Category: Women’s College Basketball

Colorado’s Jaylyn Sherrod has ‘unfinished business’

Which starter is coming back for Colorado women’s hoops?

The University of Colorado went deep in the 2023 NCAA women’s March Madness tournament. For the first time in 20 years, the Buffs moved on to the Sweet 16 with a 61-53 overtime win against Duke.

The push into overtime was due in large part to Jaylyn Sherrod who recently announced she would use her fifth year of eligibility to play for Colorado. This means that a large portion of Colorado’s roster is still intact, something other programs including South Carolina cannot boast. While South Carolina’s Dawn Staley can always put together an exceptional roster, it is infinitely easier when all the pieces are already there and meshed together.

Colorado has that in their current roster. Sherrod, Quay Miller, Frida Formann, and Aaronette Vonleh accounted for 68.7% of CU’s scoring last season and they are all returning. That’s major.

While programs like LSU, the 2023 national champions, are working with a few key pieces and adding exceptional transfers, it’s not the same as keeping four of your five starters.

“Personally I just feel like we have a lot we can accomplish and I think with the core of the team we have coming back and we’re adding good pieces, ‘why not run the table and see how far we can get?’ We have a lot of unfinished business here and it doesn’t feel like it’s the end for me,” Sherrod told CBS News Colorado.

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Is LSU women’s basketball creating a super team?

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey isn’t done there, because one of the nation’s top players in the transfer portal is visiting campus soon.

This year was the first time in school history that LSU won a National Championship in basketball, men or women.

LSU walked away with the national championship defeating Iowa 102-85. LSU’s roster was already stacked with Angel Reese, Flau’jae Johnson, and Alexis Morris. However, Morris entered the WNBA draft and will play professionally this WNBA season, but the Tigers quickly found another exceptional player as an addition to the roster.

Louisville transfer guard Hailey Van Lith announced on Thursday she was heading to LSU. Van Lith led the Cardinals to an Elite Eight appearance in 2023. Not only is LSU picking up Van Lith, but they also have the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class. LSU head coach Kim Mulkey isn’t done there, because another one of the nation’s top players in the transfer portal is visiting campus soon.

DePaul transfer Aneesah Morrow is heading to Baton Rogue and to Dawn Staley’s South Carolina program. If LSU lands Morrow, then that is yet another reason why they will be the team to watch next season.

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South Carolina-Notre Dame to tip off next season across the pond

See which European city will host South Carolina and Notre Dame this Fall.

South Carolina and Notre Dame announced on Wednesday, they will make history on Nov. 6, 2023, when the two start their 2023-24 NCAA basketball season in Paris. It will be the first time an NCAA regular-season basketball game has been played on Parisian soil.

The Gamecocks are coached by Dawn Staley, four-time Olympic Gold Medalist and three-time Naismith Coach of the Year.

“We did not hesitate to accept the invitation,” said Staley. “Playing Notre Dame in Paris is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our student-athletes, and I’m thankful for the support of our administration and our donors.”

The Fighting Irish are coached by Niele Ivey, the 2023 ACC Coach of the Year and one of the greatest point guards in Notre Dame history.

“It’s always been my mission to break barriers and provide opportunities for my players to have life-changing experiences,” said Ivey. “Women’s basketball is on the rise, and having this exposure will help to grow the game on an international level.”

The players and staff will be able to see the City of Lights through specially curated events. The match-up was created by Complete Sports Management, founded by Lea Miller-Tooley, “who has created experiences for college teams by taking them all over the world for more than a decade.”

“We are honored to partner with two of the most respected and dominant teams in women’s college basketball,” said Miller-Tooley, “while showcasing one of the most iconic cities in the world.  This historic game will set a new standard.”

Venues and ticket packages will be announced at a later date.

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Cavinder twins announce they are leaving Miami to start new chapter

“I don’t want to play basketball without Hanna,” Haley said in a joint interview via Zoom from the twins’ hometown of Gilbert, Arizona.

Hanna and Haley Cavinder made a name for themselves on social media before athletes could monetize their name, image, and likeness and it paid off, literally.

The Cavinder twins are some of the most recognized names in the collegiate landscape and made headlines even before transferring from Fresno State to the University of Miami. They have one of the highest NIL valuations of any athlete in college.

From their viral TikToks to their billboards in Times Square, these twins definitely have their finger on the pulse of how to build a brand in this era. They also happen to be pretty good at basketball and helped take the Hurricanes women’s basketball team to their first Elite Eight game in the 2023 NCAA tournament.

