Ruth said she’d leave your pass at will call. Said she’d meet you after the game, maybe grab dinner. Said it like it was easy. Like you weren’t about to walk into a building where Navy Cole was doing warm-up layups right now.

You take the tunnel toward the court, and the noise swells. Pregame buzz. A few fans already in their seats, holding signs. Some of them reading “NAVY MVP” in big blue letters.

You stop at the edge of the tunnel, just before the court opens up.

And there she is.

Navy Cole, number 7, in a white sleeveless practice jersey. Her hair is pulled back in a low bun, a few strands loose around her face. She’s laughing at something an assistant coach says, bouncing the ball once, twice, before sending a no-look pass backward to a teammate. She doesn’t even look. She just knows.

She looks good. She always looked good.