Real emotion also defines March Madness
Fred Jeter | 4/4/2024, 6 p.m.
Baylor’s Jada Walker heard all the cheers along the way. Then, in the end, came the tears.
The Richmond native became a focal point of ESPN cameras in the closing seconds of the Bears’ 74-70 NCAA loss to Southern California March 30 in Portland, Ore.
In the final few seconds, Walker broke down. Her eyes turned red. She pulled up her No. 11 green jersey to dab her cheeks.
A timeout with just 0:01.2 prolonged the drama, allowing the TV crew to focus on it. She played the final tick sobbing. Her teammates lovingly consoled her.
The 5-foot-7 southpaw didn’t go down easily. Logging 36 of the 40 minutes versus USC, the junior scored 15 points, passed for seven assists and was a relentless defender. She left her heart, albeit broken, on the floor.
Earlier in the tournament, Walker helped Baylor to wins over both Vanderbilt and host Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. Foiling a rambunctious Hokie crowd of some 10,000 people, she scored 28 points, 26 in the second half.
To many, March Madness is all about buzzer-beater shots, joyous celebrations and confetti raining from the rafters.
Jada Walker knows there is more to it than that.
