Playing with Confidence
Nov 30, 2023 | Women's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Serena Sundell, the pride of Maryville, Missouri, thinks back to the days when she was 2021 Miss Show-Me Basketball and committed to Kansas State eager to show her potential at the major college level.
She believed that she could help the Wildcats in the Big 12 Conference.
But this?
Sundell is a 2023-24 Lieberman Award candidate as the nation's top point guard. She has started all 76 games in her career. And she is on the verge of becoming just the fourth player in school history to reach 1,000 points and 400 assists in a career.
"That's a big milestone," Sundell says. "That's exciting. I've been fortunate to be able to play a lot here and start a lot of games for coach (Jeff) Mittie, so I'm just really glad that I chose to come to Kansas State and that he's trusted in me, and that the coaching staff has given me this opportunity to play with these girls. It's been a lot of fun."
At 6-foot-1, Sundell possesses deft court awareness and can score at all three levels on the floor. She currently ranks second on the team with 10.6 points and 5.1 rebounds while she ranks sixth in the Big 12 with 4.3 assists per game.
There's still more out there for Sundell, an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention pick last season, who carries the capacity to help steer the ultra-talented No. 14 Wildcats, 6-1, toward the top of the Big 12 standings and on into March as a dangerous team in the NCAA Tournament.
"The leadership piece is a big thing for me, and it can go a little bit unseen," Sundell says. "I'm just playing more confident and composed. In times of adversity, it's been a big thing for me just being able to score at all three levels. To be able to do that at a high level is something I want to keep getting better at."
This comes as she has seemingly shifted gears into overdrive with a trio of standout performances in the Clean Simple Eats Gulf Coast Showcase.
After a quiet start to her campaign — Sundell combined for just 19 points while dishing out 15 assists in the first four games of the season — she erupted with a season-high 21 points, six rebounds and four assists against Western Kentucky. Then she put together back-to-back impressive outings against No. 18 North Carolina (16 points, five rebounds and five assists) and No. 5 Iowa (18 points, six rebounds and six assists) in the two ensuing tournament games.
"The Florida tournament was really good for me," Sundell says. "Mentally, I found my confidence. I wasn't playing how I wanted to the first couple games (of the season). I went into the tournament with an aggressive mindset. There were times prior to the tournament when I had open shots and I wanted to pass and wasn't even looking to score. Knowing I'm a threat to score more is going to make the team better because the defense has to guard me.
"I just wanted to be a more effective scorer and play confident. Everybody is giving me the green light. That was my approach going in."
For her efforts, Sundell joined 2022 All-American senior center Ayoka Lee on the Clean Simple Eats Gulf Coast Showcase All-Tournament Team.
"(Sundell) is playing more aggressive," Mittie says. "She was doing a great job trying to get everybody involved offensively early, but her being more aggressive in the open floor and putting pressure on the defense is really what we saw last year. I've liked the mentality."
She continues to flourish in various ways in her third season in the system.
"In running the team, she's much better in knowing the 'why,'" Mittie says. "She's much more poised under pressure. These are things that we worked hard on in practice. Then I think (she has) the overall leadership that you'd expect from a veteran. She knows the program and my expectations.
"She's just way more comfortable in that role."
It's been a steady climb for Sundell, who ranks second in school history in career assists per game (5.13) and fourth all-time in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.67).
Currently she has 926 career points and 390 assists.
"She's developed a lot," says Lee, who ranks fifth in the Big 12 with 19.4 points and sixth with 8.0 rebounds. "Last year, especially that jump as a sophomore is the hardest just because you're on everyone's scouting report and have a little bit more responsibility. This year, seeing her carry that over with just how aggressive she is, she knows the balance of knowing when to pass and when she needs to go score, and that's been really cool to see."
The Wildcats have ample weapons at Sundell's disposal. Aside from Lee, there's Louisville transfer guard Zyanna Walker (8.3 points on 48.9% shooting from the floor), sixth-year senior guard Gabby Gregory (6.7 points and a team-leading 10 3-pointers), and Arizona transfer Gisela Sanchez (6.6 points), along with Jaelyn Glenn (5.7) and Brylee Glenn (5.4).
"I've just seen her confidence go through the roof," says Gregory, a Preseason All-Big 12 First Team selection.
Discussions between Mittie and his standout point guard began prior to the season.
"We just have high standards and expectations with the talent that we have on our team," Sundell says. "For me, Coach Mittie just wanted me to be a leader on the court. Being the point guard over the last two years, he wanted me to take strides in my leadership and communication."
She's leading and communicating and assisting and now scoring like she knows that she's capable within the framework of the offense. That's big.
And, oh yeah, she's on the verge of milestones as the native of Maryville, Missouri, continues to live out her dream on the court.
"I'm excited to play Missouri in St. Joseph (on December 9)," Sundell says. "That'll be super fun for me being so close to home and in knowing a few girls on the Mizzou team. I'm excited for this December, and then before you know it, it'll be Christmas, and then we're in conference play.
"There's a lot to look forward to."
In a way, for Sundell, this could be just the beginning.
