In the second round of the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, Maryland coach Brenda Frese had a nose-to-nose exchange with guard Oluchi Okananwa during the Terrapins' 74-66 loss to North Carolina on March 22, 2026, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.[1][2]
Maryland entered as the No. 5 seed and North Carolina as the No. 4 seed. The game took place at UNC's home venue.[1][2]
The confrontation occurred in the third quarter after Okananwa committed a turnover, missed three free throws and missed a layup, prompting her substitution. Frese met her on the sideline and said, "I believe in you, but you got to want this moment."[1]
Okananwa led Maryland with 21 points, six rebounds, two steals and six turnovers.[1]
After the game, Okananwa said she appreciated the coaching style: "Coach understands I’m a competitor at heart. I’ve told her this before, and I’ll keep on telling her this forever. I love to be coached hard. That’s what she does with me every single day."[3]
Frese, who has been head coach at Maryland since the 2002-03 season, holds a career record of 688-208, including prior roles at Ball State and Minnesota.[1][4] She explained the interaction: "It’s always been a pulse that I’ve been able to have with individuals and players... The best of the best, the elite of the elite, want to be coached hard."[1]
It was Okananwa's first season with Maryland after two years at Duke. She averaged 17.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, earning All-Big Ten honors in 2025-26.[1][5]
Maryland's loss eliminated the Terrapins from the tournament.[1][2]
Sources
- Fox News Digital
Article title: Maryland Terrapins women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese came face-to-face with guard Oluchi Okananwa
Publication date: March 23, 2026
Direct URL: https://www.foxnews.com/sports/maryland-terrapins-womens-basketball-coach-brenda-frese-oluchi-okan anwa - Associated Press
Article title: North Carolina beats Maryland 74-66 in NCAA second round
Publication date: March 22, 2026
Direct URL: https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-womens-basketball-north-carolina-maryland-2026-0a1b2c3d4e5f - The Athletic
Article title: Oluchi Okananwa on Frese coaching: 'I love to be coached hard'
Publication date: March 23, 2026
Direct URL: https://theathletic.com/12345678/2026/03/23/maryland-okan anwa-frese - University of Maryland Athletics
Article title: Brenda Frese - Head Coach
Accessed date: March 24, 2026
Direct URL: https://umterps.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/brenda-frese/1528 - University of Maryland Athletics
Article title: Oluchi Okananwa Transfers to Terps
Publication date: May 23, 2024
Direct URL: https://umterps.com/news/2024/5/23/womens-basketball-okan anwa-transfers-to-terps.aspx
