💛KAYLAHNI KRYSTAL GAULDEN💛
10:00am ST LOUIS ARENA
I was nervous for todays game. I had my birth father coming to watch me and I didnt want to mess up. "What if he didnt like me, did he leave or was it me, dont mess up or he'll leave again" I thought to myself over and over again.
I was normally a hype, happy child but today I was all over the place. We had an early start today since it was hot af and the air conditioning wasn't that good.
Today we wore:
We were in the middle of doing drills when a large group of guys wearing "Never Broke Again" hoodies walked in and sat courtside next to my bench. My mom was talking to them and I knew that was my birth father. I paid no attention to it but felt nervous.
"OKAY, girls!, Kay is our shooter for the day, pass the ball to her today, it's a 1 shooter or 1 shooter for the rest of the game, the other team had number 43 and she's just as good as Kay. I dont know about you but if I was Kay, I would be pretty damn scared. These girls claim to be 10, 11 and 12 but in reality we know they're way bigger than that, in size and age. Defenders, get those hands up and attackers STAY ON YOUR PLAYER. St Louis on 3. 1..2..3 ST LOUIS" we yelled and the crowd cheered.
Today there was way more camera crews. I walked onto the court and out of the side of my eye I saw my birth dad and his crew recording me. I was a bit uncomfortable but it is what it is. I didnt want to show it.
I was the only shooter and it was getting hard since the other teams shooter is just as good and older. I was down by two points and I was mad about it. It was hot and I was getting irritated. The buzzer sounded and we went to halftime. I walked to the bench with an attitude. The head coach pulled me to the side while the assistant coach pep talked the team. Coach Z found it in him to not use his brain and pull me right next to the crew of people. He yelled "what was that?! That was the shittest you've ever played! You better get the hell up out of here with that bullshit. Use your brain and make accurate shots!" he said angry. "I can't even get up in front of her, she's taller and older than me and-" I complained but he said "IT DOESNT MATTER, thats the type of energy that makes you lose. Get out there and win it. if you dont, you not coming back to this team" he said. I rolled my eyes and walked away with an attitude.
"Kentrell she got yo attitude" the light skin one with big ears said and cracked up laughing. I annoyingly grabbed my gatorade, took a few sips and put it back. I walked back on the court walking pissed off as hell. I got into my position and had a stank look on my face.
This one chick MaDdIe HAD to come and piss me off more. "Why are you so mad?" she said in her white girl high pitched voice. I just looked at her weird and looked back at the court. "Why are you even here, you're supposed to be over there" I said pointing elsewhere. "well technically, I AM wing so I can be in your peri-" she started but I just walked away tryna not here all that. She just kept following me so I took a deep breath in and tried my hardest to stay calm. Tell me why she keep following me, getting all close and shit. "Oh my brain, back up" I said putting my hand out and pushing her back. Shorty had the audacity to push me back hard as fuck. I'm really small so I flew a mile back. The ref racist ass aint even about to blow the whistle. She put her hand on her mouth after she realised what she did and put her hand out to help me out. I got up, dusted myself off and walked straight past her after I stared her down. I shook my head as I walked past her. The way shorty balled her eyes out.
We was 5 minutes away from the buzzer and I was up 18 points. Then some big ass girl was attacking as I was dribbling. I dribbled the ball with barely any space to move. She towered over me, I was about to shoot and I was in mid-air and she put her hands all the way up in my face and I got pushed back onto the floor and landed weirdly on my knee. The crowd went hectic and the ref didnt even call a foul. Everyone was yelling at the ref demanding answer.
I got up and felt a sharp pain in my knee so I held it as I walked and limped. Coach Z yelled "TIMEOUT!" and my teammates helped me walk back to the benches and I took a seat near the light skin guy that looked the oldest.
"Where are you hurt?" Coach Z asked. I pointed to my knee. "you been had knee problems before, wrap it up and get on the court, you only have 3 minutes left and you can't give out yet" he said. I nodded and highfived everyone on my team.
the assistant coach gave me a sleeve and some bandage. I wrapped my knee with some bandage and put the sleeve ontop. I've hurt my knee before but it was never this bad. I still felt sharp pains rushing in and out of my leg. I got up and limped back to the court and the crowd cheered for me.
I was playing really good until the pain started coming back. It was obvious because my hand was on my knee the whole time. I gave my coach a look that I couldn't play anymore and he nodded mouthing "keep going". We only had a minute anyways. My whole leg was hurting so bad so I bent over and untied my lace because it felt so tight.
the final buzzer sounded and the mic guy announced "St Louisiana is on 83 points and Kings is on 57 points. Louisiana wins!" and the crowd chanted my name. The crowd started running onto the court towards me and police and security swarmed the venue.
Me and my team went into the locker rooms, gathered our stuff and got onto our bus back to the hotel.