Some principles are timeless, but most leaders' thinking evolves over time.

For example, I'm sure the coach would concede that not all decisions to transfer or turn professional with eligibility left are examples of disloyalty. If she still felt that way, she wouldn't have been party to Jessica Shepard's "disloyal" departure from Nebraska.

Fifteen years ago, a basketball scholarship was an opportunity that paid a young woman way more than she contributed based on the economics of women's basketball. Attendance wasn't what it is today. Tickets were practically given away, often actually given away. I can see why a coach would think walking away from the program after being granted such a scarce and profitable deal was betrayal.

It's different now. There is more money in the sport, so the players are earning their scholarships and then some at the best programs. Coaches are earning a whole lot more money than they did fifteen years ago. The player relationship to the coach and program is more like a contract than a gift or a great break.

I also think Coach McGraw would concede that players leave a school for understandable reasons, often reasons not related to basketball. A departure might be for a "me" reason, but not every "me" reason is a selfish reason.

Probably partly because the competency of women's coaching has soared

The leader was Westbeld. That was one of the reasons why the team did better when she was in the game (See Villanova game).

I think this year any particular senior could be the team leader. I'm betting on Mabrey, although Shepard would fit the role of "lead by example."

What I have seen, I think all four will be some type of leader. Now which one will be the stronger of the four is a good guess. However, what I saw from her last year my money is on MM. What we need to be concerned with is the leadership for the following year. I can not think of any of the returning underclass women have I would say will take on the on court leadership role. Maybe Vaughn and maybe Patterson for what she went through. She has learned a lot to pass on. Don't count out players returning from injuries for what the went through and mental part of sports they had to learn. That is what I am counting on with Bri and this being her last chance. Sports is more about the mental part of the game then physical. If it was not, then we would not have so many upsets in sports.

SEG/Chief

Her level of experience will dwarf the rest of the roster. She may be relatively quiet, but there's no reason to believe she won't step up and lead by example. I've never seen or heard anything negative about her.

Don't get me wrong. I love Jackie's game. For some good leadership for some takes time. I would believe we will see her strong leadership on the court her senior year. She will have more confidence in herself and the drive to say this is now my team. I have seen that transformation many times in the mucho years I been following sports. Heck, I will admit I was not an outgoing leader my young years of playing sports. But as mentioned, the older I got the stronger my leadership became. The Navy helped me there. I can not wait to see Jackie her senior year. I truly believe she will be special. She is not far away. I would go on but I already talk to much. PS. I am a big Jackie fan.

SEG/Chief

A leader has these four traits:

1. Vision
2. Context
3. Trust
4. Optimism

Vision is what the leader wants the team to become. In basketball it's likely to be hardworking, unselfish, communicative, etc. It's also a vision set by the head coach with the player leader in agreement so that the coach can work through the leader.

Context is making every choice and every action move the team closer to the vision. More importantly, it's making sure everyone on the team knows that choices and actions are intended to get the team closer to the vision so that they don't seem like random things going right. Leadership is done intentionally.

Trust is a personal characteristic. It involves integrity, day-in day-out work ethic, doing what one promises, and ultimately respect.

Finally, leaders are optimistic. No matter what the situation, "we'll get through it and be better off." No team ever thrived on optimism in the face of obstacle after obstacle better than the 2017-18 Fighting Irish. The coaches steadied the team and kept it focused, but someone had the team saying, "Screw it. We're going to keep winning anyway."

Note that nothing I said above requires a fill-the-room personality. A person with a reserved personality can have vision, context, trust, and optimism just as well as the gregarious person can. Skylar Diggins, Natalie Achonwa, and Kathryn Westbeld are three very different kinds of people, but all three were outstanding leaders.

I don't think there was an outstanding leader between Achonwa as a senior and Westbeld as a senior. Good people for sure. Hard workers. But nobody had the levels of trust and respect those two earned.

I really don't know who it will be in the 2018-19 season, if it's anyone. Sometimes the head coach has to fill a void, but it's always better if the coach can work through a leader.

Similarly, I don't know who it will be when the seniors of this coming season are done, but don't write off Jackie Young just because she is more reserved. She's a very smart, very thoughtful young woman who might thrive when it's her turn to lead.