Kalana Greene is in her senior year as a Guard for the UConn Huskies. As a youngster, she started playing basketball in the neighborhood with her cousins. It kept her busy, out of mischief, and it was a good hobby that would bring positive results later in her life.

Kalana knew exactly what her most memorable experience while at UConn was and why. “The National Championship is my most memorable experience. That’s an easy question to answer. That’s what we come to college looking forward to doing. That’s why we came to Connecticut, to win a National Championship. To actually reach that goal is a feeling that you can’t recreate. It’s something you want to do again and again and again.”

Kalana’s greatest memory prior to UConn was during her first visit to UConn while still in high school. “Seeing 10,000 fans supporting women’s basketball on a regular basis, that’s basically unheard of in the part of the country I’m from.”

Kalana chose UConn because of the family atmosphere. Kalana believes that everyone is treated equally. “Coach Auriemma treats all of his team players like his own kids. If you work hard, Coach is going to try to get you into the game, and try to make your dreams come true.”

The transition from high school basketball to college basketball was difficult because in high school you may only ever play against one player that will be playing Division I college basketball. “Playing at UConn you are competing against the top athletes in the country every practice and every game. It’s difficult at first but it makes you so much better as a player and a team.” She learned early that as a team member of UConn basketball you’re appreciated by both the coaching staff and the fans for whatever your role is, whether it’s getting a rebound or playing good defense. You don’t have to score points to be recognized.

Final Four Bound: Kalana believes that to reach the Final Four again this year UConn is going to have to work ten times harder than last year. “Having won the championship, gone undefeated and lost key players to graduation will mean that everyone will have to stick together, work hard and try to do it again.”