WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Most coaches try to create a family atmosphere on their teams. But the Purdue women's basketball team takes that to the extreme, because almost half the team is family.
The Boilermakers' roster has 13 players. Six of them are three pairs of sisters: Caitlyn and Alaina Harper, Madison and McKenna Layden, and Mila and Amiyah Reynolds.
"It's super special, because it reflects the family oriented like team that we, especially our coaches, have, like, produced and emphasize,” said Mila, a sophomore who transferred to Purdue in May from Maryland.
None of the sisters are twins. They are separated in ages by as few as 11 months and as much as nearly four years. All three pairs of sisters chose to be roommates.
Caitlyn Harper is almost four years older than Alaina. Caitlyn is in her sixth season of college basketball, which allowed Alaina to transfer to Purdue and gave the sisters from Hartland, Wisconsin, the opportunity to play on the same team for the first time in their lives.
"It's so cool being able to just learn from her because she's been around the game for so long that even in practice she'll give little pointers, and it's just great to have someone like that around you,” said Alaina, a sophomore who transferred in May to Purdue from Grand Canyon to join her older sister.
"It's very special,” said Caitlyn. “I mean half our team is related to someone somehow. But I think it just brings everyone together a little bit more and makes everyone feel kind of more close."
McKenna and Madison Layden from Kokomo ride together to Mackey Arena most days. Big sister Madison gets to drive. They played together for their mom at Northwestern High School. Madison is almost three years older. McKenna followed her to Purdue this year and moved in with big sister.
"I would say I take on more of the motherly role,” said McKenna, a freshman. “I cook a lot more than Madison. I feel like I take pretty good care of her."
"McKenna likes things done her way,” said Madison. “So, if I were to do it and I were to do it wrong, then that would have been a problem. So, it's easier for her to do a lot of the stuff than for me."
Mila and Amiyah Reynolds arrived together at Purdue this year, although Mila is almost a year older. They have five more siblings. They played for their dad and won a state championship at South Bend Washington.
"Sometimes our teammates be like, 'Guys, like, stop fighting!' And we're like, 'We're not fighting. We're just talking to each other, like this is just how we communicate.' But I just think we know each other, and we know each other's limits and stuff. So, we know how to push those buttons if you want to but also like avoid those things,” said Amiyah, who is sitting out this season due to an injury suffered in high school.
Head coach Katie Gearlds lived with her brother when she played for Purdue. Gearlds believes the deep family ties only strengthen her basketball team.
"It's another tally to how we try to lead our program and the culture we're trying to create,” said Gearlds. “Two of our sisters are happy and their younger sisters join our program, it says something about the direction that we're going in, the culture and the family we're trying to build and establish here."
Purdue is the only team in the country with three sets of sisters on its roster. Thirty-nine teams have at least one pair of sisters.
The Purdue women beat Indiana State 79-63 at Mackey Arena Wednesday in their final non-conference game.