A.T. One Step Ahead

Sept. 28, 2009

2009-10 Preseason Preview

Sept. 2: Meet Lyndsey Cloman

Sept. 4: Meet Joanna McFarland

Sept. 9: Abi's Time to Shine

Sept. 26: A.T. One Step Ahead

Sooner Women's Basketball

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2009-10 OU Women's Basketball Schedule

NORMAN, Okla. -- Amanda Thompson has maneuvered through the ups and downs of a college basketball career with a blend of grit and grace.

A team captain since her sophomore year, Thompson enters her final season with the Oklahoma Sooners, once again its unassuming leader. However, recent experiences have her refocused ahead of her senior year.

She just can't see it.

"I've seen it all -- except for playing the national championship game," Thompson said. "I've experienced it all and I know what it feels like to be in that position and what it takes to get back to that position the next year.

Thompson learned the sport on the blacktop courts of Chicago and transferred her skills indoors at Whitney Young High School, where she led her team to the state championship game and became an All-American and one of the top prospects in the country.

Her freshman year at OU introduced Sooner fans to her toughness. Despite suffering a torn labrum in her shooting shoulder -- an injury that would be season-ending for many others -- Thompson endured and earned a starting spot, helping Oklahoma to Big 12 season and tournament titles and a Sweet 16 appearance. She was named to the Big 12's All-Freshman Team.

Her sophomore year was a breakout season as she averaged nine points and seven rebounds while starting all 31 games. Thompson spurred the action as OU rallied to win at Michigan State, clobbered Georgia and revenged its first Bedlam loss in several years.

Her junior year was a roller coaster. An injury forced Thompson to watch from the sidelines for much of the NCAA Championship as the Sooners advanced to a Final Four.

"It was difficult just to sit there and watch games," Thompson said, "but I could see what everyone was doing and just talk to them and help them make plays."

Sitting on the bench helped develop Thompson's leadership.

"Amanda was not a typical vocal leader," said teammate Danielle Robinson, "but she definitely is a leader in work ethic and how she plays basketball.

"She's challenging me every day to shoot extra after workouts. If I don't, she'll say, `Oh, so you don't want to shoot today or you can't shoot today?' She wasn't on me like that two years ago. She's definitely more vocal, more in-your-face."

A change in manner and the extra respect added as a senior has also helped Thompson drop a moniker her teammates labeled her with in past seasons.

"I've always moved slow and talked slow. Everything I do is slow and they called me Grandma.

"It ain't like I picked up my pace or anything," Thompson joked.

"She's the one scheduling pick-up games and getting on you if you aren't ready 15 minutes early," Nyeshia Stevenson said. "She's taken ownership of this team and making sure we're all ready."

After a trip to the Final Four, Thompson has her squad working harder than ever to make sure they improve on their success in 2009.

"You don't have time to look back. You've got to push or others will pass you."

Still, Thompson won't acknowledge that she's acting any different.

"Not much has changed. It's just that I have one more year left and I have to take it like I have no more chances, too. I'll be able to lead a team so I'm just taking advantage of every opportunity and having fun with it making sure the freshmen come along and everybody else is doing what they need to do."

Perhaps she is just worried about everyone else. Her own definition of leadership is telling.

"Leadership is basically going above and beyond to help everybody out. Seeing things other people don't."

Even if her Sooner teammates notice a different Amanda Thompson, she won't see it.

She's too busy looking forward.

Amanda Thompson Profile