“I Just Love It Here”: Tessa Grady Thrives with Coastal Women’s Basketball
8/14/2026 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
For Tessa Grady, her first season at Coastal Carolina was about rediscovering something she had been missing: the love of basketball.
After playing sparingly during her first two seasons at Wisconsin, Grady arrived in Conway unsure of exactly what to expect. One season later, she had not only found a home with the Chanticleers, but emerged as one of the team's most important players.
"I honestly didn't know what to expect when I got here," Grady said. "I wanted to prove it and was really happy with how that season went."
The redshirt-junior forward led the Chants in scoring last season, averaging 13.6 points per game, while shooting 36 percent from three-point range — good for third in the Sun Belt. Her 2.6 three-pointers per game also ranked third in the conference.
More importantly, the season restored her confidence.
"It was great for my confidence just to get that love for basketball back," Grady said. "Our coaching staff is amazing and I just love it here."
That confidence has carried into the offseason, where Grady has challenged herself to become more than just a knockdown three-point shooter.
"I love to shoot that three, I still do, but in the offseason I really worked on ball-handling, getting down to the rim and being able to be more of a versatile player," she said.
Working with player-development coach Cyrus Birch has helped Grady become more comfortable with the ball in her hands, while extra shooting sessions with assistant coach Tatum Burstrom have allowed her to continue refining one of her biggest strengths.
Her routine starts close to the basket with form shots before gradually moving farther away. But Grady knows the difference between being a good shooter and becoming a great one comes down to confidence.
Head coach Kevin Pederson has consistently emphasized that belief.
"He just harps on knowing that you're a good shooter and believing in yourself," Grady said.
That same belief is now extending into another area of Grady's game: leadership.
When she first arrived at Coastal, Grady described herself as quiet. Now, she is embracing the responsibility of being a vocal leader for a team that features five returning players, four transfers and three freshmen.
"When I got here last year, I was very quiet," Grady said. "They told me they wanted me to be a leader for this team and it was scary to hear those words because I've never really been that vocal person. From last year to now, it's crazy how much I've developed in that category."
Grady has learned that leadership is not always about having the perfect thing to say. Sometimes, it simply means finding her voice and using it.
"Even if you don't know what to say, just say something," she said.
That mentality fits perfectly with the identity Pederson has been stressing throughout the summer: relentless.
Coastal's group has already begun building chemistry through workouts and time together away from the court. Grady believes the combination of returning experience and new energy can make this team special.
"This is just a super fun group," she said.
As the Chanticleers continue preparing for the upcoming season, Grady's goals are straightforward: shoot the ball even better, become more versatile and continue growing as a leader.
And above all, keep embracing the place that helped her fall in love with basketball again.
"I just love it here."
