming out party for her this season.

How proud were you of her efforts?

>> I could have cried.

I could have cried.

I said you know, last time we played and we played against Auburn, and she hit that three.

I said to myself, when she hits her first three, I'm calling a timeout.

I didn't know it was like 30 seconds after the second quarter but I called the timeout because I knew that moment was going to define who she is already.

But just kind of it has been delayed but not denied.

And then when she goes out there and she played that three defensively and got the communication with the younger kids and blessed her with an opportunity to see that thing go in the net over and over again.

22, 24 points, six rebounds, five assists, and a couple knee burns, as well.

And three communications on the bench prior to me coming to the huddle, with the team trying to get everybody on board on who we are and what we need to do as a captain.

So, yeah, that was a pretty good game.

But that's the expectation of us for her.

We didn't say make it.

We said take it.

>> And as one of the captains on this team alongside Laila Phelia, and Dominique Darius, it seems like this leadership group continues to progress cohesively.

>> Perfect timing for that.

>> I pray that we continue.

>> Laila Phelia really nice to sit down with you here for "Gamechangers."

How do you feel the team is coming together at this point in the season?

>> I definitely feel really good about it.

We have been doing great.

This group is so close.

I feel like our chemistry is great on and off the court, and I always tell them, like this is like the root to how teams win.

If like our chemistry and everything is good on the court and, what else?

I would say hard work.

Hard work, our effort, diving on the floor for a loose ball.

Putting your pride aside and being able to really like, we are trying to win this game.

We are going to do whatever it takes to win this game.

And I feel like this team is very open to all of that.

And I always tell them, like we can be very successful.

I've seen what it looks like to go to the elite eight and I've seen what it looks like to go to the final four.

And this team can do it.

I strongly believe that.

I get the chills thinking about it because it's like we can really make it happen.

>> You've seen it.

You believe it, you know, that's great.

>> Yes.

>> It will be a welcome sound and sight for Syracuse fans for sure.

>> Exactly, yeah.

>> Your basketball journey from the college era, started at Michigan.

You go to Texas.

You end up here at Syracuse.

Tell me more about that journey.

What has led you up to this point to represent the orange?

>> So love Michigan, started there.

Then, of course, venturing out to Texas.

Had the retinal detachment.

So after that, it was a whole chain of events and it was more like I was put in a position of, you know what?

The best thing for me to do right now is to go my separate ways, I guess you could say.

And of adjust talking with coach Jack, hearing her passion, talking to coach Casey, and just hearing their confidence in me, after like sitting out a year-- and I feel like a lot of players don't talk about how hard it is to sit out a full year.

It's like your confidence, your mental state, it's really difficult.

So coming here to Syracuse and coach Jack was going to help me gain that confidence back.

And I have already noticed such a big jump in my confidence level with even just shooting the three.

If you watch my Michigan clips, probably three 3s in one game was too much for me.

I was like, this is too much.

So just being around her, being coached by her, it was like this is exactly what I need.

>> You and Dominique, we'll you have a funny back story we'll tell another day.

How do you mesh so well together.

>> We communicate together a lot on and off the court.

Every day after practice, she usually has to leave for class.

By the time I get done getting treatment, I get a text, Laila, let's talk about practice.

Okay, yeah, let's go through it.

What do we need to do?

What are you saying?

And we vent to each other about each practice.

And I feel like that has been very helpful.

And the fact that we have been to other schools before here, we really connected with that.

And of course like our back stories, so when I first got here, she was just like-- we went through the same thing.

Like let's talk about it.

She has definitely helped me a lot with that.

So just being able to have someone that was like right off the bat, like I'm here for you, like I got you and everything like that.

So it has been amazing.

>> It feels like one of your overarching goals for this year and this chapter in Syracuse has been getting your confidence back.

>> Yes.

>> And so far it looks like you've really accomplished that, watt way that you've played and the comfort you've shown on the court.

What are some of your other goals?

