Kelis Fisher has a complete understanding of what comes with being a member of UConn Women’s Basketball, and she welcomes it all.
From a young age the 25th ranked player in the 2025 class knew she wanted to be a Husky and spoke with No Cap Space about her commitment, her growth as a player, and how Overtime Select is aiding that growth.
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Tyler DeLuca, No Cap Space WBB
What's up everyone? Welcome back to the No Cap Space here in Atlanta, Georgia, at Overtime Select, Tyler Greer boots on the ground. We have a very special guest. Khalis Fisher is here in the building. I mean, thank you, first off, for joining us here. We're very excited to get the chance to talk to you. I mean, what has this experience been like? Just to start off, because we've talked with Mia Paulo now GG (Banks), we've just been so impressed. It's our first time being here at Overtime, we've been so impressed by the whole setup here, and like, all the pro facilities and everything going on, what has been like? What is the thing that's impressed you most from your Overtime experience so far, and what do you feel like has been your biggest takeaway?
Kelis Fisher
I would say, you know, the competition. Everybody here is great. You know, everybody going big places here, and it was, it's really fun to be down here and play a couple people with other players on the floor while fans come and watching it after the game. People want to take pictures. So it's like, dang, like, I'm actually here in this big event for everybody to get an opportunity to be here. And it's everybody first time for, like, the girls that actually compete in these events.
Greer Engonga, No Cap Space WBB
So you're representing ISO world, right? And championship weekend, um, you guys had a massive comeback against the All Knighters. And so you guys are going to be here for championship weekend. Can you talk about, the makeup of your team, because to come back against that team, the way that you did was very impressive. What was the message of the fourth quarter, right, to get yourselves back on track?
Kelis Fisher
Oh, we was like, our message, we was like, we gonna win, because we don't want to be here 10 o'clock at night, doing a bubble breaker, competing in another game back to back. So our plan, our mentality, was a goal. We gonna win. It's gonna be one and done, and we're gonna go on to the championship and we're gonna win it like, we just want to win. We didn't want to play two, three games, we already have each other. Y'all winning, playing together and being focused .
Tyler
As you mentioned, you did win that game, you are going to be in championship weekend. For you, what makes your team championship caliber? \What do you feel like sets you all apart from the other teams of all championship weekend that can lead you to winning that championship?
Kelis Fisher
I would say, you know, being disciplined, staying focused, um, also, you know, having fun on the court. You know, we be serious, but we also have fun. You know, we all play together when somebody going, we keep getting them the ball because, you know, they going, we celebrate with them. We just be having fun, really. And you know, when somebody not doing something, we just let you know, like, Yo we gotta crash boards, and we all stick together no matter what.
Greer
You've got an opportunity to play with some really good players on ISO World, who's impressed you on your team?
Kelis Fisher
I would say Kaleena (Smith). Kaleena and Saniyah Hall. Saniyah Hall our first game, she came out real strong. Scored like 24 points or something like that. Like seven rebounds. You know, she was doing everything defense, offense, and she was still celebrating our team, going to cheer for everybody else. You know, Kaleena, I think, being the youngest on our team. She also impressed. She was a, one of the big reasons why we won our last game, you know, coming in clutch at some points. So I would say, yeah, them two. You know, everybody else did great too. So I would say maybe them two.
Tyler
How has it been with this being more tournament style in that way, you know, like, where obviously, you know, had you lost that game, you didn't, but had you lost, but, like, obviously, you would have, you know, the next game. But how does that change the mentality from a player perspective, or is it just, hey, we're playing the game, we gotta go win it.
Kelis Fisher
No, I don't think it would change, like, our mentality. Because, like, if we were to lose that game, I just feel like it like, a ll right, we lost, but now we got, we got a bubble breaker, and we know we could beat the team, because we just won, and the team that we would have played, we already beat them. So it's like, yeah, we could go again, and it would just be, like a second chance. But we all still had the same mentality, because we still go to the same place, but I feel like it wouldn’t change anything. But dang, we gotta play late again.
