Katie Abrahamson-Henderson has brought her hit culture to Athens. It’s already on full display for Lady Dogs.
When Katie Abrahamson-Henderson returned to UGA in March, she knew she had big shoes to fill and needed to make an impact fast.
Becoming the third full-time head coach in program history, Abrahamson Henderson is part of a program with a long-standing culture and high expectations. Coach Abby really puts her own spin on that culture.
Katie Abrahamson-Henderson has already made the UGA team to her liking
When Johnny Taylor left, a lot of Georgia’s roster left, too. Between transfers and graduation, UGA lost its top five scorers from last season. Top recruiter Jania Parker chose to follow Taylor to Texas A&M.
It didn’t take long for Coach Abe to fill in the roster again.
She quickly brought in six transfers and four freshmen, essentially building the team any way she wanted for the first year. Not many coaches have this luxury.
Three more transfers from UCF followed: Diamond Battles, Alisha Lewis, and Brittney Smith. All three were key players in last season’s 26-4 lineup. Battles won AAC Player of the Year, Player of the Year, and Tournament Player of the Year honors and was a collegiate first-team All-AAC selection. Lewis led the team in assists and shot over 40 percent from depth. Smith won the AFC Player of the Year award.
Coach Abe also brought in two big names from the Big 12 in Audrey Warren and Kari Niblack. Warren was a major contributor to the Texas team that went to the Elite Eight in a row. Niblack received three All-Big 12 honorable mentions while at West Virginia.
In-conference transfer De’Mauri Flournoy is back home in Georgia after an uneventful freshman year at Vanderbilt. Flournoy was to thrive under Abrahamson Henderson sooner rather than later.
A few influential players decided to return to UGA as well. Seniors Javyn Nicholson, Mallury Bates, Jordan Isaacs, and Chloe Chapman have key roles again this season. Junior Zoesha Smith played the best ball of her college career. Their returns filled out a very talented roster to work with Abrahamson-Henderson.
Through 11 matches, Abrahamson-Henderson continued her winning streak
In her 17 years as head coach, Coach Abe has managed to get her level Great resume. 703 winning percentage and its teams average 22 wins per season. Its teams have won 16 conference championships and have earned 14 postseason berths.
UGA is already about halfway to a 22-win average.
Sitting at 9-2, Lady Dogs looks hungry and eager to succeed and has already taken on the identity of her coach. They play aggressive defense on the court from start to finish. Abe’s team only gives up 56.2 points per game. One of the ways they limit their opponents is by forcing them to turn. The Lady Dogs command 19.8 turnover per game. When opponents can get shots, they only shoot 37 percent against UGA.
On offense, UGA thrives on ball and fielder movement. They average 16.4 assists per game and lead opponents by 16 points per game. Abrahamson-Henderson players chase it down the board as well, outpacing their opponents by averaging 12 rebounds per game.
Coach Abby focuses on maintainingWe, not me Approaching
Throughout her career, Abrahamson-Henderson has made it an emphasis that her teams are the sum of their parts, and all parts are equally important and valuable. They make sure that every player, coach, employee and fan knows their importance and it shows. This mindset is reflected at every level of her team, from the way they defend to the way they support each other. It’s Coach Abby’s standard.
The importance of the Abrahamson-Henderson “we, not me” approach cannot be overstated. When UGA takes the field, there is an undeniable level of chemistry and confidence between the players. It exudes during every play. It’s not perfect, but it’s clear that what he has in place for Abby works. It has already built a strong foundation for the future.
This mentality will keep Georgia in the mix as long as Coach Abe is in command. It will attract recruits and transfers. It would be the intangible difference between being a good team and being a great team. For a school that has been consistently good but not great, this is exactly what they need.
This is what will ultimately elevate UGA to an annual title contender. That high will come soon.
Coach Abe has yet to lead UGA through an SEC challenge. This is when the real tests will arrive. But part of being a great team is handling the business against weaker teams, and Georgia has done just that with ten games. The way they did it should inspire optimism among fans.
Because it’s Coach Abby’s way. And it is here to stay.
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