As the Georgetown University women’s basketball team battles through a tough Big East schedule, first-year guard Khadee Hession continues to emerge as one of the team’s brightest stars. Despite the challenges of a competitive season and the pressure of a rigorous conference slate, Hession has proved her utility to the team, consistently showcasing her skills and leadership both on and off the court.

Hession played a variety of sports growing up, but after moving to Miami, Fla., in fourth grade, basketball became her main passion. There, Hession said she found a local court where she could practice, playing with friends every day. 

“Playing with your friends and people you’re close with, it just made it more fun,” Hession told The Hoya. “The love continued, and I got better.”

Hession’s passion for basketball only intensified in high school. After switching schools multiple times, she found her home at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, where she led her team to back-to-back Florida 6A state championships in 2023 and 2024. During her senior year, Hession achieved remarkable feats, including scoring 35 points in a single game and recording three triple-doubles throughout the season. Reflecting on her achievements, Hession said her high school success was a product of the support she received from people around her, from teammates to coaches.

“I had great people around me and people who thought that they could trust me and put the ball in my hands and go win, and we did,” Hession said.

In May 2024, Hession committed to Georgetown, eager to continue her basketball career with the Hoyas. Upon arriving, she felt immediately at home. Having already known Head Coach Darnell Haney, Hession said she knew she would fit into the Georgetown community. 

“It felt like everyone was who they are, and that’s what I wanted,” Hession said.

From her very first practice at Georgetown, Hession recognized the fast-paced, intense nature of college basketball. But beyond the speed of the game, Hession emphasized the team’s close-knit and supportive atmosphere, which she said provided a positive environment. 

“I had a good environment in high school, too, with players and coaches, so just coming into college, I feel like that’s all I wanted, and that’s what I got,” she said.

On the court this season, Hession has focused on refining her mentality. One of her biggest adjustments has been prioritizing a short-term mindset and moving quickly past mistakes, the first-year guard said. 

“You can’t dread on if you make a turnover, you miss a shot — you just have to get to the next play,” Hession said. “I feel like in high school, if I missed a shot or had a turnover, I’d be very frustrated. But now you just have to move on, it already happened and that short-term memory helps you in the long run.”

Hession’s impact has been undeniable. She scored a season-high 22 points against the University of Connecticut Jan. 11. Her defensive talents have also shone through, as she recorded four steals in each of her last two contests, against St. John’s University and Marquette University. The performances reflect Hession’s growing confidence and seamless integration into the Georgetown team.

Despite it being her first season with the Hoyas, Hession has stepped into a prominent role on the team. Hession averages 29.9 minutes and has started all 18 games this season, averaging 7.2 points per game. The first-year said she feels the trust of her teammates and coaches alike. 

“I had confidence in myself coming into college.” Hession said. “Coach Haney, I feel like he trusts me. Point guard is like running the team, and he trusts me.” 

For the Georgetown women’s basketball team, trust, teamwork and a desire to win are central to their success, Hession said as she reflected on the team’s collective goal. 

“Everybody’s looking for everybody to succeed,” Hession said. “We just all want to win and that’s just the end goal.” 

Hoya fans can catch Hession and the Hoyas in action as they try to employ their aforementioned success strategy in their upcoming Big East showdown against Creighton University Jan. 29 in McDonough Arena.