A parental perspective of Purdue women's basketball guard Madison Layden-Zay and her final season as program 3-point record holder.
WEST LAFAYETTE — Former Northwestern High School coach Kathie Layden never had to look too far to find a helpful voice.
Her daughter, future Purdue 3-point record holder Madison Layden-Zay could speak the jargon of basketball when she was three years old.
Layden recalled watching film together and Madison becoming a pint-sized sensation as a toddler.
"She would then join in the halftime shooting that schools would have to win two liters of pop," Layden said. "She would actually win the pop by throwing up an underhanded granny shot since that was the only way she could get the ball up to the rim. The crowds would then cheer for the little girl as she would skip back to me carrying the bottles that were almost half her size."
Layden-Zay also understood the pressure and expectation bestowed upon her at an early age, being the daughter of two former University of Evansville players in Kathie and her father Jeff.
"I feel like as a coaches' kid, I feel like you have to do everything right," Layden-Zay said. "You have to ride with them and be there an hour before practice. I really enjoyed it and wouldn't have it any other way."
So, how did Layden-Zay become a 3-point shooter and eclipse the previous mark set by Karissa McLoughlin of 244 in 2021? Credit for that skill goes to her grandfather Dave Wise, Kathie's father.
While Kathie was making practice plans, Layden-Zay worked on her shooting form with Wise.
"He loved sports and he's always been there supporting me," Layden-Zay said. "When we were little, we'd play basketball or we'd play P-I-G. So thinking back on those moments, he taught me how to shoot when my parents were busy."
As Kathie sits back as a spectator, she is reminded of the player she developed into growing up in Kokomo.
"I believe the most impressive part of this record is that Madison has always played team basketball and was even known as a pass first point guard in high school," Kathie Layden said. "She has always cared more about what's best for the team than her own personal stats. Leaving a lasting legacy by being mentioned every time someone talks about great shooters in Purdue history is a tremendous honor due to the storied history of Purdue women's basketball."
Layden-Zay reflected on her own game and now as Purdue's 3-point record holder in her final season.
"It's a lot of credit to my teammates and coaches," Layden-Zay said. "I'm just thankful for all my teammates being there and supporting me."
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Madison Layden-Zay's 3-point record at Purdue is a credit to family
Category: General Sports
