Cotie McMahon opens up on why she calls Coach Yo 'queen of the misunderstood'

Cotie McMahon had one of her worst nights of the season against South Carolina, and Coach Yo was still proud of her effort.

That’s the bond Coach Yo has forged in Oxford, building a culture that has etched her name in the program’s permanent record."

Yet, McMahon has a strange observation about Coach Yo during her time with the Rebels, as she thinks McPhee-McCuin is the 'queen of misunderstood'.

The reason is pure locker room soul.

Cotie McMahon backs Yolett McPhee-McCuin for being herself

"I feel like she just uses her voice a lot, and I feel like what she's been through, she came from nothing and is very successful. Not only that, she is a black woman, and from the Bahamas," McMahon said on ESPN's Sports Center, standing up for her coach who has often been characterised as "too much" or "too aggressive" for being her true self.

"So, it's very rare for her to do what she's even accomplished and continues to accomplish. But I feel like she's very misunderstood. Like, not many people understand where she comes from. Her heart is just so pure and just so big, and she really cares for us and really fights for us," McMahon said with that unrehersed, raw voice.

Coach Yo's story might hit a little too close to home for the Ole Miss forward in a way, mainly because she knows what it feels to be counted out one.

"Well, you all understand, so, I guess, that's what matters," the Sports center host added.

Before landing at Ole Miss, McMahon was media's hot target for her on-court intensity. For being "too much."

The whole narrative blew up after a heated handshake incident in 2025, during the NCAA tournament loss at Ohio State. Critics didn't pull back any punches in calling McMahon everything they could think of.

Things were different when she came to Oxford to Coach Yo, though. She found someone whom she could look upto for unapologetically being herself.

McMahon explicitly stated that Coach Yo was the first person to "see her for something completely different than the media tried to paint her as."

Although the Rebs might have had a rough patch this past week, fans expect them to come back only stronger with some rest this week against Florida.