Miss Jones and Mama Jones: The Heart Behind Wright State Basketball

During last Saturday’s men’s basketball game against Northern Kentucky, Wright State freshman point guard Michael Cooper grimaced as he was double-teamed late in the first half. But the two people most focused on him weren’t Vikings defenders. They were Miss Jones and Mama Jones.

When Cooper was slow getting to the sideline after being banged up, LaShaunta’ Jones, the men’s basketball Athletic Trainer at Wright State University, stepped toward him. As he passed the bench, a familiar voice rang out from the front row.

“C’mon Baby, you gonna be alright. You hear me? You gonna be OK, Baby. She got you!” called Mama Jones — LaShaunta’s 69-year-old mother, Darlene — from her usual seat just behind the Raiders bench.

For Wright State players, that moment captured exactly what Miss Jones brings to the program. She treats bruises, sprains, dislocations and breaks, but she also tends to emotional strain, self-doubt and the everyday stress of college athletics. Sometimes that care looks like a listening ear. Other times, it’s homemade cookies, cupcakes, or her famous “sick tea,” believed by players to cure just about anything.

Jones brings nearly two decades of experience from Central State, where she served as head Athletic Trainer, adjunct professor, and senior women’s administrator. Along the way, she became a role model for student-athletes, especially young women of color, leading with compassion, humor, and firm boundaries when needed.

“We’re very fortunate to have Miss Jones,” Wright State head coach Clint Sargent said. “She helps our players take more responsibility for their habits, but never hesitates to meet them where they’re at and help guide their decision making. She sets a great example for all of us on how to serve and lead.”

That example extends beyond the training room. During Darlene’s recent battle with breast cancer, the team rallied around her.

“When I was getting ready to go into surgery they got in a huddle and put Shaunta’ Lynn in the middle and prayed for me,” Darlene said.

Now back in her familiar seat, Mama Jones continues to support the team with Valentine bags, stitched jerseys, encouraging words, and faith-filled reminders.

“I try hard to stand by her side in every which way,” Darlene said. “And I try to support everyone else’s child that comes across my way, too.”

Together, Mama Jones and Miss Jones remain an unbeatable double team. Read the full, detailed story here!