COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Beneath Addi Mack’s sparkling smile and behind her neatly curled and flowing blonde hair were the accessories: small pink hoop-shaped Louis Vuitton earrings and a small gold chain bearing the LV initials around her neck. It was meticulous, understated, and intentional.
Traits that also describe Mack’s brilliant game.
Her leadership also surfaced as she gathered her three other sophomore classmates for a photo at the foul line, arms draped over shoulders and giggles flowing as everyone got into place. It was a lighthearted moment for Mack, who is excited to embrace a larger role this season for the University of Maryland women’s basketball team.
“I’m a very competitive person in all aspects of life, not just basketball,” Mack said to The IX Sports during Maryland women’s basketball media day while sitting at a round table covered by a black tablecloth. “I do strive to be my best, whether that’s school, relationships, anything like that. What you see is what you get. I’m proud of that for myself as well.”
Mack is one of three All-Big Ten honorees returning for Maryland this season, joining 5’10 redshirt senior guard Bri McDaniel and 5’10 senior guard Oluchi Okananwa. Averaging 11.5 points per game last season, Mack constructed a strong resume that resulted in a spot on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team and being named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Nov. 17 while scoring double figures in 21 of 26 games.
As Maryland gathered for its annual team photo dressed in red uniforms, promise and possibility radiated. Some players recorded TikTok videos, applied lip gloss, and jumped into each other’s arms while others walked around shaking hands with the most talkative teammate.
Gone were the symbols of strain from last season’s 24-win squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 22nd time in the last 23 seasons. No black knee braces, crutches, or walking boots were in sight.
Instead, genuine optimism and enthusiasm filled the Xfinity Center as Maryland enters the 2026-27 season, the 25th for veteran head coach Brenda Frese, who will be inducted into the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame in October. Mack smiled widely and played with her hair as she sat in the second seat from the right in the front row between Okananwa and 6’0 junior guard Chloe Sotell.
“I’m just excited to have everyone back this year,” Mack said. “I think we have a really good roster with lots of talent, so I’m like, hopefully no more injury bugs or anything. But I’m excited for this year with everyone. I think everyone says it, but definitely the family aspect here is genuine. I do feel like I could go to any single person, whether it’s the coaching staff, support staff, or any teammate here, for anything. There’s nothing I would want to change. There’s something individual about every single person that really contributes to our ultimate success as a team, and I love it here.”
The feeling is mutual for Mack’s teammates. While they appreciate her talent and quick scoring bursts, they enjoy her personality. McDaniel, who returns to the Terps after sitting out the 2025-26 season to rehab an ACL injury suffered in January 2025, loves watching Mack devour Sour Patch Kids candy before games. She also values Mack’s hard work in her relentless approach to developing as an elite guard. The extra shooting drills, detailed film study, and fearless way Mack attacks opponents all bring joy to McDaniel.
“I like how loving she is,” McDaniel said to The IX Sports. “She’s just an amazing human being. She loves love. Seeing that is just amazing. She’s like an Energizer Bunny and wants to be better, not just for herself but for the team. She grew so much in her confidence and attitude. … I love her as a person, and being able to be a part of her journey is great.”
‘I love being with my teammates’
Mack’s road to Maryland began in Minneapolis, where she evolved into a legendary walking bucket. Although she received her first recruiting letter from Maryland in seventh grade, Mack had a different goal growing up.
“I really thought I was going to be a competitive swimmer,” Mack said, laughing at the memory. “I wanted to go to the Olympics for that, but I think there’s just something about the community aspect of basketball that I really enjoyed. I love being with my teammates. I love talking. There’s a lot more community.”
As an only child, Mack dabbled in several sports before finding her groove with basketball.
In addition to being influenced by her parents, Rich and Michelle Mack, the second all-time leading scorer in Minnesota’s history with 4,687 career points, was inspired to play hoops by her grandmother, Collette Folstad, who started the women’s basketball and volleyball programs at North Dakota State. Mack’s dad also played basketball and golf at Morehead State.
Mack also had the luxury of watching Dallas Wings second-year guard Paige Bueckers shine during high school. Mack remembers the long lines, packed gyms, and palpable energy whenever Bueckers played. Mack just watched in awe, dreaming of one day creating her own legacy on the hardwood. At the time, a young Mack just wanted a photo with Bueckers.
