University of Massachusets Athletics
A Brooklyn Bond Inspired one of Yahmani McKayle’s Best Performances
February 18, 2025 | Women's Basketball
A Brooklyn Bond Inspired one of Yahmani McKayle’s Best Performances
By: Adam Greene
AMHERST, Mass. — Upon suiting up to play St. Bonaventure in UMass Women’s Basketball’s annual Play4Kay game on February 5, Yahmani McKayle arrived to a surprise in her locker. The Minutewomen were wearing pink jerseys as a tribute, but instead of her usual number ten jersey, she was met with a different numbered jersey hanging in front of her.
“I walked into the locker room and we had all the jerseys out and I saw mine said number three,” McKayle said. “I was like, ‘well where’s my number?” She heard her teammates tell her the jerseys were based on size, but she had a sense for the real reason she was about to sport a number three jersey.
“Obviously [Destiney's] name is really big here. She’s a superstar. A legend. It felt great and I was honored to be able to wear her jersey.”Yahmani McKayle on Destiney Philoxy
“Oh this is Destiney’s number,” McKayle realized. The significance? Destiney Philoxy, UMass Women’s Basketball’s all-time leader in career assists and games played, is from the same high school as McKayle, South Shore High School in Brooklyn.
To be able to wear Philoxy’s number for the upcoming game, “that was pretty cool,” McKayle said. “Obviously her name is really big here. She’s a superstar. A legend. It felt great and I was honored to be able to wear her jersey.” As an added bonus, Philoxy was making her return to UMass for the first time since graduating; McKayle was going to be wearing her number not just as a tribute to her, but with her in attendance.
McKayle, in her freshman year at UMass, mentioned how important it is to her to recognize the women who came before her and made the program what it is today, especially Philoxy. “UMass has been a home to her. The fact that she’s still coming back says a lot to us, and [to] me especially since we’re both point guards.”
“UMass has been a home to her. The fact that she’s still coming back says a lot to us, and [to] me especially since we’re both point guards.”Yahmani McKayle on Philoxy's return to Mullins Center
Once the game began, McKayle was looking to move the ball and trying to find her open teammates. She spoke about how in practice, she’s been working on “making better decisions and getting [her] teammates open and in position to score.” Even in her first year, she holds a lot of responsibility and plays a major role in how the Minutewomen offense operates. McKayle closed out the first half with seven points and a team-high four assists, and UMass took a ten-point lead into the second half.
McKayle had a good first half by all means, but was feeling the effects of the St. Bonaventure defense. “They were taking away my drive, they were clogging up the paint a lot,” she detailed. Going into the last two quarters, she was looking to “read into the game, see the gaps in the defense, and where [she] could get [herself] open.”
“I try to let the game come to me, and if the defense is giving me a shot, I’m a good enough shooter that I’m going to be able to take it.”Yahmani McKayle
Once the second half was underway, it was the Yahmani McKayle show in the Mullins Center. With Philoxy watching from the sidelines, McKayle drained four three-pointers and broke the game wide open, sparking a 12-0 UMass run to end the third quarter. While representing the undeniable legacy of Philoxy, McKayle finished the game tied for her career-high 21 points in the number three jersey. She was lights-out in the 81-54 victory, shooting 62.5% from behind the arc and connecting on seven-of-twelve field goals.
“I try to let the game come to me, and if the defense is giving me a shot, I’m a good enough shooter that I’m going to be able to take it.”
When asked if having Philoxy in the building for the game gave her any extra motivation, she smiled and said “it just made the game way more exciting. It made us want to come out with a lot more intensity, and the crowd was really into it. It meant a lot.”
While McKayle had a huge performance, she was quick to hit on what a win like that does for the locker room. “It really builds confidence,’ she said, “it brought us together as a team. There’s always another step that we can take.”
"I want to win Rookie of the Year"Yahmani McKayle
Her transition has been very successful though, and she’s found herself integrated well into the Minutwomen culture. On Monday, February 17, she took home her third A-10 Rookie of the Week Award.
“I think you can expect more consistency. I’m finding more of where my game fits into the team.”
While working towards the ultimate team goal of winning the Atlantic 10, McKayle has a personal goal for herself. “I want to win Rookie of the Year,” she asserted. “We all bring something positive to the team, and I think what I bring can push us to the next level.”
That goal stems from her work ethic and the time she’s put into becoming the best version of herself on and off the court. “Adjusting at first, I wouldn’t say it was ‘hard’, but there were a lot of things I had to learn,” she admitted. “The way basketball is played is different [in college].”
“It’s been really great here. We have a really great group of girls, and I think we all kind of sync into the games together.”Yahmani McKayle on UMass
Now entering the back half of A-10 play, UMass Women’s Basketball has its sights set on a championship. “At the end of the day, we all want to win,” McKayle said. “We all want the A-10 championship. As long as we all stick to our plan, stay together, and stay competitive,” she believes they have the ability to capture the program’s first title since 2022.
Until then, McKayle will continue to gel with her teammates and help lead the program forward: “It’s been really great here. We have a really great group of girls, and I think we all kind of sync into the games together.”