ASU coach Molly Miller touts competitive, 'bloody nose and scratches' tradition

Arizona State women’s basketball coach Molly Miller has generated excitement for the program in her first season as head coach.

Miller isn’t a stranger to Phoenix, having led Grand Canyon’s program to success during her five years with the school. But now, in her first year in Tempe, Miller is continuing her Thanksgiving traditions with the Sun Devils.

ASU will stay in the area for the holiday as Desert Financial Arena will host the Thanksgiving Tournament. The Sun Devils face Little Rock on Friday, Nov. 28, and Southeast Missouri State on Saturday, Nov. 29.

Question: What is your best Thanksgiving week or day memory?

Answer: Because it’s during basketball season, it literally always revolves around basketball season. When we were playing, we would eat on the road. As much as we thought, "Oh, we got to eat at Golden Corral or Cracker Barrel," it made some good memories as players. You’re all in the same boat, and you’re breaking bread together. Now, as an adult, I think it’s really cool to be able to see your kids find the joy in holidays and that fellowship.

What’s really nice is that we live in Phoenix and everyone comes to us for Thanksgiving because of the warm weather. My family doesn’t put a lot of pressure on me because we play the day after Thanksgiving and we play in a tournament on Friday and Saturday, and that’s how it’s typically been for us. Derek, my husband, has the hosting duties. He does a really good job with that.

What is your worst or craziest Thanksgiving week or day memory?

When I was growing up, we had a Thanksgiving Bowl with all of my cousins. We made this trophy out of tinfoil and in the middle, we put a lemon in it to represent the football and covered it in tinfoil. The Turkey Bowl, which was a big flag football game, with all of my cousins, was definitely my best memory, and then the homemade trophy. ... We were all competitive, so it got really intense out there. Someone would have a grass stain or a hole in their jeans or a bloody nose and scratches. It was competitive, but fun.

What are your plans for Thanksgiving day 2025?

We host a Thanksgiving tournament, but my family from Missouri will be here and Derek will have a nice spread for post-practice because we’ll practice in the morning on Thanksgiving. The night before Thanksgiving, I’ll have the team over at my house , and we’ll just celebrate the holiday together as a team and look forward to the tournament.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Thanksgiving Q&A with ASU women's basketball coach Molly Miller