Best friends, teammates and national champions. First separated at Florida State and now reunited at Texas, sophomores forward Ashlyn Anderson and defender Mya Brandon bring their chemistry and experience to help the Longhorns chase a ring.
Anderson transferred to Texas this past spring right after winning a championship at Florida State. She was devastated to leave Brandon, who at the time remained a Seminole.
“Mya was one of my best friends on the team,” Anderson said. “It was so sad (leaving her). We were crying.”
Shortly after, Brandon also entered the transfer portal. Anderson immediately went to her coaches to bring her best friend to the Forty Acres.
“I was like, ‘Hey, I think Mya Brandon is going to transfer. We need to grab that,’” Anderson said. “And they were like, ‘You’re right. Work your magic.’”
Months later, Brandon signed with Texas. The two lived together for eight months, adjusting to the new team and culture.
“It’s so easy to adjust to this team. Everybody’s so nice. They’re just easy to get along with,” Anderson said. “But (Brandon) definitely made it easier, and having another best friend never hurts.”
But it wasn’t just a friendship that landed in Texas; it was national championship experience that would prove valuable to a young, less experienced Longhorn squad.
“Florida State was definitely an older team. … They had more experience than our team,” Anderson said. “So (at) Florida State, they kind of knew what was going to come with certain things. I think at Texas, we’re still learning that.”
Beyond experience, Brandon credits last year’s championship to the mental toughness and resilience they built at Florida State.
“You’re gonna go through hardships, and (you have to have) a good mentality and overcome adversity when you face it,” Brandon said. “If you’re able to do that and put in the work outside (of) practice, we have a good chance at making it to the national championship.”
Transitioning to Texas gave Brandon perspective on the difference between a national championship team and a contender.
“Having that physical and mental capacity to be able to overcome (adversity) is a big thing we talk about,” Brandon said. “Emotional toughness is definitely something that, here at Texas, we can probably improve on.”
Head coach Margueritte Bates recognizes the team is still learning.
“We always say you have to match the intensity, but find a way to keep your cool. You have to be unflappable when it comes to those things,” Bates said. “We’re still learning that, obviously.”
Now, under a new head coach in a new locker room, Brandon and Anderson have stepped into the leadership shoes they benefited from a year ago.
“With me and Ash having that experience, hopefully we’re implementing that into the environment here at Texas, so we can bring some trophies back to Austin,” Brandon said.
The two still fight side by side for the same goal, only this year in a different jersey. Their connection has proved resilient.
“We argue like sisters, but at the end of the day, we love each other so much,” Brandon said.
Brandon and Anderson know what it’s like to compete at the highest level as best friends. Now reunited in Austin, the former Florida State duo have the chance to help lead Texas to a championship of their own.
“Going through what we went through at FSU, and then now being here and contributing to the team and getting better together, I think, is something really special,” Brandon said.
