Sunday Sit-down with Mizzou guard Grace Slaughter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

ABC 17 Sports Director Nathalie Jones brought on Mizzou women's basketball guard Grace Slaughter to preview the 2026-27 season in this week's edition of Sunday Sit-down.

You can watch their full conversation in the video player above and find a full transcript of the interview below.

Nathalie Jones: "Welcome back, everyone. It is Sunday Sit-down time, and we are joined at Mizzou Arena by Grace Slaughter. Grace, thanks for hanging out with us."

Grace Slaughter: "Thanks for having me. I'm excited."

Jones:  "Yeah, you know, big season coming ahead. Obviously, you've been here now for years, and it's a big season coming. I mean, is it kind of emotional coming through, and it's like, oh wow, these are some of the lasts as you're preparing for a season here."

Slaughter: "Yeah, you know, I think that it's excitement, also a little bit emotional. I'm here with, you know, a couple of my best friends, with Averi Kroenke, Abbey Schreacke, and just you know, knowing that we got to go through all this together, I think has been really special. And I think you know, there's a lot of excitement as well."

Jones: "What's this journey been like for you? Can you put into words what this Tiger career has meant for you so far?"

Slaughter: "I really would just have to say how special it is. I mean, I've literally dreamt of coming to Mizzou, getting to play here and now that it's my senior year. I just feel so thankful, you know, that I got to be here, get my degree from here, create best friends, amazing memories, and so yeah."

Jones: "Where do you feel like you've grown the most as a Tiger?"

Slaughter:  "You know, I feel like I've really grown a lot just in my voice and being vocal. I think you know a lot of people would describe me as a little reserved, kind of shy and I think I've just been able to grow in that area. Coach Harper even has a time after practice called our "Grace period," where I just talk to the team, tell them what I saw, and I feel like that has just really helped me be more vocal, and especially with this year, with this young group of girls, just talk more with them and tell them what I see and that sort of stuff."

Jones: "I was gonna say, what's the focus of the "Grace periods?" You know, what have you been telling these guys that you like that you've been seeing?"

Slaughter:  "Yeah, you know, I really just tell them how I saw how practice went. You know, whether it was a good day, bad day. You know, hey, let's really look at our scouts tonight because we have a scrimmage tomorrow. You know, just little things that I think would have been good reminders for freshman Grace, or what I would have wanted to hear from a player, you know, when I was a freshman."

Jones: "What do you love about this year's team? It's an exciting group."

Slaughter: "I would really just have to say our competitiveness. I feel like that word has been used so much to describe this team. And I feel like it's been used because it's true. Every day we are just battling, whether you know it's against each other, against our scout team. And so I really just think our competitiveness is what's really really special about this group."

Jones: "We heard so much about that first practice of summer when people were diving on balls. I mean, how did that just set the tone for this team? What was it like?"

Slaughter: "I mean, it was exciting. You're like, all right, like we're getting started, we're doing a rebounding drill and it totally set the tone of like, 'hey, I love you, but like you're not beating me.' You are not beating me, as we're literally helping, you know, two of our transfers off the ground. But I think it just set the tone for this team and the work ethic and really everything about this group."

Jones: "Some fun transfers coming in. You know, who stood out to you so far?"

Slaughter: "Yeah, man, it's hard to pick just one. All of them have brought energy. You know, Tanyuel [Welch] is so scrappy and aggressive on the defensive end. Nevaeh [Caffey's] done a great job, you know, being a point guard and just helping really lead this group offensively. And then Mckenzie [Mathurin], she is just all over the floor. She's taking charges, she's hitting threes. So, all of them have been a great addition and super fun to play with."

Jones: "When you look at freshmen who are going to make a contribution to this team in their first season, what's your message to them about just coming into college and hey, right off the bat, you're going to have a role?"

Slaughter: "Yeah, you know, I felt like I was in a similar position as a freshman. And so really just telling them, you know, don't get too frustrated with your mistakes. You are going to make mistakes, and that's okay. It's just your reaction to them. Don't let a mistake stop you or get you too frustrated to where you quit playing or don't focus on the next play. Because that's, you know, one of my favorite things about basketball, is you can make a mistake on one end, but you can go get a stop or go get a score on the other end. So, just be ready to learn and they've done a great job of that. I feel like they come to us seniors with questions, the coaches and really have just done a great job of growing in their roles."