Now the twins have decided to step away from basketball and forgo their fifth year of eligibility, granted to athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. They announced the decision Tuesday on social media as if any other place would be more appropriate for these social media stars.

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“I don’t want to play basketball without Hanna,” Haley said in a joint interview via Zoom from the twins’ hometown of Gilbert, Arizona. “I started with her, so at the end of the day, I want to end basketball and start our new lives together, but it was definitely difficult for me.”

Some speculate the twins could be the next new faces of the WWE. The twins were two of 15 athletes signed by the WWE’s Next in Line program. This program aims to “to enhance the talent development process through collaborative partnerships with college athletes from diverse athletic backgrounds.”

Only the twins know their next move, but it should be exciting to watch their journey as they transition from basketball players to full-time entrepreneurs.

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Sedona Prince is officially out of the portal, picks new school

Which school did former Oregon player Sedona Prince choose for her last two years of NCAA basketball?

Following the career of former Oregon player Sedona Prince has been a rollercoaster the past few months.

Her season was cut short at Oregon when she suffered an elbow injury and then declared for the draft after that injury. However, she recently renounced her eligibility and entered the transfer portal. A few short days later she announced she will be playing for TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, where they recently hired former Oregon assistant Mark Campbell as the head coach.

Prince was raised in Liberty Hill, Texas, and played her first NCAA season at the University of Texas before transferring to Oregon. With her former coach at the helm of TCU’s program and the DFW market providing a huge potential NIL platform for Prince, the move makes sense.

In an interview with Boardroom, Prince shared her philosophy on what NIL did for her, “I guess I just became empowered. Like I have a voice to make a change. I can partner with companies that I love. I’m making this money, to support my family, that I can have for the rest of my life to invest or to save.”

Prince has two years of eligibility remaining and then will make the decision whether to enter the WNBA draft or to go down a different path. With all her business ventures and NIL deals, Prince has the ability to chart her own path. Athletes would be wise to begin curating their next steps during their basketball career, that way they aren’t forced to choose a less desirable path because they have no other options. Preparing for a future without sport while you are still in sport gives you a big opportunity to be more than an athlete.

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Four players rescind declaration for the 2023 WNBA draft

Many WNBA players urged college players with remaining eligibility to stay in school, reminding them that there are only 144 roster spots in the WNBA.

The 2023 WNBA draft will be held on Monday, Apr. 10. It will be televised on ESPN from 7 to 9 p.m. EDT and be available on the ESPN app.

While notable players like South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston and Stanford’s Haley Jones have opted-in to the draft, other well-known players have withdrawn their declaration.

If a player has remaining NCAA eligibility then they must opt-in to the WNBA draft. Players who have exhausted their eligibility are not required, but are encouraged, to “notify the WNBA of their intent to be eligible for the Draft and may therefore be included in this list.” Eligible international players (as that term is defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement) are not required to opt-in order to be selected.

The NCAA issued a memo on Mar. 7, 2023, to senior compliance administrators and women’s basketball head coaches related to information regarding agents, tryouts, and the 2023 Women’s National Basketball Association draft. It laid out the key points to remember about renouncing NCAA eligibility and opting into the draft along with rescinding prior opt-ins.

Many WNBA players urged college players with remaining eligibility to stay in school, reminding them that there are only 144 roster spots in the WNBA. It seems like some players recognized this and coupled with their ability to monetize in college, decided to use their remaining eligibility and COVID years. Many thought NIL would ruin college athletics, but it turns out athletes are opting to stay in school longer to monetize their NIL in school.

Here are the latest round of players to rescind their declarations and use their remaining collegiate eligibility.

Aliyah Boston forgoes COVID year, declares for WNBA draft

The Indiana Fever received the first pick in the 2023 WNBA draft which is where Boston’s former teammate Destanni Henderson currently plays.

South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston is forgoing her COVID year of college eligibility to enter the 2023 WNBA draft. The draft takes place on April 10 and is televised on ESPN from 7-9 p.m. EST and available on the ESPN app.

The Gamecocks lost to Iowa in the Women’s Final Four on March 31 which was their first loss in over a year. While it was a devastating blow, the team picked themselves up and made tough decisions. Boston decided to enter the WNBA draft and officially announced it on April 1 via Twitter, less than 24 hours after the loss.

