Here's a Sign: How Duke women's basketball inspired fans to make art
Posted March 7, 2024 1:33 a.m. EST
Everyone needs something to cheer for. Duke senior Anu Aggarwal found it in Duke women's basketball.
"Women playing basketball was just something that felt really powerful to me," she said.
Aggarwal has been to nearly every home game possible since her sophomore year. She wants the support for the team to grow, for Duke to be more than just a men's basketball school.
"A lot of times our student section is kind of empty when for men's basketball it's not, but the brightside of that is the people who are there, really want to be there," Aggarwal said. "You can just tell that people are really passionate about supporting this team."
So besides just showing up to games, how do you show your support, your appreciation for a team you follow so closely? At the risk of making a bad joke, Aggarwal saw a sign. Multiple in fact. The ones that she started making.
"The first sign we ever made, her name is Vanessa de Jesus, I was like Vanessa de Je-Shoots," she said with a nervous smile. "It sounds stupid, she really liked the sign, guys!"
Aggarwal is very proud of the puns:
- Olu-Chi Town
- Delay-Up Thomas
- JD's Block Party (party hat and confetti included)
Naturally, Aggarwal brings friends to games, like Marie Cheng
"I definitely never imagined myself as a sports fan," Cheng laughed. "When people said, 'are you going to the game this weekend?' I'd say, 'does it look like I'm going to the game this weekend?'"
But it's become part of her senior year experience.
"I've been pretty proud to incorporate it into my identity this semester."
A computer science major by day and an artist by night, the two had an idea.
"To make a portrait for one of our favorite players," Cheng said.
Sophomore guard Taina Mair. She loved the sign so much, she kept it. The signs continued, even with requests.
"Coach (Kara) Lawson actually asked us to make her a sign," Aggarwal said.
"I kind of guilted them into making me a sign," head coach Kara Lawson said, "I told them I've been waiting every game to walk out and have one!"
"We kind of had to make her a sign because she called us out," Aggarwal laughed.
With the last game in Cameron Indoor for the season, senior night against Virginia, it was time to make a sign for everyone. This last one incorporated the whole team, one last thank you, because to Aggarwal, Cheng and so many others, this Duke women's basketball team is for everyone.
"I saw all the joy it brought other people, and I just wanted to be a part of that," Cheng said.
"It feels like a really warm and inviting space," Aggarwal said. "They're putting in so much effort to build this community and I feel like what they say, if you build it, they will come, I feel like it's starting to gain a lot more momentum."
It's more than just a feeling, there's truth to that. The February 11 home game against rival UNC was sold out. According to Duke, that's just the 21st time in program history that has happened, but the second time under Lawson. After a 26-7 season last year, Duke is 19-10 going into the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, NC. While the Blue Devils haven't won the conference tournament since 2013, they've proven this year through wins against teams like Virginia Tech, NC State and Syracuse, they're capable of competing and beating the best.
"I think people have fallen in love with this team," Lawson said. "If you started with us from the beginning, we were kind of young and didn't really know what we were doing most of the time, you've just watched us grow."
"This season has had everything and I think that's why people love sport, it's the journey it takes you on," Lawson added.
With the postseason just getting started, it's a journey these fans hope doesn't end anytime soon.
