Three of the four seniors on the Virginia women’s basketball team have seen significant playing time and have regularly started games. Forward Lyndra Littles, guard Britnee Millner and center Aisha Mohammed have each played in more than half of the team’s games and have averaged at least 27 minutes in their appearances.
The fourth Class of 2008 member, guard Kristen London, has yet to see that amount of court-time. After Monday’s game at Clemson, she had totaled only 72 minutes in 10 games — though not because of a lack of effort.
“Kristen brings a lot of energy and hustle and heart,” Millner said. “She busts her butt every day in practice, goes extremely hard and pushes us to be better players than we are.”
London said she just focuses on giving her best effort.
“I just kept busting my butt in practice every day,” she said.
Virginia coach Debbie Ryan rewarded London’s dedication with more game minutes in the game against Clemson than London had seen so far this season.
Though London’s shooting in the game wasn’t spectacular — 1-4 from the field, 3-6 on free throws and totaling 5 points — she grabbed five rebounds and handed out three assists, which tied her for second best on the team in assists.
“My role on the team is to bring energy, get everybody hyped [and] play defense,” London said, noting that she also often practices against starters.
“I just work hard for my teammates so they can prepare for other teams,” London said.
London’s competitive spirit is something that runs in her family. Her father, Mike London, is a former professional football player and the current coach for the University of Richmond’s football team.
“[My dad] really talks to me about coaching and the coach-player relationship,” she said.
That relationship seems to be something Mike London understands; Richmond’s team won the Football Championship Series National Championship this year with his direction. He also served as a defensive coordinator for Virginia’s football team before the Spiders hired him as their head coach.
“He’s put so much time and effort into [coaching],” Kristen London said. “That makes me a better player.”
Mike London is not the only person in Kristen London’s family who has a connection to football. Her brother, Brandon London, is a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins.
Though London said she takes a lot of pride being a part of her family — joking that “success” is each of her family members’ middle name — she also noted that the Virginia women’s basketball team has become her second family.
“We have cohesiveness because we truly look at each other as sisters,” London said. “When one person is slacking, we make sure we pick each other up on all aspects.”
London and the rest of the Cavaliers will look to bounce back from their first home loss of the season this Friday, and it will not be easy. No. 8 Maryland comes to John Paul Jones Arena for what will be one of Virginia’s biggest challenges of the season.
London, though, warns anyone from counting the Cavaliers out.
“We’re going to surprise a lot of people,” she said.
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