Around the time Caitlin Clark stepped foot into Carver-Hawkeye Arena, there have been some great players hooping around the NCAA as well. Some were balling then and some are balling now. Hailey Van Lith, Paige Bueckers, Kiki Rice, Juju Watkins, and Hannah Hidalgo just to name a few.
My favorite of the bunch is Talia Von Oelhoffen, also known as “TVO” or “T-VO.” Yeah, the triple cross three shooter from Tri Cities. Yes, the 5 foot 11 five-star who was one of top high school prospects in the country at the time. Yeah yeah yeah, all that and a bag of chips right? I know. Let me tell you how I met her and how amazing it has been ever since.
Talia is from Pasco to be exact. Kennewick and Richland are the other two that make up Southeastern Washington’s three cities. They form at the confluence of three rivers; Snake, Columbia and Yakima. You know what other city in America was built at the confluence of three rivers? Come on now. Say it with me! One, two, three.
Pittsburgh.
Yes, the Allegheny River merges with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River, which is where my drinking water comes from. You see why I love bringing home with me? The history makes it hard not to and T-VO was born there, like me.
For the record if you were wondering, we are two years apart. No big deal or anything but knowing this feels good. But if there is anything better than that, It was catching these past two seasons of basketball and figuring out exactly who she was in the process.
On February 4, 2024, I attended the Women’s Basketball game versus the Beavers at Matthew Knight. I sat just above Pit Crew when I noticed a name I recognized from my childhood, on the back of a Beaver jersey. I am telling you, she was cold game like the flu. She picked a few pockets, and had the most assists against us for her team that day. Maybe not the most points, but it kind of felt like watching a female version of Rajon Rondo out there.
Source: Maggie Atkins: The Daily Barometer
I have not heard this name since I was about eight years old to be exact. So, I texted my good friend/mentor Willie Parker, former Steeler, and asked him a few questions about it. It ended up being my favorite Steeler football player’s daughter. I used to watch the Steelers play on TiVo, that VCR playback thing that made it’s debut in 1999. What I thought was a cousin or distant relative, turned out to be even closer.
The Beavers barely escaped Eugene with a 64-60 win over us. From that moment on, I dedicated the rest of my college time to supporting Talia any way I could, whether a connection was formed or not. But I was going to try at least, because why not? So, when our Ducks Men’s team traveled to Corvallis, I went up to watch, hoping she would be there.
Surprise! She was there. It was cool because I watched her do an interview on the sideline, talking about her game winner against UCLA and being a leader on a squad that could go far in March Madness, and did! This is where I met her for the first time, capturing the first moment. But it was quick because it was a school night.
Don’t worry, I traveled to Corvallis again to watch her play Stanford later in the month, where she had 27 points in their 67-63 loss to them. She ended up signing autographs. So, I went down to meet her a second time and tell the whole story. She recognized me and all was well. When I told her I was from Pittsburgh too, she said ” Foreal? Bring it in! We’re Pittsburgh Fam!” while dapping me up.
T-VO ended up graduating early at Oregon State just like she did in high school. When she could have been balling with high schoolers, she chose to enroll early and make an immediate impact in college.
One year later from our first time meeting, she is now hooping at USC with Juju Watkins and Kiki Iriafen, former Power Forward at Stanford. Von Oelhoffen is a graduate student and known for her fierce work ethic, exciting personality and team leadership, She helped the Trojans get it done last night against number one UCLA for Rivalry Week.
Most of all, I look forward to watching her develop into an amazing professional WNBA star. Hopefully, we can be great friends going forward in the future! USC is ranked Top Ten in the Country and you have number 55 to thank for it.
P.S. Yes I created a custom jersey to show my support! I’m probably the only current student in any school to do it. I”m honoring my words and commitment and could not be any more happier to.
Jaeden Gordon 
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