What does it take to be the best team in the country? Hard work, grit and a tenacious, unwavering drive. When your backs are against the wall, the will to win carries you to victory every single time.

This year, DMV’s Team Takeover proved exactly what it means to bring grassroots basketball to the center stage and show up in every act. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, they played with heart, focus, and hunger.

“I had my mindset there, win it all no matter what it takes,” said Autumn Fleary, the 2025 Nike Nationals MVP, after the final whistle.

The five-star guard had one mission after last year’s loss.

“It’s been a long journey,” Autumn began. “I wanted this so bad. I wanted this championship so bad.”

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Autumn holding an MVP trophy; she was named MVP of last summer’s SLAM Summer Classic Vol. 6. Through it all, she’s continued to make her mark at Sidwell Friends and with Team Takeover, carving out a legacy rooted in both talent and tireless work.

The final game at Nike Nationals came down to the last 31.7 seconds. Team Takeover was trailing by 1. The energy in the gym was electric, and it was in that defining moment that the squad relied on their trust in one another to rise.

With back-to-back 20-point games, Fleary embodied the idea that “what you water is what grows.” Starting back in March, more than 200 practices forged a group capable of being crowned the best in the nation. They played for their love of the game, for their city and most importantly, for each other.

“They mean everything to me,” Fleary said about her team. “Our chemistry is great. So that’s why when we get in these tight situations, we just rely on each other because we know we all we got. I love them to death.”

Whether you caught them early in the EYBL season or only tuned in for the final matchup against Team Why Not, one thing was undeniable: every player on that roster possessed the takeover gene. Their bond was unshakable, and it showed in every possession.

The MVP credits it all to the DMV, its culture, its heart and its grassroots talent pool that often gets overlooked on the national stage.

“I’m just super proud of us,” Autumn said about bringing the chip back to the city. “We really take that with a lot of honor. The DMV has great hoopers, and you know, we came in and represented.”

As we spoke, Autumn reflected on the tournament and her eyes lit up when she corrected herself from calling Team Takeover “the best in the DMV” to acknowledging the truth: They are now the best team in the country.

“I learned that anything is possible. We were in a lot of tough situations,” she said, recounting the Nationals journey. A back-and-forth final, sealed by a buzzer-beater from teammate Nyair Mccoy, showed just how far this group had come and how much they had grown together.

“Adversity can really make or break people,” she continued. “And I feel like I love adversity. I love the grind. I love, you know, when [you’re] back [is] against the wall. I love that.”

Autumn stepped up when it mattered most, ensuring her name would forever be tied to this championship. But for her, it goes beyond the accolades. She wants her legacy to reflect more than stats and banners. She wants to be remembered not just as a winner, but as a great person and a true teammate.

“Just my dog mentality,” she said, when asked what stood out most to her during the run. “I feel like whatever it took, that’s what I did. I didn’t care who got the credit. I just wanted to make sure we stayed together, stayed as a team, kept composure and just brought it all in.”

During our interview, the room pulsed with love and celebration. Teammates were dancing and laughing. Her family stood nearby, beaming with pride, lifting her up through every word and camera flash. In the final seconds of the game, as the buzzer sounded, Autumn beelined through her teammates to embrace her father. It was a moment years in the making, soaked in sweat, sacrifice and love. We played the video back for Autumn. With emotions running high, a single tear fell as she shared why her parents are the real MVPs.

“Honestly, my parents, I give a huge shout out to them. They sacrificed so much for me. I’m just, you know, here making it happen,” Fleary said.

This moment was not just about what happened on the court that day. It was the culmination of thousands of hours in the gym, early mornings, tough losses, never giving up.

“I know how much hard work I put into this,” she said, eyes locked on the screen. “He was the first person to believe in me. So me and my dad having this moment together means the world. Because we even had some long nights, early mornings.”

That’s what this is all about. When you ask, who is Autumn Fleary? The answer is simple. She is a Nike Nationals champion, an MVP, a leader and a fighter who puts everything on the line for the people she loves.

“This means the world to me,” Autumn said, as it all settled in. “I’m just super proud of myself.”

Portraits by Alina Tsvor.

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