>> I would say right now my number one goal is to really continue to help my teammates.

There are so many of them with so much potential, and just watching them going through practice and even when they have their ups and downs and their struggles, just continuing to stay in their ear because I see the potential.

And each one of them can be great.

It's funny because, like even seeing how like shy plays, it reminds me of myself all the time.

And I'm like, girl, okay.

When do you want to get in the gym?

We can work on some stuff?

And jello and I, a funny thing we have is see who can get the jump first.

Practice is at 7:00 in the morning, we get treatment at 6:00 in the morning.

Jello and I are checking each other's location.

Who can get there first.

Our coaches are like telling me like they never used to get to the gym this early.

So trying to find the way to get everybody motivated and get everyone going.

That is another goal of mine, that I just want to be able to leave that mark on my teammates and just being able to help them in any way that I can and then of course, making history and winning an ACC championship.

But that's long-term.

>> I like it.

I like the slate that you got ahead of you, thank you for your time.

>> Of course, appreciate it.

>> Everything on TikTok, get kids Christmas presents.

And I realized that I am blessed and fortunate enough to live in a generation where I get to be paid to be a college athlete.

So I figured I would take some time today to search for toys and give back on the Syracuse community that has given me so much already, so come with me to get some toys for kids for Christmas.

>> Christmas is my favorite season ever.

My family always made it so great for me so I want to do the same for kids who didn't have the same opportunities.

>> Kids and even people my age love Legos.

And honestly a spur of the moment type thing.

I've always had an inkling that this is something I could do but I never took action on it.

I'm blessed and fortunate enough to be in a position that I'm playing a sport in the Syracuse and I realize I do have the time and the money to give back as well.

>> My favorite concept in the entire world, this is a must.

>> I know my brother would go nuts for that as a kid.

>> I just wanted to come into college and just like leave my mark, either on the court, in the community, no matter what, like I just wanted to be able to make a difference.

I think it was my second day here we had one of our summer basketball camps for the little kids, and I didn't know a single person in Syracuse.

But I had a parent come up to me and pretty much rave about how fun we were making the camp and how much her daughter is enjoying it and honestly it hit close to hope because I grew up going to basketball camps my whole life.

I know what it's like to look up to the older girls.

That was probably my first idea of like, wow, that was really nice.

She went out of her way to do such a thing.

And I kind of just made it my goal to kind of just make an impact on all these young girls lives.

>> I recommend if you are an athlete, you just give back because we have been given so much.

And we honestly are so blessed.

>> A lot of the Syracuse athletes I've spoken to, they have also made it their goal to make an impact on the community.

I feel like it is not just our team.

It's really just instilled in all of us as a university and you give credit to our athletic director but each coach and individual team, I think we all do a really good job at giving back and I'm proud to be a part of it.

>> And Christmas is so special.

I feel like so many people have lost the magic of it in the years.

So let's help our friends.

>> Everyone is so appreciative of the time and the effort that we take in our days to compete and play for championships at cuse, but they don't realize like they are part of our backbone of why we do this and why we go so hard.

And I'm from Staten Island New York so I'm still a New Yorker and Syracuse is my dream school so I kind of just made it my goal to make an impact as much as it had on me as a kid.

>> Speaking of continuing, a couple of non-conference games coming up, Binghamton.

What do you want to see from your team as you progress through the season?

>> What we want to see them do is just continue to own their power defensively.

We are going to play a lot more numbers as we go through the next three games because I'm still trying to figure out, you know, how you win an ACC championship.

Who actually understands that?

Who does poorly on the floor and runs off the court and daps up her team and still understands that she smashed and wants to stay but gives good energy so the person goes out and creates synergy.

Who is the one that can hit the clutch 3?

The last game the score was starting to change a little bit.

And I went to grab Maddie Potts.

I wanted to see if she could hit the shots in the clutch.

I need to find out and in weird situations, if I call you, will you be ready for your own dreams?

