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Shay, Layne, Ledger, Hilton, and Roy took the court. Layne winked at Shay, who smiled back at her. The clock started rolling. They held their competition to only two points in the first two minutes, but they hadn’t scored themselves and were now down by two, with only three minutes left. Hilton’s shot hit the glass and rolled along the rim before dropping inside, tying things up, but they lost one of the guards on the other side of the court, and a quick three from their competitor meant that Dunbar was now down by three, with a minute and a half left.
After holding the ball for as long as they could, they made a two and went back on defense, managing to hold the other team to no points and getting a rebound. When Shay brought the ball up, Layne saw her checking the clock. There were sixty seconds left when Shay got the ball inside to Hilton, who passed it out to Roy, who took a shot. It went in just as the shot clock expired. They were only down by one, with under a minute left, but it wasn’t time to foul. They would have another possession. Until then, they just needed to hold the other team to two points or none at all, and they’d have a chance to tie it up.
Then, Hilton fouled under the basket and on the shot. Not only that, but she fouled the best free-throw shooter on the opposing team, who made the shot and would now have a chance to put her team up by four, with under thirty seconds left in the game. Hilton looked dejected, but Shay hurried over to her, and Layne heard her tell Hilton to let it go. There was still time left.
When the free throw went in, Layne saw it slipping away, but she held it together. Shay got her the ball, and Layne took a three with sixteen seconds left. It was a shot that she only took because she’d been open, but it went in. They were down by one, with fourteen seconds left. Now was the time to start fouling. They had one to give, so on the inbound, Shay fouled quickly, forcing the other team to inbound again. Layne fouled that time, and they walked to the other end of the court for one and one.
A miss on this shot from their opponent would give Dunbar time to rebound and run a play for the win. They didn’t miss. Dunbar was down by two. The second shot didn’t go in, though, and Dunbar needed a two to tie or a three to win.
Fourteen seconds on the clock. Layne’s heart was racing. She’d never been this tired or this winded. Shay looked tired and winded, too, but also ready. Hilton got the rebound and passed it to Roy, who had been the closest to her. Roy got it to Layne, who brought the ball up and scanned the court. She knew where Shay would go, but so did the opposition’s defense. Two players made their way out to guard Shay.
“Roy!” Layne yelled.
Roy hurried over and set a pick for Shay. Hilton moved out from under the basket and set a pick for the other player who had been guarding Shay. Shay rushed to Layne, who practically handed her the ball. Then, Layne stood still and waited. Shay was behind her, but Layne knew what she’d do. Shay fired off a three with four seconds left on the clock. If she missed, they’d have time for a rebound and to put up a quick two, but Shay didn’t miss.
Shay made the three, and with one second left on the clock, there wasn’t enough time for the other team to inbound the ball and get a shot off. The few people in the stadium cheered. The Dunbar bench went wild. Still, there was that second left, so everyone stayed where they were. Then, the ball came in, and the buzzer sounded.
Dunbar University had won it all. The biggest Cinderella team of the season was now the best team in the country.
Shay was in her arms before Layne knew it, and she held on to her so tightly.
“I love you,” Shay said. “I can’t believe we did it!”
“God, I love you,” Layne replied and kissed Shay on her sweaty neck. “You’re so fucking amazing.”
“So are you.” Shay pulled out of the hug and kissed Layne on the lips. “And we’re no longer teammates, so–” She pulled Layne in for a deeper kiss, which Layne happily accepted.
Seconds later, they were pulled apart by Hilton and Ledger, which was appropriate because they were part of a team; they could celebrate as a couple alone later. The whole celebration was a blur, though, and it ended before Layne knew it. They walked over and told the other team, ‘Good game,” before they practically rushed back into their locker room.
“Something you two want to tell me?” Coach asked.
“We’ve been together for over a year,” Shay answered. “And I know we still have to be careful, but, Coach, can Layne and I share a room tonight? To be honest, we’re going to do it anyway, but if we have your permission, that will make it a lot easier.”
Their coach laughed and said, “It’s fine. But masks everywhere outside of that room until we’re back, yeah?”
“Yes, Coach,” Layne replied for both of them. “And, Coach?”
“Yeah?”
“I know you’ve put me up for that extra year, but I don’t want it,” Layne said. “I…” She looked at Shay. “I don’t want to play without her. And I think I’d like to go out with a win, you know?”
“You don’t think we’ll repeat next year?” Coach teased.
Layne laughed and said, “I wouldn’t put it past you. Is the offer to be a grad assistant still on the table, though? If so, I can do that.”
“It is,” Coach replied. “Let’s talk when we get back. We’ll find the money to help you out with school.”
“Thank you!” Layne said, feeling like she might have part of her future worked out at least.
“And, Shay, you’re the top requested interview,” Coach added. “I’m sure you’re not surprised. You and Layne will be representing us for the virtual press, so celebrate for a few minutes with your team and get yourselves ready. You should get used to that, too.” She pointed at Shay. “You’re about to get drafted, kid.”
EPILOGUE
After her second year with the Indiana Fever, Shay was traded to the Chicago Sky, which had been her request, and the team had been kind enough to let her go. She hadn’t played many minutes for them during the two seasons anyway, and they’d gotten a draft pick for the following season out of it, so she didn’t think they cared too much. After all, it was all business when someone played a professional sport. Nothing should be taken personally.
Shay had already felt lucky to have been drafted at all after being the captain of the first twelve seed ever to make it into the Elite Eight, Final Four, and then a National Championship game. When Dunbar had managed to win the whole thing, Shay had gone in the third round to Indiana. She’d been the second-to-last pick, but she hadn’t cared. She’d been from a school that hadn’t even played DivisionI basketball all that long ago and had managed to win a championship.
Yes, people had called it a championship during a COVID season. Some had said they wouldn’t have won it otherwise. And while none of them would ever know for sure, that team they’d beaten in the end had had four of its five starters return, and their backup starter had been their first woman off the bench the season before. They’d all gone in the first round of Shay’s draft, so the fact that Dunbar had pulled off a victory against them said something to Shay.
