Ellie Tounkara ’25, the captain of women’s basketball. (Photo courtesy of Sports Information.)

Team: 

Women’s Basketball 

Hometown: 

Rockville, Md.

Major: 

Biology with a concentration in public health (on the pre-med track)

Dilay Kalınoğlu (DK): How long have you been playing basketball, and how would you describe its impact on your life?

Ellie Tounkara (ET): I’ve been playing since I was in second grade. It has totally changed my life — it changed the high school that I went to that helped me get to Williams. I thank it for putting me on the path to Williams and for placing me here, and I’ve made my closest friends playing the sport.

DK:  What has been the most memorable moment for you playing basketball at the College? 

ET: I would say last year was filled with a lot of memorable moments. We had two humongous wins — one against Bowdoin and one really big one against Trinity. I just remember being so happy for the team. The [wins] were total upsets. [Last year’s]  team was just so unselfish and wanted to win and didn’t really care who we were playing against. So those are two really memorable moments. 

DK:  Do you have any team traditions and pre-game rituals?

ET: We have a few. Before we aim, we play the same song — I don’t know if I’m allowed to say it, but we play [redacted] in our locker room. Everyone gets really hyped up, really amped before [our] coach comes in and talks to us about the main focuses of the game. 

DK: Sounds really fun. 

ET: Yeah, it’s really fun. Our locker room’s not so big, so everyone’s just jumping around and yelling. 

DK: I noticed there are no seniors in the team — why is that?

ET: We’re just a young team. I think a few people in my class either took a year off or a semester off. So we are very young, [and] a lot of people came into my junior class. And [this is] super exciting. It means our team won’t change for the next two years. To just be getting better with the same people every day [is] so encouraging, and knowing that this time next year, we’re going to be so much better [and know] each other’s game is super exciting.

DK: Who are your basketball idols?

ET: This is a really good question. Let me start with my mentors. I loved my assistant coach [Ilan] from high school. She played Div. I basketball, and I just learned a lot from her. Honestly, she taught me more off the court, but she really defined what it means to play basketball, how to embody the sport itself, and how it’s a team sport. She defined what it means to be a teammate, and I’ve just carried her messages with me as I’ve continued to play. 

In terms of idols — people who I love watching play — I like watching Paige Bueckers play at [University of Connecticut]. I think she’s a great player. I like Caitlin Chan from Princeton. She’s a great point guard. I love watching point guards — who seem to know the game so well — and how they dictate and facilitate the court. 

DK:  This past Saturday [Dec. 2], you beat Babson (70-60). Reflecting on the win, what are your aspirations for the rest of the season? 

ET: Babson was huge. I think everyone on our team was just so excited to get that. I think after that game, I just felt so inspired by my own teammates. We’re so young. We don’t have the most experience, even compared to many other NESCAC teams. But we’re really not afraid. 

[I] think we walk into every game not fearing we’re gonna lose anything, [and] with the attitude that we have nothing to lose. It’s a huge morale boost. It makes me so excited for the big games to come. We have a huge game this Wednesday. So [my aspirations are having] just the same opportunities of being able to challenge really good teams and not being afraid of them. [I] love playing with these 10 teammates. 

DK: I think that definitely shows on your scoreboard. The team has done amazing with an 6-2 overall record. How would you compare this season to previous ones?

ET: I think this is a great moment to shout out our leadership from last year. Our culture — going after big teams and going after ranked teams and not being afraid of them— started with the senior class last year. They really created a culture where we just want to win. And we’ll do anything — hustle, dive on the ground, do anything to get that win. It just feels like we’re carrying on their legacy. 

I think we’re much younger, and it did feel like we were starting over a little bit in terms of knowing each other out on the court, but I think those core values of just trusting your teammates, lifting them up, and making everyone feel like they’re really a part of the team … that started last season and it’s carrying through this one.

DK: Is there anything else you want to mention before we wrap up? 

ET: Come watch our games now! [Laughs.] No, this team is honestly super fun and super nice. [It] always has been. And that’s me and my Williams experience: amazing.