And so we are trying to figure that out for the next three games before we go on vacation.

So I have five days home by myself to kind of organize a plan for the ACC first time around.

So I think we have a good strategy.

I got some good support people on the outside on the coaching staff that pours into me that helps me understand what it needs to look like on the floor, what I stood for when we were winners when I was a younger coach and a reminder of what I'm trying to create here.

And so I don't lose my way.

>> The end of non-conference play and then after that, a little break that you will have, you start right up against the team that was picked to be the preseason ACC favorite in Duke; at home, Sunday at 4.

How excited are you for the opportunity to play the blue devils?

>> I'm excited to play anybody that can help us continue to move forward in our story and our journey and our dream and our desire to tell the people, listen, this is me.

This is us.

This is Syracuse women's basketball.

Orange and Blue and white and red, this is what we look like.

And if Duke decides to come here on the 28th and play us, we want to still continue to tell our story.

It's never going to be about Duke or Florida State or Miami.

It's only about Syracuse.

It's only about who we are and what we stand for.

It used to be last year, oh God, and it's not that fear anymore.

It's all about respect.

There are some really great teams.

I believe there is a final four team in our ACC conference this year.

Who is it, I don't know.

But that's how talented I think we are on any given night.

So it's not about disrespecting my colleagues.

It's about kind of understanding who my team is and who we are and what we are trying to do.

What we are trying to do is show the world that we, too, are enough.

We matter, and we are coming.

>> As a prize recruit, as a freshman, Uche Izoje has been tearing it up.

Now a two-time ACC rookie of the week.

First time the program has had that happen since 2021.

And you and the staff rewarded her with the hard hat, the Bank of America hard hat.

What has she brought to this team?

What she thinks she brings to the team.

She is the best dancer on the team.

This young lady, we can talk accolades about her all day.

She can run, she can jump.

She can box shots, she can score and she can defend.

But what is the most impactful thing about this young lady?

She is a great human being.

She is a kid that you just have to love, or you are not a real human being.

I mean the way she graces you with her smile, the way she hugs you and you are a stranger.

The way she sees a teammate who is sad and puts her arm around them.

The way she connects with every coach and everybody that comes around her is remarkable.

You see her on campus and everybody seems to know her.

Like Uche, who is that?

I think I met her in class or something.

She waved at me, and I waved at her.

If you get to know my team, you will get to know the inside scoop.

Not you but the fans who are listening.

Uche Izoje is one of the best recruits we've had all around because of what she brings from our characters academics and our basketball.

But the basketball piece, we didn't know what kind of timetable we were going to have with her with her adjustment from her time in Japan to here.

It's not what we need it to be but way further than we thought it would be.

She catches on fast, she is a visual learner.

She is a person that will ask questions, and she will say no, that's too fast, and take you to slow down.

And take you to a place that she can comprehend.

The reason we have success sometimes, or most of the time, I would say is our defense.

Uche Izoje, she defends and she doesn't allow our team especially our shooters to feel like they're on an island by themselves.

They miss a shot, she is going to get the rebound.

They get beat, she is the one that is going to stop and now she is second time ACC rookie of the week.

It makes me smile because it's because of defense.

>> She got it.

[Laughter] >> 16 points, 13 rebounds!

[ Cheering ] >> You guys did a great job.

Every time like we... you guys talk to me and we come together... [ Cheering ] >> Every day you shape their skills, their confidence, and now their financial future.

Introducing Bank of America safe balance banking.

A parent-owned bank account, hands on banking experience for your child.

No monthly maintenance fee until your child turns 25.

Their first debit card.

Mobile and online banking access.

Flexible parental controls right from where you manage your account.

Set spending limits.

Manage where they make purchases.

View their account activity.

When they're ready, they can grow into an account they own.

The same account and debit card numbers with more features.

Each step helps them on the path to financial freedom.

What would you like the power to do?

Bank of America.

>> This program is brought to you by the members of WCNY.