The Paladin Athlete of the Month for January 2025 is graduate guard Tate Walters on the Women’s Basketball team.
Walters is a graduate student from Buford, Ga. and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications studies in the spring of 2023. She is currently working towards a master’s degree in Furman’s Strategic Design Program.
Walters is now two seasons past an Achilles tendon tear that sidelined her for the entire 2022-23 season. “Tearing my Achilles was a huge blow but a super necessary step in my growth as a person and as a player. I now understand why Kevin Durant sat out for two years after tearing his Achilles because it takes so long to feel normal again.” Walters said.
Last season, Walters averaged 10 points per game after returning from her injury. “Even though my big injury was two years ago, my body was still recovering all last year.”
On Jan. 1, the Dins hosted Southern Wesleyan University, and Walters had a double-double, scoring 12 points and adding 11 assists to contribute to the 101-51 Paladin victory.
The Paladins began Southern Conference play at Wofford on Jan. 12 and have had a record of 2-5 since, with each game ending tightly. Walters leads the team in scoring so far this season, averaging 13.1 points per game. In January alone, Walters averaged 16.3 points per game.
In a match against Western Carolina University on Jan. 16, Walters dropped a career-high 30 points while also dishing out eight assists. She made 4-of-8 shots from beyond the arc and was 10-of-17 from the field.
“Conference play is always more amplified and exciting because this is when it all matters, so you have to try and stay in the zone as much as you can. I actually had no idea I was having a career night until my boyfriend told me after the game how many points I had.” Walters said.
In the next game against University of North Carolina Greensboro on Jan. 18, Walters scored 17 points. She followed up that performance with a 21-point game on Jan. 23 when the Dins played at Samford.
Walters will be a key leader for Furman as they look towards the back half of Southern Conference play and try to make a deep run in the conference tournament. To do so, Walters plans on being present and leaning on her faith “Everything is about taking it one game at a time and trusting in the abilities that God has blessed me with.” Walters said.
Walters and the Paladins will continue the conference season by hosting Wofford on Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