“I’m going to tell her to go,” Staley said in the news conference after the Gamecocks’ loss to Iowa. “There are defenses that are played against her that won’t allow her to play her game, and then it’s hard to officiate that. … She’s great. She’s ready. She’s ready to see single coverage. She’s ready to make the next step to the league.”

The WNBA held its 22nd annual draft lottery on Nov. 11 to determine the order. The Indiana Fever received the first pick which is where Boston’s former teammate Destanni Henderson currently plays. Henderson was drafted with the No. 20 overall selection in the 2022 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever.

“She is exactly what the Fever needs,” Staley told USA TODAY. “Whatever challenges that the Fever have had in the past, there are things with Aliyah they will never have to worry about. Like coming in with an incredible example of what a professional should look like, even as a rookie. She will elevate even their most veteran player.”

She is projected to go No. 1 in the draft and when you look at her 2022 accomplishments, not to mention her whole career, it is hard to disagree. She was also named the 2023 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.

Boston enters the draft with a bright future ahead in the world of professional basketball. She elevated the game of basketball and was a consummate professional and teammate. Any team would be lucky to have such a kind, strong, and dominant player on their team and she will uplift her teammates both on and off the court. Thank you Aliyah for allowing us to witness your greatness these past four years.

First Four: St. John’s storms past Purdue to victory

St. John’s Red Storm defeat Purdue, 66-64, and advance the the Round of 64 in the 2023 March Madness Women’s NCAA tournament.

St. John’s Red Storm defeat Purdue, 66-64, and advance the the Round of 64 in the 2023 March Madness Women’s NCAA D1 tournament. The Red Storm held the lead for the majority of the game, but Purdue made a late run in the fourth quarter and almost took the game.

St. John’s made 11 three-pointers in the game with senior guard Unique Drake accounting for 4 of those buckets. Jayla Everett, a redshirt senior, led the Storm with 20 points and Drake put down a solid 16 points.

This was the 11th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament and first in seven years. The first time they made the tournament was back in 1983. The Johnnies will take on the No. 6 seed North Carolina on Saturday, March 4:00 p.m. ET.

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First Four: Mississippi State fetched a win over Illinois to keep March Madness dream alive

Mississippi State Bulldogs defeated the University of Illinois Wednesday night, 70-56, in the First Four of the 2023 March Madness Women’s NCAA D1 tournament.

Mississippi State Bulldogs defeated the University of Illinois Wednesday night, 70-56, in the First Four of the 2023 March Madness Women’s NCAA D1 tournament. This is Mississippi’s 21st win of the season and 23rd all-time NCAA Tournament win. This is head coach Sam Purcell’s first season with the Bulldogs.

“Here you go. You know you always get me. You get me. I’m not doing it. Again, it’s not about me. I appreciate all the love and the recognition, but I would not be sitting here today if I wasn’t coaching a great group of young women,” Purcell said.

Redshirt Senior Jessika Carter was dominant scoring 22 points with nine rebounds. Mississippi State’s bench outscored Illinois 20-6 with two other players, Anastasia Hayes and JerKaila Jordan, scoring in double digits.

Mississippi State will take on the No. 6 seeded Creighton Blue Jays in the Round of 64 which is scheduled for Friday, March 17th at 6:00 p.m. ET.

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First Four: Sacred Heart Women’s Basketball makes history for school

The Sacred Heart University Pioneers women’s basketball team makes history.

The Sacred Heart University Pioneers women’s basketball team notched their first NCAA Tournament win at the Division I level, which is a first for either the men’s or women’s basketball programs. It was also the first March Madness win for a Northeast Conference women’s team.

They played against Southern University, one of two HBCUs in the 2023 March Madness Women’s D1 NCAA tournament, and defeated them 57-47. They are now the underdog of the West Regional as the No. 16 seed and play No. 1 seeded Stanford at 7:30 p.m. ET on March 17th airing live on ESPN2.

Senior guard Olivia Tucker led the Pioneers with 13 points and freshman guard Ny’Ceara Pryor had 10 assists, eight rebounds, and 11 points. Junior forward Kelsey Wood added 10 points.

“I am so proud of our team’s effort. It was a true battle tonight. I am so proud of how our team rallied to make history tonight,” said SHU’s 10th year head coach Jessica Mannetti.

“We just made history, and we are not done with this story,” said Ny’Ceara Pryor, the NEC Player, Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year.

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