Oklahoma State Guard Finds Home After Mom's Coaching Exit
Amari Whiting scored a double-double against her former team BYU, where her mother once coached, in an emotional homecoming that proved she's exactly where she belongs. Oklahoma State won 67-51 in a game that celebrated fresh starts over past heartbreak.
When Amari Whiting came off the court with less than a minute left, Oklahoma State coach Jacie Hoyt wrapped her in a long hug that said more than any postgame speech could.
Whiting had just posted 16 points and 10 rebounds against BYU, the school where her mother Amber had coached for three seasons before a difficult departure last March. Soon after her mom left, Amari entered the transfer portal and found her way to Stillwater.
Wednesday night's 67-51 victory wasn't about revenge. It was about finding home.
"It wasn't ever about BYU," Whiting said. "It was just like, 'I'm so happy.' I knew this was God's plan."
Whiting played nearly 38 minutes, guarding former teammate Delaney Gibb, someone she's known since childhood. Gibb managed just 11 points on tough shooting as the Cowgirls dominated the second half.
Hoyt understood the weight of the moment. Her own mother experienced an unceremonious end to a coaching career, and she knew what Whiting's family had endured.
"I know how much it meant to her," Hoyt said. "That was the emotion for me with the hug, just that you're exactly where you're supposed to be, and tonight's game was just affirmation of that."
The Cowgirls turned a close game into a blowout with a stunning 22-3 run spanning the entire second quarter. Senior guard Micah Gray caught fire, hitting seven three-pointers and scoring 25 points, including 20 in the first half alone.
Why This Inspires
Sometimes the toughest moments lead us exactly where we need to be. Whiting could have let her family's difficult departure from BYU define her story, but instead she chose to write a new chapter.
Her teammates rallied around her, looking for Gray at every opportunity during her hot streak and celebrating Whiting's performance against her former school. The hug between player and coach captured what sports can be at their best: a place where young people find support, purpose, and belonging even after life throws them curveballs.
Oklahoma State improved to 17-5 and sits in the thick of the Big 12 race. But the real win was watching someone realize they're home.
"Sharing that hug at the end, that's going to be a core memory," Whiting said. "It just comes down to my sisterhood, my teammates and Jacie Hoyt."
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Based on reporting by Yahoo Sports
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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