GREENVILLE, S.C. — In the moments after Miami beat Villanova to advance to the Elite Eight in the 2023 women’s NCAA tournament Friday, Hurricanes coach Katie Meier made her way across the court and walked behind press row, looking into the stands. “Where’s mom?” she asked.
Phyllis Skolak made her way to the front row and shared an emotional embrace with her daughter. Over a playing and coaching career that has spanned five decades, Meier had never made it this far in an NCAA tournament. The one person who stood behind her all those years was her mom, who picked up the pieces after a terrible tragedy and helped Meier become who she is today.
There are tears as they hug. Of course, there are tears. Meier never knew her biological father, who died in a plane crash before she was born. Phyllis was 27 at the time, pregnant with Meier, raising three kids under the age of 4. Yet she found a way to push through, and in time married Howie Skolak. Their blended family had eight kids and a home filled with love — and sports.
Now 82, Phyllis Skolak had to be there to watch her daughter, on the precipice of making history for the University of Miami. “It is hard to find the words,” Phyllis said afterward. “Kate’s worked so hard. She deserves all this. This is so…
