Former Arizona State women's basketball head coach Charli Turner Thorne spoke with Devils in Detail about the meaning of the annual Briann January Classic tournament.
On Friday and Saturday, the Sun Devils hosted the tournament, welcoming the McNeese Cowgirls, Nevada Wolf Pack, and San Francisco Dons.
Turner Thorne spent 25 seasons as head coach for the Sun Devils women's basketball program, leading the team to 14 appearances in the NCAA Tournament. One of the players she coached during her tenure, point guard Briann January, led Arizona State to two appearances in the Elite Eight in 2007 and 2009.
One ASU legend talks about another in an exclusive interview
The Arizona State legendary coach sat down with Devils in Detail to discuss the impact January has had on the Arizona State women's basketball program.
Devils in Detail: What does it mean for the Sun Devils women's basketball program to host the Briann January Classic annually?
Turner Thorne: I mean, Briann January was (an unbelievable player). If you look at her tenure, where we went to two Elite Eights, certainly the most decorated and storied player in my tenure. In my 25 years coaching at ASU and I loved that they created this for her, (and) put her name on the annual tournament because she continues to impact basketball as an assistant coach in the WNBA.
Devils in Detail: How much does it mean to have a type of player you coached like Briann January?
Turner Thorne: I mean, she's just an unbelievable person and player. ... Obviously, when you post a player, you're kind of a surrogate parent. So when they go on to do great things, you're very proud. So, of all of my players, obviously, Briann (January) stayed in basketball, so we've been able to be even more connected. But, with my players that are doctors and lawyers and stuff, I mean, you're just really proud when they go on to be very successful and live fulfilled lives.
Devils in Detail: How proud are you of January's accomplishments in the professional level?
Turner Throne: I mean, that's why I say it's so appropriate to have her name on a tournament, because she's not just a great Sun Devil, she is a great name in women's basketball, period. And she continues to make her mark.
I mean, she's won a world championship as a point guard. I can guarantee you she will be a head coach in the WNBA soon. So she just continues to make her mark in terms of women's basketball, and growing the game. And so I just thought it was a great decision by the leadership to continue her legacy here by naming the tournament after her.
Briann January epitomized the heart of Arizona State
Briann January had a remarkable resume during her time with the school, winning two Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year awards and leading the Sun Devils to a 104-32 record. After building a house in Tempe, she was selected sixth overall in the 2009 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever.
January went on to spend 14 seasons in the WNBA, where she played for the Indiana Fever for nine seasons, and she was a part of the Phoenix Mercury and Connecticut Sun for the next four seasons.
During her professional career, she won the 2012 WNBA Championship with the Fever, participated in the All-Star game in 2014, and was named to seven All-Defensive First and Second teams. January spent her final year in the league with the Seattle Storm before retiring in 2022 and has been an assistant coach for the Sun and Fever under Stephanie White's coaching staff.
Her jersey number was retired by the Sun Devils in November 2021, and she was inducted to the Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame the following year.