This past weekend in Columbus was also really special one for me, as I got to focus fully on Lily, spending some quality mother-daughter time. Without Ryler and JR around, it was just us, and I was able to watch her shine. After getting our nails done together I rested my knee, Lily took on some training with my coach, Davidson, and stepping into my shoes looked really good on her. Love watching her work on her craft in her own way with so much determination.
On Saturday, Lily teamed up with Natalia, her friend from Chicago, in the 3.5 women’s 19+ division. I was blown away by their teamwork, thought process, and how they handled their match. After finishing my own match, I rushed to catch Lily’s third game final for the gold. It was a battle—they had been down 9-11 and 4-7, but they turned it around to win 11-3 in the third. Watching them fight back like that, and seeing their joy with the shiny gold medal around their necks, made me so proud.
It was a long day for both of us, starting at 8 a.m., and after all of Lily’s hard work, she wasn’t thrilled about my commitment to speak on the Victoria’s Secret panel later in the evening. But it was an important moment for her to see that my job extends beyond the court, teaching her a valuable lesson about the different facets of my career.
Sunday brought a new challenge with a “luck of the draw” format, where Lily was paired with a random partner. Despite being tired, she pushed through, showing great teamwork with her new partner and securing a hard-fought bronze medal.
By the time we finally made it back home close to midnight, we were both exhausted. But the memories we made were priceless—showing Lily what it means to be a strong, impactful woman and leading by example. What a weekend!
Comments