Jones: "Well, i want to ask about, obviously, the trio that you mentioned. Obviously, you've been here with Abbey and with Averi, as well. I mean, how have you guys grown together in these past few years?"

Slaughter: "Yeah, you know, we came in together. Averi was a year older, but then, you know, we also live together and so I just think us getting to spend so much time on and off the court has really helped grow our relationship, and I really feel like helps our chemistry on the court. You know, we're able to just read each other really well, talk to each other when we see things, and each of us just brings something different, you know, as senior leaders. So I think that's just a really special group to have, when sometimes you do have a lot of pieces moving with teams year-to-year."

Jones: "How exciting is it to have Averi back on the court? I mean, gosh, she's been through so much with some injuries, but to have her back out there, what does she bring when she is out there?"

Slaughter: "She is just such a meaningful voice and energy for this team. I'm so thankful to have her. I think she also is just – I would really describe her as the glue of this team. Genuinely, just the energy and work ethic she brings every day is so special. You know, you can always count on her just to be a floor general, a leader, and I'm so thankful to have her back. Truly, one of my best friends, and super thankful to play with her this year."

Jones: "Well, you guys set a new standard last year. You know, with obviously getting a first postseason win and doing some new things with Coach Kellie. But what do you think the standard is for this year for Tiger basketball?

Slaughter: "Yeah, you know, I think we're focused. You have really been emphasizing focusing on one game at a time, one win at a time. But you're right; we got to make a big jump last year. And I think at the end of the day, the goal is always to make you know a postseason run and a big jump for us this year would definitely to make would be to make the NCAA Tournament."

Jones: "What has Coach Harper just brought to this program? I mean, she's, she's fiery on the sidelines, but you can see how much she loves her players. I mean, what has she brought to you guys that has just made such a difference?"

Slaughter: "I really just think her energy and just love of the game. You know, every day, you know, it's no days off, even if it's our biggest scout players, you know. No, like we are here to win and we're here to do well and play hard. I just think that standard has really helped this team just grow and set the bar high for all of us."

Jones: "It was kind of different for you. You got to play the one through the five last year. What was different about that, and what did you like about it, I guess?"

Slaughter: "Yeah, you know, I think Coach Harper came to me and told me that, and I was kind of taken aback. Like, what do you mean five in the SEC? But you know, she was like, 'Grace, like, you're going to be able to be Grace. You know, we're not going to make you do what you know true fives do. But, we're going to let you be grace through these positions.' And I think that really helped me just show that you can be versatile. I can be versatile and just really do whatever this team, you know, needs on the court."

Jones: "How do you think that helps you? I mean, I know down the line, hopefully looking to have a professional career as well, right? I mean, how does that kind of experience help in what you're hoping to do in your next chapter?"

Slaughter: "Yeah, and that's something the coaches had mentioned last year as well – was just that you know showing anyone that you can be versatile and just play you know one through five if needed is a big deal and something that i hope people can see that just we can be anywhere on the court."

Jones: "Yeah, when you start non-conference play here, what do you think the biggest thing this team needs to show before you get into the gauntlet that is the SEC, right?"

Slaughter: "Yeah, I would really just say that we want to play together. You know, we've been building our team chemistry on and off the court. I think we we've been really working hard on just playing fast, and I think that's one thing that the SEC has always been every year – you know, fast, physical. So we want to just play that speed, and I think really play together."

Jones: "You mentioned fast. Do you feel like that's what you want the mark of this team to be, or what do you think the identity of this group is?"

Slaughter: "I think the identity of this group is really just how we want to outwork the other team, whether that is by speed, boxing out, playing a tough and scrappy defense. Just having an identity of you know we're going to outwork the other team and we're never going to give up."

Jones: "Well, Grace, I appreciate you making time. Looking forward to the season. 

Slaughter: "Thank you. Me, too. 

Jones: "For the rest of you guys, we'll be right back after the break."