Maryland’s Brenda Freese, Oluchi Okananwa have viral moment during game

Maryland Terrapins women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese came face-to-face with guard Oluchi Okananwa during an intense practice moment Sunday.

Frese and Okananwa faced off during the Terrapins’ 74-66 loss to the Tar Heels in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament. Maryland entered the game as the No. 5 seed, while North Carolina was the No. 4 seed.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Maryland Terrapins head coach Brenda Frese watches the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Xfinity Center on March 24, 2025. (Daniel Kucin Jr./Imagn Images)

The longtime head coach was unhappy with Okananwa’s streak in the third quarter. She turned the ball over, missed three free throws and missed a layup before being replaced on the floor. Frese met Okananwa on the sidelines.

“I believe in you, but you have to want this moment,” Frese said.

Okananwa scored 21 points, leading the team. She grabbed six rebounds and made two steals. However, she ended up with six turnovers.

She told reporters after the match that she liked the hard-nosed style of coaching.

LSU STAR FLAU’JAE JOHNSON CARRYING BEARDED DRAGON IN COLLEGE CAREER NCAA TOURNAMENT FINAL

Maryland head coach Brenda Frese, center, and her assistants prepare for a play against North Carolina during the second half of the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)

“Coach understands that I’m a competitor at heart,” she said, via The Athletic. “I’ve told her that before, and I’ll continue to tell her that forever. I love being coached hard. That’s what she does with me every day.”

Frese has been Maryland’s head coach since the 2002-03 season. She has a record of 688-208 as a head coach. She also made stops at Ball State and Minnesota.

“That’s always been a push that I’ve been able to have with individuals and players,” Frese said. “We have to have these tough conversations sometimes. You can’t have them without a relationship. You have to be able to have that. The best of the best, the elite of the elite, want to be coached hard.

“At that moment, I saw Oluchi wrestling in that tournament. She’s just too good, so I wanted to beg how much I believe in her and challenge her. I know how much of a winner and competitor she is. Challenge her, do you want the moment? I knew to give her a minute, bring her back. And you saw she came out, she got a bucket, she flew, and never looked in back.”

North Carolina guard Taissa Queiroz, left, battles Maryland guard Oluchi Okananwa, right, for the ball during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

It was his first season with the Terrapins after spending two years with the Duke Blue Devils. She finished the season averaging 17.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. She was an All-Big Ten Conference selection during the 2025-2026 season.

Follow Fox News Digital sports coverage on and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.