Stefanie Ingram did not need a long answer when I asked what would make this USF women’s basketball season a success.
“I want a ring on my finger,” she said.
That was the clearest message from my AAC Media Days conversations with Ingram and Hannah Kohn.
Under new head coach Kristy Curry, the Bulls are learning a new system, building trust, and finding their voices. But neither player is treating this season as time just to settle in.
They want to win.
For Bulls fans, that is a good place to start. Now comes the work of turning that goal into steady basketball for a full 40 minutes.
Ingram’s job starts with leadership
As the point guard, Ingram has been asked to do much more than bring the ball up the floor. Curry wants her to keep the team organized, get everyone on the same page, and serve as a link between the players and their coach.
“Just leadership, really,” Ingram said of Curry’s message.
That role means speaking up, even when it does not come naturally. Ingram said she is not usually a very vocal person. Curry has pushed her to talk more, reach out to teammates, and learn what this group needs from its point guard.
That growth matters. When an offense stalls or a defensive assignment gets missed, someone on the floor has to bring the group back together. Ingram is learning to be that voice.
Defense will set the pace
When asked about the biggest change in the offense, Ingram pointed to what happens at the other end of the court. She described an emphasis on aggressive defense and transition chances.
The Bulls want to turn stops into offense, attack the rim and take open threes. This approach can give USF chances to score before the opposing defense gets set. But it also puts a clear demand on the Bulls: their effort and execution must hold up from possession to possession.
Ingram wants to keep teammates involved while remaining a threat herself.
“I’m more of a distributor,” she said.
Her approach is to read the game, find the open player, and take her own chances when they come. For a point guard, that balance can help an entire lineup play with confidence.
A familiar connection with Kohn
Ingram and Kohn already have a foundation to build on. They played together in AAU, and Ingram named Kohn as one of the teammates she is closest to. She pointed to Kohn’s energy and shooting as strengths she brings to the Bulls.
That familiarity could help as the Bulls learn their offense. Knowing how a teammate moves and where she likes the ball can make a difference when a passing window opens for only a moment.
Still, Ingram made clear that chemistry involves the whole team.
The Bulls have spent time bonding with Curry and her staff, as well as on their own. Learning each other’s personalities and communication styles has been part of the adjustment.
The offense, Ingram said, is coming along every day.
Kohn wants to help USF win
Kohn’s comments were brief, but her purpose was clear. Kohn said her head coach is “a winner, and I’m all about winning.”
Kohn said she has known Curry for a long time. That connection helped make USF an appealing place to spend her final college season. There is a family tie, too.
When asked about following her uncle Reggie’s connection to USF, Kohn said the Bulls jersey means a lot to her family.
She said her previous college stops taught her how to handle high-pressure situations.
Now Curry wants her to use her voice more and bring leadership along with her shooting.
Kohn’s goals include winning the conference, winning an NCAA Tournament game, and going as far as the Bulls can.
Consistency is the next step
The most telling part of Ingram’s interview may have been her answer about what USF still needs to improve.
Consistency.
She wants better execution, steadier defense, and a group that stays connected for an entire game.
“I think we have all the pieces,” Ingram said.
That is encouraging, but she knows flashes of strong play will not be enough.
I like the ambition.
Ingram wants a ring. Kohn wants to help USF win when the stakes are highest. Both understand that leadership is part of getting there.
The Bulls have a clear goal. Their next task is to make their daily play match it.