Tyonna Williams is the lone senior on the Temple women's basketball team, which has a very young roster with seven underclassmen. As the most experienced player, Williams is expected to be a vocal leader and show the younger players what the program stands for. The coaches have worked with Williams on being a better communicator and bringing more positive energy as team leader. Williams has helped the team adjust to roster turnover and develop chemistry, setting an example at every practice. Her impact as senior leader is hoped to have a lasting effect on the program and motivate the underclassmen to work hard.

1. By Joseph Williams
Tyonna Williams Establishes Herself as the Leader of Young Owls Team
As the lone senior, she expects to have a big role this season.
The 2014-15 Temple women’s basketball team has 10 active players, with some coming
from as far as St. Louis, Missouri and Fayetteville, Georgia. The common thread between
what could be considered a very diverse group, is that seven are underclassmen. The lone
senior in the group of upperclassmen is Tyonna Williams, who the coaches hope will be the
clear leader of this year’s team.
Head coach Tonya Cardoza said she set expectations for Williams, and knows that she’s
capable of reaching them. “She’s been around the program for three years and knows
what’s expected of her. Being a vocal leader and showing the younger players what the
Temple University women’s basketball program is all about.”
Williams herself said that adjusting to the role of being the only senior on the team wasn’t
easy, and was something she needed help with before the season started.
“I talked to the coaches a lot about being a better leader. Sometimes my passion and
emotion may have come off the wrong way, but I’ve worked on being a better communicator
and bringing more positive energy.”
Along with having such a young roster, this year’s team also had to deal with plenty of
roster turnover. Four players from last seasons roster left prior to graduating. According to
Cardoza, the team has adjusted well, and Williams played a big part in helping the team
chemistry.
“I think the team has adjusted very well, and Tyonna has been a part of that by setting an
example at every practice. She does the little things, and always tries to pick the other
players up.”
Williams commented that the roster turnover “made us a closer team,” and continued by
saying “the returning players created a bond over the summer that has helped us become a
better unit.”
Being the only senior on the team, Williams’ impact will not only be great this season, but
will also contribute to the future of the program. Williams hopes that her role on the team
has a lasting effect.
“I want to have a lasting impact… I want to make the same impact for them, as the seniors
had on me during my freshman year. .
Cardoza added to that by saying “She plays with so much passion, and hopefully that rubs
off on the players. I want the younger guys on the team to listen to Tyonna and try to
emulate the toughness and passion that she brings every day.

2. While Williams understands her role as a team leader is important, she still hopes the team
can achieve big things this season.
“I don’t like to make personal goals, but I believe it is a team goal to try and get to the 20
win mark, and make a postseason tournament,” said Williams when asked on her goals for
the season.
She continued by saying “but most importantly, we want to be able to say we fought hard all
year, work hard in practice every day, play our hearts out every game, and win as many
games as possible.”