“My initial view of her was just wow, like it is so cool to see a woman being able to draw this much attention for girls in Minnesota,” Mack said. “I just remember going to every one of her high school games, and they were always sold out. I was like, oh, I would really like to play in an environment like this someday. … It was probably the biggest event that you could go to in Minnesota her senior year. Everyone wanted to go watch her.”
Years later, Frese was one of the coaches who consistently kept eyes on Mack.
“I just became really comfortable with her,” Mack recalled. “We had our routine where she would call me regularly. She made a lot of effort to come out and see me in Minnesota, quite a bit. So I was really thankful for that.”
‘Rare Gems’ is out now!
Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The IX Basketball and The IX Sports, wrote this deeply reported book. “Rare Gems” follows four connected generations of women’s basketball pioneers, from Elvera “Peps” Neuman to Cheryl Reeve and from Lindsay Whalen to Sylvia Fowles and Paige Bueckers.
If you enjoy Megdal’s coverage of women’s basketball every Wednesday at The IX Sports, you will love “Rare Gems: How Four Generations of Women Paved the Way for the WNBA.”
Many in Minnesota also watched Mack and 6’2 senior forward Nunu Agara, an All-ACC selection and transfer from Stanford University, who is expected to make an immediate impact for the Terps. Mack and Agara have known each other for years, dating back to when they played on opposite AAU teams. Mack played for the Minnesota Fury, and Agara played for the Metro Stars.
Even though they attended different high schools, Mack left an impression on Agara. She described Mack as a bubbly, smart player with a high basketball IQ who can score and knows how to get the ball to her. Agara said they read each other well and have good chemistry as teammates. She also joked that she doesn’t think she ever lost to Mack in high school, but called it an unfair matchup.
“I just know from her game in Minnesota,” Agara said. “She’s always smiling and doing the right things. You can hear on the court, too. I’m very happy to call her my sister and my teammate. …She knows where to get me the ball, and I’m learning what she likes to do, too. So just being able to put each other in the best positions possible, I look for her on the court every single time I’m playing with her, and so it’s been really good. She’s a really good player.”
‘A little surreal’
It’s easy to understand why Mack remained as cool as a scoop of ice cream last season. She made an immediate impact by scoring 23 points in a win over Georgetown in her third career collegiate contest, a performance that earned her national Freshman of the Week recognition and enhanced her swagger. Mack’s confidence continued throughout the cauldron of intense Big Ten competition, as she averaged 10.7 points while starting all 18 conference games.
Playing 48 minutes and scoring 16 points with eight rebounds and six assists in a double-overtime win in a homecoming at Minnesota felt like she was shooting hoops in an empty gym during a frigid winter night. Scoring 8 of her 12 points in the second half of a road win at USC was cold-blooded.
“It was awesome,” Mack said of her freshman campaign and competing in the NCAA tournament. “Like honestly, I think it was a little surreal at first. To think that I’ve been watching this like year in year out for my whole life, and now I really get to experience it. I think it was great. Obviously, we want to get further this year than we did last year. But I think last year was a good stepping stone into getting me acclimated to college basketball.”
When Mack scored 18 points in her first NCAA tournament game against Murray State, it was just another example of how she shined in the biggest moments, displaying poise beyond her years. With the numerous Maryland injuries last season, Mack’s role increased, as shown by her 20.3% usage percentage, meaning that more Maryland possessions finished with the ball in her hands according to HerHoopsStats. She also averaged 0.89 points per possession, which was in the top 75% of the country last season.
“Watching Paige, her consistency is something that I always noticed,” Mack said. “I feel like I would watch her play, and at the end, she’d have a great box score, like lots of assists, lots of points. But it was like she just did it so effortlessly, and I think she was a super reliable player. I think that’s something that I’ve taken into my own game, and I want to be someone that can be consistent like that as well.”
It’s why Mack has worked hard to enhance her game. She knows she’s a target this year and at the top of everybody’s scouting reports. Over the summer, she focused on learning her teammates, building strength, extending her three-point range, improving passing, and becoming a stronger defender.
“I want to be able to set my teammates up for the most success they can get,” Mack said. “Being able to contribute as a freshman, I think there was so much I learned. Whether that’s managing the game from the point guard position or really learning how to set my teammates up for success, I think that’s a big thing in order for us to be successful as a team. I can really take into this year and use that to my benefit.”
