Courtesy of CU Athletics

Meet Jaida Patrick CC’23 (she/her), a starting guard for CU Lions Women’s Basketball. The two-time Ivy League Player of the Week — who also holds the record for most steals in a game! — is from West Haverstraw, N.Y., and majors in sociology. Be sure to catch a game as the team wraps up its 2022–23 season during the next few weeks!

What is your favorite part about being involved in Lions basketball?

We have such a great community. We are an extended family; the team is an incredible sisterhood, and we support each other. We all have fun together — my teammates and the coaching staff! My experience has been great — I transferred from Duke and I’m getting to play on a team that is changing the history of Columbia women’s basketball.

What is your top memory from your Columbia basketball experience?
It was a post-season tournament game against Boston College [March 24, 2022]; after we won, the whole crowd of Columbia fans stormed the court to celebrate. We had come back from being down 17 points, and there was just a huge energy that night.

What’s been your favorite class, and why?
Because I transferred, I had to take a lot of the Core Curriculum courses to catch up, but my favorite class in my major was “Crime and Policing” from last semester. It was really interesting and the professor [Gerard Torrats-Espinosa] was great and so personable.

What do you like to do outside of class?
I love a good self-care day! Doing my hair, my nails, getting a facial — just anything where I can relax and get away from having to be in such an intense mental space. Playing basketball and being a student-athlete is very stressful and you have a packed schedule, so whenever I can just put time into myself mentally and physically it’s great.

How do you like to take advantage of being in New York City?
I love going on TikTok to find new food and dessert spots! Or going to museums or parks for picnics — there is so much to do in New York City; I just like to explore the cool things the city has to offer.