Serena Sundell, the pride of Maryville, Missouri, thinks back to the days when she was 2021 Miss Show-Me Basketball and committed to Kansas State eager to show her potential at the major college level.
She believed that she could help the Wildcats in the Big 12 Conference.
But this?
Sundell is a 2023-24 Lieberman Award candidate as the nation's top point guard. She has started all 76 games in her career. And she is on the verge of becoming just the fourth player in school history to reach 1,000 points and 400 assists in a career.
"That's a big milestone," Sundell says. "That's exciting. I've been fortunate to be able to play a lot here and start a lot of games for coach (Jeff) Mittie, so I'm just really glad that I chose to come to Kansas State and that he's trusted in me, and that the coaching staff has given me this opportunity to play with these girls. It's been a lot of fun."
At 6-foot-1, Sundell possesses deft court awareness and can score at all three levels on the floor. She currently ranks second on the team with 10.6 points and 5.1 rebounds while she ranks sixth in the Big 12 with 4.3 assists per game.
There's still more out there for Sundell, an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention pick last season, who carries the capacity to help steer the ultra-talented No. 14 Wildcats, 6-1, toward the top of the Big 12 standings and on into March as a dangerous team in the NCAA Tournament.
"The leadership piece is a big thing for me, and it can go a little bit unseen," Sundell says. "I'm just playing more confident and composed. In times of adversity, it's been a big thing for me just being able to score at all three levels. To be able to do that at a high level is something I want to keep getting better at."
This comes as she has seemingly shifted gears into overdrive with a trio of standout performances in the Clean Simple Eats Gulf Coast Showcase.
After a quiet start to her campaign — Sundell combined for just 19 points while dishing out 15 assists in the first four games of the season — she erupted with a season-high 21 points, six rebounds and four assists against Western Kentucky. Then she put together back-to-back impressive outings against No. 18 North Carolina (16 points, five rebounds and five assists) and No. 5 Iowa (18 points, six rebounds and six assists) in the two ensuing tournament games.
"The Florida tournament was really good for me," Sundell says. "Mentally, I found my confidence. I wasn't playing how I wanted to the first couple games (of the season). I went into the tournament with an aggressive mindset. There were times prior to the tournament when I had open shots and I wanted to pass and wasn't even looking to score. Knowing I'm a threat to score more is going to make the team better because the defense has to guard me.
"I just wanted to be a more effective scorer and play confident. Everybody is giving me the green light. That was my approach going in."
For her efforts, Sundell joined 2022 All-American senior center Ayoka Lee on the Clean Simple Eats Gulf Coast Showcase All-Tournament Team.
"(Sundell) is playing more aggressive," Mittie says. "She was doing a great job trying to get everybody involved offensively early, but her being more aggressive in the open floor and putting pressure on the defense is really what we saw last year. I've liked the mentality."
She continues to flourish in various ways in her third season in the system.
"In running the team, she's much better in knowing the 'why,'" Mittie says. "She's much more poised under pressure. These are things that we worked hard on in practice. Then I think (she has) the overall leadership that you'd expect from a veteran. She knows the program and my expectations.
"She's just way more comfortable in that role."
It's been a steady climb for Sundell, who ranks second in school history in career assists per game (5.13) and fourth all-time in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.67).
Currently she has 926 career points and 390 assists.
"She's developed a lot," says Lee, who ranks fifth in the Big 12 with 19.4 points and sixth with 8.0 rebounds. "Last year, especially that jump as a sophomore is the hardest just because you're on everyone's scouting report and have a little bit more responsibility. This year, seeing her carry that over with just how aggressive she is, she knows the balance of knowing when to pass and when she needs to go score, and that's been really cool to see."
The Wildcats have ample weapons at Sundell's disposal. Aside from Lee, there's Louisville transfer guard Zyanna Walker (8.3 points on 48.9% shooting from the floor), sixth-year senior guard Gabby Gregory (6.7 points and a team-leading 10 3-pointers), and Arizona transfer Gisela Sanchez (6.6 points), along with Jaelyn Glenn (5.7) and Brylee Glenn (5.4).
"I've just seen her confidence go through the roof," says Gregory, a Preseason All-Big 12 First Team selection.
Discussions between Mittie and his standout point guard began prior to the season.
"We just have high standards and expectations with the talent that we have on our team," Sundell says. "For me, Coach Mittie just wanted me to be a leader on the court. Being the point guard over the last two years, he wanted me to take strides in my leadership and communication."
She's leading and communicating and assisting and now scoring like she knows that she's capable within the framework of the offense. That's big.
And, oh yeah, she's on the verge of milestones as the native of Maryville, Missouri, continues to live out her dream on the court.
"I'm excited to play Missouri in St. Joseph (on December 9)," Sundell says. "That'll be super fun for me being so close to home and in knowing a few girls on the Mizzou team. I'm excited for this December, and then before you know it, it'll be Christmas, and then we're in conference play.
"There's a lot to look forward to."
In a way, for Sundell, this could be just the beginning.
Players Mentioned
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