Listen now to The IX Sports Podcast and Women’s Sports Daily
We are excited to announce the launch of TWO new podcasts for all the women’s sports fans out there looking for a daily dose of women’s sports news and analysis. Stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts, and make sure to subscribe!
When she needs a break from basketball, Mack unwinds with Harry Potter and older movies like Tommy Boy. Back on the court, she has plenty of teammates to ease the burden on her. The Terps are loaded with scoring options, making it difficult for opponents to key on any one player. Maryland’s depth includes two 1,000-point scorers in Okananwa (1,270) and Agara (1,030), along with Mack and McDaniel.
As the heartbeat of the Terps, Okananwa earned First Team All-Big Ten honors and was named to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team last season. Before her injury, McDaniel earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors in 2024 and 2025. A two-time All-ACC second-team honoree, Agara averaged 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds, with eight double-doubles, in 2025-26. She scored in double figures in 25 of 29 games.
Sotell, a Missouri transfer, also adds experience and versatility. The seventh-ranked freshman class will also bolster Maryland: 6’1 guard Jordyn Jackson, 6’1 guard Trinity Jones, 6’5 forward Mimi Thiero and 6’4 forward Eva-Grace Yebila.
“When you talk about being able to get that experience in Big Ten play, and you’ve got to be able to put the ball in the basket,” Frese said to reporters. “When you look at Bri, Lucci, and Addi, they averaged 40 points between the three of them. So, it’s a lot of scoring power we’re going to have, in addition to all the pieces on this team. I think that’s the beautiful thing with this team is you’re going to be able to see it on both ends, both defensively as well as offensively … I think anyone you put on the court is going to be able to score the basketball. The separators will be their defense in the rebounding.”
Meeting mistakes with confidence
The blessing of last year’s injuries is that they created opportunities for players to take on bigger roles. Frese, it seemed, spent the same amount of time reviewing scouting and medical reports. Despite the hardships Maryland endured last season, Okananwa was proud of how the Terps adapted and stayed at a high level.
Now, with everybody healthy, Okananwa believes the Terps are positioned to enjoy a deep run in March.
“I genuinely cannot wait,” Okananwa said of starting the season. “It’s one of those things where you’re just counting down the days, and you feel like preseason is just so long, but I’m happy that we’re getting near the time to start the season.”
It’s also another reason why Frese started her remarks to the media with appreciation for her career. The first word opened her press conference with was gratitude, which explains why she had an extra bounce in her step as she approached the podium.
“It’s hard to believe how quickly time flies, and there’s been so many changes in those 24 years,” Frese said. “You think back to text messaging first becoming available, to the pandemic and not being able to play in front of bands, to the transfer portal, to now NIL and RevShare. There’s been a lot of changes, but I think the one constant is that the fact that we have these special players that I get to coach every day, I’ve been really fortunate to be able to watch a lot of players cut down nets, and really to be able to watch them live out their dreams.”
Frese challenges her players, as the entire nation saw during last year’s NCAA tournament in the viral moment between her and Okananwa at North Carolina. Frese’s iconic “I believe in you” line was also playfully referenced by Agara when she stood behind the podium and delivered a brief comedic opening act to sitting media members before Frese offered remarks.
Frese has gotten the best out of her players for a quarter century because she understands each one of them, and they respect her. That goes for Mack, who says Frese has taught her to meet mistakes with confidence—and adapt a next-play mentality.
“The big thing for me is just the whole mistake response,” Mack said. “I think just really knowing. She always says, like, if you’re confident when making a mistake, you know, it doesn’t make the mistake as bad. So, I think just learning how to leave things in the past and move on quickly throughout a game has really helped me be more successful.”
Soon, the photo shoots and preseason conversations will fade into a blur of packed gyms, screaming fans with painted faces, roaring bands, and scouting reports. Games against South Carolina in Paris and Connecticut in New York, along with a conference matchup against reigning national champion UCLA, will test Maryland against three of last year’s Final Four participants.
There will be adversity, passes will sail wide, and shots will rattle out. Even if a defensive assignment is missed, Mack takes comfort in knowing she’s always fully supported by her teammates. In the Big Ten, those moments are inevitable.
What matters is what comes next.
With a game as smooth as honey melting into hot tea and a take-no-prisoners attitude behind her angelic smile, Mack is learning to trust herself through it all. It’s part of growing into the confident player she already knows she is: meticulous, understated, intentional, and unmistakably herself.
