Why Texas basketball's Taylor Jones has 'DMFJ' on her shoes for Elite Eight game vs. TCU

USA Today

31-03-2025

Why Texas basketball's Taylor Jones has 'DMFJ' on her shoes for Elite Eight game vs. TCU
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Jones honors her late mother, who passed away from lung cancer in 2019, by wearing her nickname initials "DMFJ" on her shoes during games.
Jones, a sixth-year player, transferred to Texas after three years at Oregon State to fulfill her mother's wish for her to attend the university.
Beyond basketball, Jones finds inspiration in her mother's positive outlook on life and her unwavering faith, symbolized by a tattoo of Psalm 46 on her ankle.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Texas women's basketball senior Taylor Jones will have the handwritten letters 'DMFJ' on her shoes when she runs onto the court for the Longhorn's Elite Eight game against TCU on Monday.
The 'D' stands for Dina, the 'J' stands for Jones and 'you can probably figure out the other two words,' Jones told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday.
Jones' mom passed away from lung cancer in 2019. Jones wears the letters as a reminder that her mom, whose nickname was DMFJ, is always with her.
'She was always someone who reminded me that I'm more than a basketball player,' Jones said. 'And I think I always keep that in mind.'
Jones, a 6-foot-4 center, will go head-to-head with someone familiar Monday – TCU's Sedona Prince, who averages 17.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Both Texas natives, they also both began their college career at schools in Oregon. They've matched up often enough that Jones has learned about Prince's tendencies and strengths.
'She's a great offensive rebounder, but she's also really good at passing,' Jones said. 'So I will be trying to make sure that my hands are in the passing lane and pushing her out.'
This last rematch will also mark the last college game for either Jones or Prince.
'It'll be fun to have one more rematch,' Jones said.
Jones is in her sixth year as a college player. She spent three years at Oregon State before transferring back home to Texas — a school her mom always wanted her to attend.
'She just loved that school,' Jones said. 'So knowing that I came back, and just knowing that she's watching over me, it's amazing.'
Texas has made the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons that Jones has worn a Longhorns jersey, including a run to the Elite Eight last season. In this year's tournament, Jones has averaged 14.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Although a lot of Jones' traits come from her mom, her athletic ability was not one of them.
'She used to always tell us in middle school she played basketball and she scored two points,' Jones said. 'But she scored them for the other team on accident.'
This light-hearted energy around basketball allowed Jones to see the bigger picture of the sport and to 'embrace the best parts of life.'
Although 'DMFJ' is just written in Sharpie, Jones has something a little more permanent to remember her mom with: a tattoo on the side of her ankle that says 'Psalm 46.'
The Bible verse reads: 'God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.'
'When (my mom) was diagnosed with cancer, that was like her verse,' Jones said. 'And our whole side of the family really used that and leaned on it and that sort of just became my verse too.
'She knew that God was going to be with her, and we did too, and she was going to live the best life that she had with the time that she had.'
Jones will play on, in the comfort of knowing that her mom is watching from above: 'She has the best seat in the house.'
Ansley Gavlak is a student in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.