BYU Basketball Star on Why Faith Comes Before Practice

When BYU women's basketball faced Kansas in a tournament game last week, they walked onto the court without holding a single practice the day before.

The reason? It was Sunday, and for this team, faith comes first.

The Cougars won 70-67 anyway, advancing in the Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament despite skipping their usual preparation. Sophomore guard Delaney Gibb, who scored 12 points in the victory, opened up about the decision that's now going viral.

"When you look at it from a perspective of our team and our culture we've built and the faith that we have, it's a day that we get to have a different perspective on life," Gibb told the school's website. "There's things that are bigger than basketball and Jesus Christ and having faith in Him is something that's bigger than basketball."

The decision reflects the values at Brigham Young University, where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints observes Sunday as a day of rest and worship. For the Cougars, that means no practice, even when tournament games loom.

Gibb has plenty of reasons to be confident on the court. The rising junior just wrapped up an incredible season, averaging a team-leading 18.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. She earned a spot on the All-Big 12 Conference First Team after winning 2025 Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year.

The team finished their season 26-12 under head coach Lee Cummard. While they didn't make the NCAA Tournament, their invitation to the Women's Basketball Invitational gave them a chance to keep playing and keep demonstrating what matters most to them.

Why This Inspires

In a world where athletes often face pressure to sacrifice everything for their sport, BYU's team shows a different path. Their willingness to rest on Sundays isn't about avoiding hard work. The Cougars put in the effort all season long, which is why they won 26 games.

Instead, it's about maintaining perspective. Gibb's comments remind us that success doesn't require abandoning your values. Sometimes, honoring what you believe in can actually strengthen your performance when game time arrives.

The team may have lost their next game to Columbia, but they've already won something bigger: staying true to themselves while competing at the highest level.