Coach Hannah Johnson Trains with NBA All-Stars during All-Star Weekend

February 22, 2024

By: Dylan Tehada

The NBA’s 73rd All-Star weekend was a major hit. From the three point shooting contest between Sabrina Ionescu and Stephen Curry to the Panini Rising Stars Game to the All-Star game, every event was a huge success. This past weekend Coach Hannah Johnson was able to witness the All-Star festivities in Indianapolis and trained players such as Jalen Williams, Kelsey Plum, Isaiah Wong, and Jermaine Samuels Jr.

Throughout the weekend, Johnson and Coach Packie Turner trained with athletes to prepare for certain events, but also to continue helping these athletes elevate their games as they seek to help their teams make a push for the playoffs in the second half of the season. Johnson had the opportunity to train with rising stars like Jalen Williams, who had an impressive Rising Stars performance capped off by a game winning shot to lead his team to victory and WNBA star and former University of Washington teammate, Kelsey Plum.

“I was super grateful and just felt blessed to be able to have this experience. The NBA All-Star weekend is a pretty big deal and being around athletes who are at this moment in their careers was just super cool to see,” Johnson said. 

When she wasn’t training athletes, Johnson was able to witness the festivities and competitions on Saturday night highlighted by the three point competition between Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu. Not only was this competition a major success in terms of viewership, but also made an impact for female hoopers all around the world who witnessed Ionescu give Curry a run for his money. Both Johnson and Ionescu played in the Pac-12 and often went head to head, and Johnson embraced witnessing her former opponent compete at the highest level and inspire young female hoopers around the world this past weekend. 

“If you can score the basketball, if you're a good basketball player it doesn't matter your gender. Seeing [Ionescu] be able to prove that and break those narratives, that's kind of what she did. So it was a cool moment in history and obviously being the first one ever, I was super happy I got to witness that,” Johnson said.

Throughout the weekend Johnson was surrounded by stars and legends who have made it big in the game of basketball. Whether she was training with stars like Jalen Williams, Isaiah Wong, Kelsey Plum, and Jermaine Samuels Jr. or watching household names like Stephen Curry compete, Johnson observed that all these hoopers are dedicated and passionate about the game of basketball. The two traits that all these stars share in common: discipline and consistency.

“The athletes that are the most mentally disciplined who are able to be locked in and focused and have that one goal in mind to be better or be one of the best is what separates them,” Johnson said. “Having that discipline and that focus and that drive and then consistently getting in the gym and getting that work. I think those two things are really what separates those players.”