WILLIAMSBURG, VA (WAVY) — Sugar Rodgers is a well-known name in Hampton Roads, especially in Suffolk.
“I used to go back and cook a little bit,” Rodgers said.
Sugar was a standout at King’s Fork High School, holding the all-time scoring record for the Bulldogs, before standing out even more at Georgetown, and eventually making her way into the WNBA.
Now, as a WNBA Champion and All-Star, Sugar wanted to come back home and make a difference from another perspective of the basketball court.
“I fell in love with coaching with the New York Liberty.. When I retired I wanted to coach, and the Las Vegas Aces gave me that opportunity. That was my transition into coaching, and now I’m here at William & Mary coaching and recruiting players like Nylah,” Rodgers said.
Nylah Young was also a standout at Kings Fork, breaking Sugar’s single game scoring record. She found success on the D1 level through another local CAA school, Hampton.
But Sugar was able to get her to Williamsburg with her last year of eligibility.
“Coming from Hampton, I wanted to find somewhere else to go and develop somewhere else,” Young said. “I talked to Sug’ after the season and there was a real connection. Player development was the main focus when I got here.”
Since getting to William & Mary, Young has flourished, becoming the teams leading scorer, and now sits at 8th in scoring in the CAA. It’s a full circle moment for Rodgers and Young, who met each other when Sugar used to come back and ‘cook’ at those open runs with the aspiring players.
Now, Rodgers is helping a player she sees a lot of herself in, just as she would with anyone who’s from the same background.
“If I see someone that’s where I’m from or played on a team that I played on, I’m always like, how can I be a resource to you,” Rodgers said. “Use me, because this world is about networking. Her goal is to play professionally, and the staff holds her to that.”
The Tribe as a whole are currently tied for third in the CAA by record. The top four teams in the conference get double byes in the conference tournament.
“The common goal is to win the CAA, don’t trip out on that,” Rodgers said.
William & Mary’s next game is Friday against Hofstra at Kaplan Arena. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.