Kaela Chapdelaine came to Eugene five years ago as a point guard.
She’ll complete her Oregon career as a versatile role player who has played every position except center.
Not that she’s going to complain.
“It’s every point guard’s dream to back someone up and dunk it,” she said.
The versatile Chapdelaine has rotated from her normal guard spot to the small forward spot and even spent time as a power forward. Thinking back, coach Bev Smith considers few former players as versatile as Chapdelaine, naming Jamie Craighead and Cathrine Kraayeveld.
“There’s not much more you can ask of her,” said point guard Tamika Nurse, joking “we’ll put her at center next.”
Look back to Tuesday’s practice and only a glimpse is necessary to understand Chapdelaine’s impact on the Oregon women’s basketball team.
On a two-on-one fast break, guard Taylor Lilley ran ahead and waited for a cutting Chapdelaine up the lane. Chapdelaine took the pass, went up and landed awkwardly.
She stayed on the ground momentarily, catching her breath before standing up.
Chapdelaine rested her leg on the basket support as play stopped and she subbed out.
Moments later, she was back in.
Chapdelaine caught a pass on the wing and whipped it through a seemingly clogged lane and into the hands of Ellyce Ironmonger for a wide-open layup.
Back on defense, she saw the basketball squirt loose, dove and gained possession. The next time down the court, she lofted a pass for Ironmonger, only to have it picked off. Immediately, she took accountability, calling “my bad.”
The little things Chapdelaine does may not appear in the final box score, but they are the contributions that can help determine whether a team wins or loses.
Her statistics are evenly distributed with 6.9 points, 6 rebounds and 3.9 assists a game.
“I’ve always said any way I can contribute to my team I’m going to try and do that,” Chapdelaine said. “Growing up, I’ve always thought if the ball’s not going in the hoop then I’ve got to do something else for my team and keeping in mind to keep shooting if I get those opportunities.”
She is the player who goes after loose balls or leaps for a rebound.
“I think that’s something that’s innate,” Smith said. “That comes from a person who is very competitive and who will do anything for her team to win.”
Chapdelaine is considered Oregon’s best on-ball defender and often draws the tough assignment. She learns about opponents with a mixture of film study and past experience from seeing them play in person.
Example of toughness
Chapdelaine wants to be on the court, whether it’s a game or a practice.
“She’s a fighter,” Nurse said. “You pretty much have to beg Kaela not to practice, even when she is hurt. It’s encouraging and it gives her the right to say ‘Push through this.’”
Mention the word injuries and Chapdelaine adamantly responds, “I’m not injured,” repeating the sentiment a second time for emphasis.
There is a difference between sitting out with injuries, and playing through the aches and pains that come during a lengthy college basketball season. Chapdelaine has been a mainstay in the Oregon lineup and has been a starter in Oregon’s last 84 games going back to her sophomore season in 2005-06.
“Whether they are more serious or not when it comes down to it, it’s a mental game,” Chapdelaine said. “I’ve been pretty blessed to have parents who were pretty tough on me growing up – no blood, no tears kind of thing.
“It’s just part of the game and I’m very aware that there’s only about a month or two left so I’ve got to make the most of it, whether I’m hurt or not.”
The only real time Chapdelaine has had to sit was during her redshirt year in 2003-04 while recovering from a stress fracture.
As the end of Oregon’s season approaches, Chapdelaine has been experiencing each trip and facing each opponent for the last time. Thursday’s game against Stanford and Saturday’s against California are two of the final five games Chapdelaine has inside McArthur Court.
Voice of experience
Oregon players made an agreement at the beginning of the season that everyone would be treated equally, regardless of class status. Chapdelaine had grown accustomed to playing with seasoned players in past years and hasn’t hesitated to point out things that need to be fixed.
If you watch the Oregon sideline during time outs, Chapdelaine can be seen on the bench talking to her teammates and giving advice.
“She can be really hard. She can be harder than the coaches sometimes but we respect her and we understand,” freshman center Nicole Canepa said. “We get into the heat of the moment sometimes, but we know she always has good intentions.”
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