Maryland women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese garnered attention Saturday for her extremely intense coaching of one of her players.
Cameras caught Frese delivering a firm, passionate message to star player Oluchi Okananwa during the Terrapins’ second round game against North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, N.C. Frese was right up in Okananwa’s face during their one-sided discussion.
Frese was not angry, however. She was trying to motivate her star. She can be seen saying “I believe in you,” but that Okananwa had to “want” it.
Maryland coach Brenda Frese to her star player Oluchi Okananwa
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) March 22, 2026
“I believe in you, but you got to want this moment.”pic.twitter.com/QziefLv0vL
Okananwa addressed the moment after the game. She said she “love(s)” to be coached hard, and that is precisely what Frese does.
Oluchi Okananwa on her moment with coach Brenda Frese 🗣️
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 22, 2026
"I love to be coached hard, and that's what she does with me every single day." https://t.co/vNlmH4zfAR pic.twitter.com/WZWC1oAyaS
The video went viral, and many praised Frese for her coaching style. She obviously was not going easy on anyone, but genuinely wanted to push her players to be their very best.
The Terps went on to lose to North Carolina 74-66 after entering the fourth quarter tied. Okananwa scored 21 points on 9/18 shooting in the defeat.
