WSN: Welcome back, everyone. I’m Sidney Snider, the sports editor at the Washington Square News. Today, I’m here with Mary Kate Fahey, a senior co-captain point guard on NYU’s women’s basketball team. The team, currently ranked first in the nation, has absolutely dominated the UAA and NCAA these past two seasons, going undefeated for the last 60 games.

And as of March 18, 2025, it holds the ninth longest win streak in women’s college basketball history. MK is a key player for the Violets, averaging almost 8 points off the bench this season. Thank you so much for joining me, MK.

Fahey: Of course, thanks for having me.

WSN: So, just starting off, as a fourth-year senior on this team, you’ve led them to so much success, and can you kind of talk about how you found your leadership style as captain?

Fahey: Yeah, I think we have a great group of captains. There’s four of us, myself, Belle Pellecchia, Natalie Bruns and Chloe Teter. And I think we all really complement each other super well. We all have different roles on the team and [we are] just kind of making sure that everyone is kind of buying into what we’re all about, [and] trying to find…find the success and continue the success that we’ve had.

Um, I think that the coaches put us in great positions to kind of just lead both on and off the court and kind of set the…set the tone for the season so that we can continue… continue on our streak.

WSN: And how would you describe the way that your leadership fits into the four of you?

Fahey: Yeah, so I think I — I wouldn’t say like an energy guy, but I try to keep things kind of positive.

Um, [I] say the hard things when they need to be said, but also just kind of build everyone up. It’s a long season. It’s a… it’s a challenging time for a lot of people. There’s ups and downs with playing time or, thankfully for us, wins. But, you know, there’s always trials and tribulations with that aspect of basketball.

So just kind of checking in on my teammates and making sure that, everyone’s staying the course ‘cause it…it is a long time to be…to be on a team and to push forward. It’s a…it takes a lot. So just kind of making sure everyone’s staying positive.

WSN: Yeah, definitely. So in the 97-50 win over Tufts [University] in December, you went five-for-five on free throws, can you walk us through your thought process and moments like that when you’re kind of in your groove? What’s going on in your head?

Fahey: Sure. I think it all comes with the preparation. We, like you mentioned, with the free throws, we shoot a lot during practice. And my role on the team is kind of knocking on shots when they’re needed. So just staying prepared coming off the bench — obviously you kind of have to jump right into it and try to make as big of an impact as you can, as quick as you can. So what I just try to do is just stay focused on what my role is and do that to the best of my ability to help the team win.

WSN: How do you think coach [Meg] Barber’s coaching style has added to the bench players coming off so strong?

Fahey: Yeah, I think she kind of — she tries to put us in positions to succeed. So, I think — just kind of going off of what I was saying earlier, the preparation that she does in practice and the drills she puts us through — we have such a talented group of girls, one through 18. And everyone can contribute on any given night, so I think [it’s about] just keeping your head in there and just making sure that when you’re coming off the bench to make sure you can make the biggest impact as you can.

WSN: Yeah, totally. So last Saturday, y’all secured the Sectional Championship in the Elite Eight, and you’ll head to Salem, Virginia for the Final Four and hopefully the NCAA championship game this weekend. How are you preparing both yourself mentally and the team?

Fahey: Yeah, I think that the best part about it is we have this experience from last year, so [it’s about] going off of that and just trying to really use that to our advantage. We’ve been there before, we know what to expect. But every…every game’s different, every year is different, every team is different.

So, just taking what we’ve done this whole season to prepare for this moment. And, I think enjoying it is the most important thing. I think you can easily look past and be like, we’ve won this many games and we, we just like have to like walk in and win and like that’s not the case. I think we need to, like, step back and appreciate everything that we get to do this weekend.

There’s community service events that we get to take part in. There’s an NCAA banquet dinner with all the Final Four teams. Like, there’s a lot of things that we can enjoy, but, obviously then [we need to] also not overlook the game. So, take a moment to reflect and just be thankful for the opportunity to be there again. And then also just lock in on the game plan, focus in practice, and just have some…have some great couple practices leading up to it to feel prepared.

WSN: How does this year feel different than last year with so many talented seniors graduating soon?

Fahey: Yeah, I mean, I think that this year we have…we have three seniors and we have two grad students. And I think, being a senior myself, it feels different just knowing like this is our last go-around. We’ve talked a lot with all of the graduating people on our team. And, like I said, just we want to enjoy every moment that we have while also putting our best foot forward on the court, but just enjoying being together off the court as well. It definitely feels different because it can be over — like, you know, in the tournament especially — like, it can be over like that, so it’s just [about] staying the course and just making sure that we make it to where we want to be.

WSN: Going off of that, the team talks a lot about the sisterhood that’s been cultivated here. How have you fostered that environment and how has it impacted you throughout your college career?

Fahey: Yeah, I think that everyone on our team really feels the love from all of the alumni, whether we played with them or not.

We have a great group of women that really genuinely support us and are so happy for us. Last year in Columbus, we had a huge group of [alumni] come, cheer us on. And that was really special. And you just feel the…you feel — it sounds cheesy and whatever, but you do really feel the sisterhood. The girls that are on the team right now, they are undoubtedly my sisters for life. Like I love every one of them. I’m so thankful to have been able to play with them here at NYU at the same time. But yeah, I think that just kind of the camaraderie that we have among not only the team now, but people that came before us. I mean, even coach Barber was an alum.

So, just kind of — we feel very connected and very supported from Violet Nation, from all of our alumni and, and beyond. So we’re really excited to kind of represent the sisterhood in Salem.

WSN: The team talks a lot about taking every game 1-0. How does that, throughout the season, play a part in the tournament when that truly is what’s happening? Because every game could be your last one.

Fahey: Yeah, absolutely. We — obviously there’s a lot of talk about the streak. As a team, we don’t really talk about it much. It’s a lot more based on, like, the media. They’ll bring it up, and it’s no small feat and we are more than aware of that. And we are…we’re really proud of where we are and what we’ve done.

But when you’re on a sports team, you have to take everything one step at a time and you…you can’t overlook the next game because it is a 1-0 game, especially in the tournament, like you drop one and then it’s over and it’s like, ‘Wait, where did it go?’ So I think just making sure we stay the course, like I said, just make sure that we put our best effort forward every game so that we can come out with those 1-0 weekends and add to the…add to the streak that everyone seems to talk about.

WSN: Looking past this weekend and after graduation, do you have any plans set up and how do you think this team and living as a student-athlete for so many years is going to impact your future?

Fahey: Yeah, I think it’s something that I try not to think about too much.

WSN: Sorry.

Fahey: No, no worries at all. I think it’s definitely going to be a huge adjustment for myself and all the other graduating seniors and grads. Yeah, I mean, right now I’m looking for full-time jobs, kind of like that the normal senior in college. But just kind of looking ahead, I think that what we have is so special and it’ll…it’ll continue on with us, so we’ll have these memories forever that we’ll be able to, like, look back on. But for right now, just kind of enjoy the present moment because we…we’ve had our moments of reflection, and we need to kind of step back and lock in for the…for the upcoming weekend.

WSN: Totally. Good luck this weekend. Thank you so much.

Fahey: Thank you.

Contact Sidney Snider at [email protected].