The Kentucky basketball team secured a victory over SEC rival Tennessee at Rupp Arena on Tuesday night, completing a season sweep of the Volunteers. During halftime, head coach Mark Pope’s daughter, Layla Pope, took center stage with the Kentucky dance team, delivering a memorable performance.
Adding to the moment’s significance, Layla wore her father’s 1996 national championship jersey. The gesture had a profound impact on Mark Pope, who was deeply moved to see his daughter representing a key part of his past.
Layla, a professional dancer for the Utah Jazz, took advantage of a rare day off to support her father in Lexington. As the Kentucky and Tennessee players exited for halftime, the dance team took over the court, with Layla front and center. She sported her father’s No. 41 jersey, the same one he wore nearly 30 years ago as a player for the Wildcats. Back then, Pope was a crucial part of Kentucky’s title-winning squad under coach Rick Pitino. That season, he averaged 7.6 points and 5.2 rebounds before being selected in the second round of the NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers.
After the game, Pope reflected on the special moment, expressing how much it meant to him to see his daughter perform at his alma mater.
“Actually, it’s super sweet to me… I got to have my — it’s really, actually pretty incredible — I got to have my daughter wearing my national championship jersey on our court in this game. And just like, you know, it’s not about me or not about us but in a really personal way that’s a super special moment for me,” Pope said.
Layla Pope comes from a highly athletic family. She is one of four daughters, with her sister Ella having played college basketball at Ohio University, while another sibling, Avery, competed in tennis at BYU.
Though she typically performs in Utah during Jazz games, the team had the night off, allowing her to witness her father coach in person. Her halftime performance, coupled with her tribute to his playing days, made the Wildcats’ win even more meaningful for the Pope family.
