Reigan Richardson’s enhanced performance is propelling Duke forward in the NCAA Tournament.
“We are here because players like Reigan, Ashlon (Jackson), and Kennedy (Brown) embraced our young players early on and were patient with them,” said Duke head coach Kara Lawson on Sunday. “If you had seen us in the summer, it was a train wreck on a lot of days. They were patient with them and poured into them, invested in them.” Freshman Oluchi Okananwa emphasized Richardson’s significant role on the team, stating that she is someone the Blue Devils rely on. Okananwa credited the older players, including Richardson, for helping her understand the timing of plays, ideal positioning, and the small details of a championship-level team. “She’s really just been an excellent role model,” Okananwa remarked.
Lawson described the Georgia transfer as “steady,” noting that there’s never any doubt about what to expect from her. Even if shots aren’t falling, Richardson is focused on defending and detail-oriented. Her consistent work ethic is commendable, and she remains composed under pressure. “It’s actually funny because growing up I have not been the best with consistency. That’s something that I have been working on,” Richardson shared. “I know whether I’m going or not offensively, I can rely on other aspects of my game. I feel like that’s been a consistent part of my game, just trying to give 110% every time I’m on the floor.”
Lawson highlighted Richardson’s continuous growth since joining the program. Last year, she played a supporting role off the bench in a senior-loaded team. This season, Richardson has started every game and plays a significant role in both offense and defense. “She’s continuing to just learn how to handle that,” Lawson added. “I’m proud of how she’s grown and developed. She continues to be, I think, one of the best two-way players in our league and in the country.”
Richardson expressed that her confidence is at an “all-time high,” and she’s focused on extra practice during the postseason to avoid being on the “go home” side of “win or go home.” Freshman Jadyn Donovan praised Richardson for her leadership on and off the court, noting that she can rally the team without saying a word. Richardson and the Blue Devils (22-11) aim to extend their season against No. 3 seed UConn (31-5) on Saturday, scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. “It’s great to feel because it’s like, okay, you have someone that has your back; someone that you can lean on in a tournament like this,” Donovan concluded.