Tyler
You avoided the late night and that's, that's, that's, that's a double win. You won the game and you avoided the late night. So yeah, you left there with more than just something
Greer
So we've been asking all of the players that we've been doing interviews with if, obviously, ISO World's super talented, but if you could add one WNBA player and one college player to your team to secure the championship who would you add?
Kelis Fisher
So for WNBA, I'm going to choose Angel Reese. You know, she from Baltimore. We both from Baltimore. You know, stick together. You know her double doubles and get it. And for college, bring Paige (Bueckers) back. I would say, yeah, them two.
Tyler
Well, speaking of Paige, you got to be up close and be able to work with her over the course of this Takeover weekend. Talk to me about what was coach Paige and being around her and being in this environment with her. Obviously you guys won't play with each other at UConn, but being able to have that UConn connect there and everything. How was that?
Kelis Fisher
I liked it a lot. It was, like, it was really fun, you know, I got to see, like, how she worked, how she moved, you know, it was really fun hanging around her, you know, her being a coach. And when we was playing, she was coaching, yeah, we were still playing and having fun. But, you know, you can see that she's still wanted to win. So, like, yeah, I just like that mentality of her still wanting to win, but also still having fun, still cheering for us and stuff like that. And she got in our shooting drills when she was coaching, you know, she got some good coaching plays because them plays was working.
Tyler
We have heard that twice now!
Kelis Fisher
Those backdoor cuts were working!
Tyler
Clipboard is certified?
Kelis Fisher
Clipboard is certified, check that off.
Greer
Love to hear that. So speaking of Paige and UConn, you know you committed super early in the process. What gave you the confidence to commit to UConn as soon as you did, or as early as you did?
Kelis Fisher
I would say because, well, it was my dream school. UConn was my dream school. I've been wanting to go to UConn forever, since I was a kid, and like, I told my coaches and my mom, and it was like, yeah, you're gonna have to work it for you know, I always play my game. You know, when I wanted to go to UConn, I didn’t see coach Geno, no, no, assistant coach, like, nowhere. So, like, I would just plan my game. Yeah, I was racking up offers, but I think that was my dream school, and the day where I was playing, because I always played up in AAU. I seen coach Geno at somebody else game, because it wasn't my game, but we was playing. I was playing against one of his players, and that is how originally I got, you know, I wasn't thinking I would just play like, just doing me, staying focused, playing like, offense and defense, you know, just having mentality of wanting to win, that's how I got there. So it's like, when I committed, I was like, I had no second thoughts. I had no second guesses or second doubt, like, I already trust him. He was already like an experienced coach, and I build a connection with him. So I was like, Yeah, I want to go here.
Tyler
What about UConn? I mean, obviously the wins and everything speak for itself, yes. But what about UConn made it your dream school so early on?
Kelis Fisher
They was a winning team, you know, he really, he was really experienced. He came in as a young coach already winning. You know, even still with multiple championships, they build legacy. You know, after basketball, his players still go on and, like, build with, like, other stuff, even if it's like broadcasting, you know, the legacy, I just feel like the legacy, carries on and like, he know where I want to go, and I feel like he he could get me there. He going to get me there.
Greer
You brought up that you're a two way player, right? Played offense and defense. I know you played defense because I saw you swat a ball away and GG (Banks) came here and talked about your defense specifically, the way that you protect the rim as a guard. Where's that instinct come from?
Kelis Fisher
I feel like I learned a lot from my brother. You know, him being tall, like, I always wanted to be tall. You know, his wingspan is real long, so, like, he always been athletic, and, like, been able to jump high. And, you know, a lot of people tell me, like, Kelis, like, you're really athletic, you jump high. Like, as a small guard, you could slap backward on your layups. And I just, I just be jumping. Like, sometimes, like, I don't know how high I could jump, you know, like, I literally, like, when my teammates, like, will be in practice, sometimes, like, they're just come and do a pump fake, and I jump, I cleared her head, like, I just jumped over. I was like, I didn’t know I could jump that high. So, like, sometimes, like, I just play real close, you know, sometimes I'm not gonna jump at everything, but I know, like, when a ball go in there, I'm, like, if you go up, like, I could get that. I could jump and get that. So, yeah, I'm gonna try, you know, like, no easy buckets. But I know, like, like, that would be the center job, like the guard to not to be in foul trouble. But with that, I think I just used my athleticism and my wingspan to my advantage with speed.
