On Monday, Kentucky women’s basketball began its season with a statement win over USC Upstate.
The win marked Kenny Brooks’ first win as the Wildcats’ head coach and Kentucky’s second largest margin of victory ever in a season opener.
In the Cats’ first game, fans also saw graduate student Georgia Amoore take the court for the first time in the blue and white as she tallied her 13th double-double of her career, consisting of 11 points and 10 assists.
“I’m so excited for what we can create here,” Amoore said. “We had a decent crowd today, but I hope in the future the happiness we bring and the joy and excitement, I hope that that continues to grow and we turn UK back into a real powerhouse; a high ranked team.”
Over the course of the offseason, many speculated that Amoore had made the wrong decision by not entering her name in the 2024 WNBA draft and returning for her fifth collegiate season.
Brooks was targeted as well, being questioned if his success thus far as a coach would translate in the SEC.
With a win now under their belt, Brooks and Amoore will rely on their long lasting relationship that’s been solidified well before their tenures at Kentucky.
Brooks coached Amoore at Virginia Tech, dating all the way back to the 2020-21 season.
In front of his own eyes, he watched the Australian native transform into one of the better facilitators in college basketball and a scoring machine by her senior season.
Emotions were running high for Brooks considering it was his last first game of the season with Amoore at the helm.
Coach Brooks joked around after the game, claiming Amoore nearly brought him to tears before tip-off.
“We have a routine, she’s been my point guard for five years,” Brooks said. “We have a routine, what we do, blah blah blah, and she messed me up tonight. Instead of just running past me and giving me a high five, she stops, she looks at me and she just gives me a big hug.”
When asked about her first game performance, Amoore lobbed it back to Brooks, giving him all the credit.
“I’ve been under his leadership and plays for so long that I just know my spots,” she said. “I know who he’s leaning on to get involved.”
With a long season ahead, Brooks will lean on Amoore to lead this newly assembled Kentucky team and help the program reach new heights.
“We obviously have a lot to work on to get to where we want to be and we want to continue to climb,” Brooks said. “I’m excited about where we can go.”
Kentucky women’s basketball returns to action on Thursday, Nov. 7, to face off against the Northern Kentucky Norse inside Historic Memorial Coliseum. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET and will air live on the SEC Network+.
