Sara Salazar, a Class of 2028 student from Houston, TX, USA, serves as co-captain of DKU’s Women’s Varsity Basketball Team. For Sara, basketball is more than just a sport—it embodies family, leadership, perseverance, and the drive to grow both on and off the court. Her dedication to the game and her team has shaped her college experience, inspiring those around her to embrace teamwork, resilience, and the joy of playing with heart.
“We are each other’s missing half; if one isn’t on the court with the other, we aren’t able to play to our fullest potential.”
Sara Salazar, Class of 2028, named MVP of the Women’s Basketball Tournament at the 5th XJTLU Cup
Q:What first drew you to the sport of basketball? Beyond the obvious appeal of the game, what was the specific moment or influence that made you think, “This is my sport”?
Growing up, I played all kinds of sports thanks to my dad—soccer, volleyball, tennis, swimming, and of course, basketball. But basketball has always held a special place in my heart because it’s our family sport. My parents actually met through basketball, so from the very beginning it’s been woven into who we are.
Both of my parents were my first coaches and role models. They played in the same position as me—post—which made it easy to picture myself following in their footsteps. They taught me everything, from shooting form to footwork, with endless patience. More importantly, they passed down their love for the game, not just to me but also to my sister.
For me, basketball is about carrying on their legacy. My parents have supported us every step of the way—they even moved to Kunshan so they could stay close and have never missed a game. Over time, they’ve become the “team parents,” cheering on not just my sister and me but also every girl on the team. Their presence has been such a gift, for me and for everyone who plays alongside us.
Sara’s parents cheered in person at the Sino-Foreign University Cup
Q:Basketball is a game of constant, rapid decisions. What do you find most intellectually stimulating about reading the court and making split-second choices?
That’s honestly one of the things that makes basketball so exciting for me. When the ball is in your hands, anything can happen—you can shoot, drive, or pass—but you often have to decide even before the ball gets to you. Having good court vision is key. One split-second choice can completely shift the momentum of the game. I love that adrenaline rush, especially when it’s about making the right choice for the team so we can score together.
Sara warmed up before the game at XJTLU Cup
Q:How would you describe the team’s personality this year? And is there a unique tradition or pre-game ritual that captures your team’s identity?
Our team is best described as united. We’re close on the court, but also off it—we eat together, hang out, and show up for each other outside of basketball. The relationships that we have cultivated with each other have turned into some of the closest friendships I have at DKU. As we all have different majors, varied interests, and diverse backgrounds, without basketball I may never have had the chance to get to know these girls.
One memory that sticks with me was last year when I competed in a Chinese Talk Show Competition. Almost the entire team came to watch and support. Just seeing their faces in the crowd gave me so much comfort. That bond and sense of “no matter what, we’ve got you,” makes us stronger as teammates and as friends.
Q:How does your team typically practice during regular days, and how does the training routine change when preparing for a competition?
We practice three times a week, usually about an hour and a half each. Everyone shows up early to warm up and shoot around, then Coach Marko gathers us for updates and drills. Practices balance individual skill work with team plays, but before a big tournament things definitely ramp up. We’ll do longer 5-on-5 scrimmages to build endurance and sharpen strategy.
That said, the last practice before a game is always a little lighter. We’ll do something fun—like last semester when we all lined up for half-court shots while Coach counted us down and hit the buzzer. It’s silly and competitive, but also the perfect way to shake off nerves and head into the weekend with good energy.
DKU Women’s Basketball took first place at the Sino-Foreign University Cup
Q:Student-athlete life is a juggling act. Can you share a specific instance where academic deadlines clashed with a major game, and how you managed that pressure?
One week last semester stands out. I had a midterm, a Chinese Speech Competition, and our last home game—which also happened to be Senior Night—all back-to-back. The game was especially meaningful because it was the last time I’d get to play with some of our seniors. I wanted to give everything I had, so I was spending extra hours in the gym on top of studying and memorizing my nine-minute talk show in Chinese.
That week pushed me to my limit. My midterm ended at 5:30 p.m., and tip-off was at 6 p.m. It was exhausting and stressful, but also one of the most defining weeks I’ve had at DKU. It showed me just how much juggling it takes to be a student-athlete, but also how rewarding it is when you push through.
Q:As a captain, how do you approach supporting a teammate who is struggling with her confidence during a game or after a tough loss?
This is my first year as captain. But in the past, I have tried to focus on finding every players strength in the game. Every girl on the team brings something valuable and we need to constantly remind each other the role and importance that we contribute to the team. I believe that sometimes we can be very hard on ourselves, especially as women, as there are many expectations that society will put on us. We always need to remember that what happens in a game, good or bad, should not bring us down. Whether we have success or not, it doesn’t define us, instead, these challenges make us stronger players and people.
Sara led the offense during the game at UNNC
Q:What is one specific aspect of your game that you’re relentlessly focused on improving this season?
One aspect of my game that I would like to focus on this year is my free throw accuracy. I think that being consistent with free throws is important for the team, as those couple points can be a crucial in a close competition. As a player on the team, I want to make sure that I am doing everything in my ability to be able to contribute the most I can. My goal would be to get to an 80% free throw accuracy. I know that this can only be attained by repetition, therefore I plan on doing this through putting in more hours at the gym.
Q:Looking beyond wins and losses, what is the primary legacy you want your leadership year to leave on the DKU Women’s Basketball program?
My hope when I am not at DKU anymore is that DKU Women’s Basketball program continues the passion and team spirit that we have built. Being on the team has changed my whole college experience, my wish is that more and more girls would be inspired to participate in the sport teams at DKU.
What I have seen and heard so far is that the Women’s Basketball Team has already come a long way from its initial start. This invigorates me to think about all the potential and where it can be in the future. I can see myself in 10 years checking the DKU website to see the new team and follow their progress through the season. It will always have a special place in my heart.
Q:Outside of the drills and strategies, what lasting lesson from basketball continues to shape the way you live your life?
One of the lessons that I have learned from basketball is self-discipline. Having self-discipline is saying “no” to an activity you would want to do and “yes” to something that you don’t want to do. Being an athlete takes up a lot of time, from practices to film watching, endurance training, weekend tournaments, and personal skill development. Therefore, managing your time appropriately is very important. Making decisions of how you spend your time can sometimes be difficult, especially when you know that it will not only influence yourself, but the entire team. This self-discipline is not only important in sports, but in academics as well. Self-discipline is a skill that gets easier with practice, and I know that it is a lesson that will help me my whole life.
Sara makes a clutch free throw during the game
Q:Having your sister on the varsity team with you is clearly unique. What makes playing alongside her so special for you?
At different times in our lives, we had the chance to play together on various teams. However, I did not think that we would have the chance to play together again. As a family sport, there is no word that describes the feeling of having your sister on the court with you. With her playing in the position of a guard, I feel like we complement each other in our games. We are each other’s missing half; if one isn’t on the court with the other, we aren’t able to play to our fullest potential. We even chose our numbers 8 and 4 to show that she is my other half. Sharing this passion and commitment allows us to encourage each other and grow together, both as players and as sisters. Being able to train and play with her has allowed us to grow together and learn from each other. I will be forever grateful to DKU for giving us the chance to be both classmates and teammates.
Sara and her sister competed side by side on the court.
Ready to Take on Your Own Challenge?
