Dream forward Le’Coe Willingham has always had doubters. People doubted whether she could have a successful career as a 6-foot post player, giving away four or more inches to her competitors.
People in Augusta, her hometown, doubted whether she would return to school after getting pregnant at 19 following a successful freshman season at Auburn. Willingham recalls people giving her the side-eye when they saw her around town. She said people would stare and even talk about her behind her back.
“It was difficult going back home,” Willingham said. “I was a big recruit coming out of Augusta and everyone knew me. I always knew I was going back to Auburn, but everyone doubted whether I could be successful or come back from having a baby.”
Willingham took a year off from school and basketball and moved to Savannah to be with her son’s father, Derek Magwood Jr., and his family. She left Savannah for good just a month after Derek III was born, choosing not to pursue a relationship with Derek Jr.
Still, the frustration built each day. People continued to judge her every action, and remained doubtful that she would be able to return to form. She channeled that anger throughout her career at Auburn.
“It hurt, but I use everything, all the tears, everything people said, I use as motivation,” Willingham said of her struggles. “I just wanted to prove everybody wrong. It made me want to go back that much more so I could prove everybody wrong.”
She’s done that and more. Willingham, a two-time WNBA champion with the Phoenix Mercury (2009) and the Seattle Storm (2010), balances her time between playing overseas in countries such as Spain, Israel and Turkey, with being a mother to a pre-teen.
Le’Coe didn’t grow up with her biological mother, and that void as a child pushed her to become an overprotective parent early.
“That affected me growing up,” Willingham said. “So in turn, after I had my son, my grandmother wanted to keep him, my father wanted to keep him, everybody wanted to keep my baby. But I told them absolutely not because I decided to have him so I was going to raise him.”
For the first five years of Derek’s life, he spent everyday with Willingham. While in college, she attended class, basketball practice and workout session all before it was time to pick Derek III up from daycare at 5 p.m.
“I’m not going to say it was easy, but I had my routine,” Willingham said. “Plus, I had a good kid. He like to sleep as much as his mom. After all of my work was done, it was just me and him together at night. I was determined to make it work.”
Joe Ciampi, current Dream assistant coach, was the head coach at Auburn at the time. Initially, Willingham said she was terrified to tell Ciampi. Willingham says she had outside pressure trying to get her to transfer, but Ciampi wanted her to stay at Auburn.
“I really do love him. I love him as a father figure in my life,” Willingham said of Ciampi. “He didn’t have to put with my lack of maturity at that age. I was mature, but I was still making some decisions that weren’t great for me. He was patient with me, and he stood by me.”
Ciampi has seen Willingham grow from an maturing college student to a successful WNBA player and mother.
“I think having him around and being closer to him is very special for her,” Ciampi said. “You can see it in her eyes whenever he is at practice. She’s all bright-eyed. We want her to feel good about herself and be able to be connected to her family.”
During the season, Willingham entrusts Ruby Fleming, her brother’s ex-finance, to take care of Derek. He has lived with Fleming since kindergarten.
“When she first asked me, I was shocked because I don’t have any kids and I’ve never raised one,” Fleming said. “But I gave it a try, and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it.”
Willingham said the choice was an easy one.
Derek III said living with Ruby is “hard sometimes, but mostly good.” Fleming helps Derek with homework and keeps him out of trouble. Derek is an honor student and attends middle school in Athens.
“I respect her so much because she gives him as much love as I would give him,” Willingham said of Fleming. “That’s what I look for in a caregiver. I wouldn’t trade her for the world. She’s a godsend, and I love her to death.”
With his mother being a professional basketball player and his father a former football player at Auburn, Derek is a naturally gifted athlete. He’s taken to basketball.
“I push him, but I’m not overbearing. I also let him know that if he loves basketball, he’s going to have to be committed,” Willingham said.
No matter the distance, the bond between mother and son is unbreakable. Even at 7 a.m. on Thursday morning.
Le’Coe, in Atlanta, is up early to coordinate an interview for Derek, who is in Athens and is off to school for the last time before summer break. He’s finishing sixth grade.
Half asleep, the two remember to remind each other just how important they are to one another.
“Mom, I love you,” Derek says.
“Love you, too,” Le’Coe responds.
