Kelly Flagg Reflects on a Whirlwind Season Supporting Sons Cooper and Ace
Kelly Flagg has embodied the role of a devoted basketball mom this past season, attending around 80 games between her twin sons—Cooper at Duke and Ace at Greensboro Day School (N.C.). Remarkably, she missed just nine games total, establishing herself as a steady presence on the sidelines and in the stands.
In a recent interview with *Sports Illustrated*, conducted in partnership with Dr. Scholl’s—the “Unofficial Sponsor of Sports Moms on-the-go”—Flagg spoke about the immense support she’s received from the Duke community. She described the 2024–25 season as one marked by deep bonds, especially among the players’ families. The moms, in particular, stayed closely connected through a group chat that provided emotional support throughout the year.
“The Duke family is incredibly strong,” Flagg shared. “This year, we formed such close connections with other families—especially the moms. Saying goodbye to Duke meant saying goodbye to some truly special people, which made Cooper’s decision to enter the NBA draft even more emotional.”
She also opened up about Cooper’s ankle injury during the ACC Tournament, which briefly cast doubt on his NCAA Tournament availability. Although he recovered in time to help lead Duke to the Final Four, it was a tense moment. “When Cooper got injured, I knew I wasn’t alone,” she said, expressing gratitude for the support of the Duke family.
Now, with Cooper projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in June’s NBA Draft, Flagg finds herself preparing for the next chapter—even if it hasn’t fully sunk in yet. “It all feels surreal,” she admitted. “It’s exciting and rewarding to see him succeed after so much hard work, but things have moved so fast that I haven’t had time to truly process it all.”
As Cooper steps into the NBA and Ace begins his college basketball journey at the University of Maine, Kelly Flagg is ready to juggle both of their careers. But don’t expect her to step away from the Duke program anytime soon.
“I’ve already told Coach Scheyer and GM Rachel Baker they better save me a seat at Cameron,” she said with a smile. “I may have given birth to three kids, but I feel like I’m a mom to many. Those Duke boys are like my own.”
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