Tyler
I mean, you got the whole every attribute checked off, like you got everything you need. I am intrigued. It sounds like you know you're familiar with UConn across the board. Give me your starting five, all time, Dream Team of UConn Huskies, okay.
Kelis Fisher
Maya Moore, Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, Aaliyah Edwards, and I would throw Paige in there again.
Greer
I mean, there's really no wrong answer. I love that you blended like old and new, a lot of them will be on my team too.
Tyler
I mean, you can't really go wrong. You can't I mean, I know for us, we're, like I said, we were impressed, like being able to see your game last night. So I'm interested in, how has your game grown since being in Overtime and everything. And, like I said, I can't get over the facilities and everything here, and the pro level experience that you're able to get here. What do you feel like on the court has been your biggest growth?
Kelis Fisher
I would say, you know, knowing what I could do against other better players. You know? I say like, because, since we here. When we go to college, we all going to play against each other again. So just knowing, like, my opponent, knowing what they could do, knowing what I could do against them, you know, basically it's like film, but you're playing against, like, playing against your opponent you're gonna play in the future. So I say, like, know what I could do against, like, in big events. So when I get to UConn, it's gonna be way bigger, like it's gonna be 1000s of fans. So I can perform in front of 1000s of crowds, 1000s of people. And I would say, like, knowing, like when we're down and we're losing and they're not cheering for us. I still could play my game like just having a mindset of just being focused in the facility. I would just say having, like, when we practice and stuff, playing with good people and make me work harder.
Tyler
I love that you mentioned, like, the crowd, aspect to and everything, because the atmosphere here, with all the lights, everything, do you feel like that has helped Like, yeah, just like, mature your game?
Kelis Fisher
I feel like I am playing in a bigger, like, a bigger facility, like, people, fans come in there, you know, all the lights flashing, like, sometimes I get in my eyes, but it's like, I gotta stayed focus, but lights flashing and showing, like, how it is and and how the atmosphere is, all this positive energy. But when I get to UConn, it is gonna be crazy,
Tyler
You know, the lights are still gonna be bright.
Kelis Fisher
Yeah those lights gonna be bright.
Tyler
So it's, this is like the perfect stage to get you ready for those bright lights. You’re gonna be ready.
Greer
I do want to know, Championship Weekend, bright lights, lots of attention, but if you can have like, one celebrity show up.
Kelis Fisher
Nick Minaj.
Tyler
Oh, that was quick,
Yeah, literally, she is my favorite. Oh, my gosh, I wanna go to a concert.
Tyler
What’s your favorite song?
Kelis Fisher
I would say, Moment for Life.
Tyler
Oh, that's a good I can't even hate on that.
Kelis Fisher
lBut she got so many so it's like, oh, I can't wait to go to her concert. Yeah, I will say Nikki, though.
Tyler
Sp speaking of Championship Weekend, last one for you, if no one's seen your team before, this is their first time tapping in with your team or seeing your game individually, and they're tapping into Championship Weekend. What should they be expecting when they watch you play?
Kelis Fisher
I say a whole lot of energy, because we going to come out with energy, you know, some threes, shoot them threes, and we going to put up a celebration, you know, we going to talk a little bit like, give me that, or some stuff like that. But you coming in, you watching us play, you're going to see a win. You're going to see a win, and you're going to see us celebrating. We're going to be happy, and we're going to kill it on the court. You're going to see a lot of like, smooth moves, crossover, between the legs, might make somebody fall. Who knows! But, yeah, you came to see us. You came to see a show.
Tyler
Well now I gotta ask about celebrations. Do you have something in mind? Do you have, like, a special thing planned?
Kelis Fisher
Oh every time somebody shoot a three our threes go up. Layups, headtops, we do everything!
Tyler
So we're gonna be on the lookout for the celebrations on top of the hooping,
Kelis Fisher
On top of the hooping.
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