ACC Preview: Miami Hurricanes

 

Preview:   Miami

WBB Website

Last Season:   19-12 and 8 –10 in league play

The Coaches:  

Tricia Cullop is in her first year as the Head Coach.  Cullop was the Head Coach at Toledo for the past 16 seasons.  In her last three years her teams won 85 games. 

Fitzroy Anthony is in his 10^th year at Miami and is the Associate Head Coach.

Jessie Ivey is in her first year at Miami after 4 years at Toledo.

Danielle Page is in her first year at Miami after 6 seasons at Toledo.

Murriel Page, no relation, is in her first year at Miami after 2 seasons at Mississippi State. 

 

Losses:   

Head Coach Katie Meier retired after 19 seasons and the Head Coach at Miami.  

All these to transfer:

Ally Stedman, 2ppg.

Kyla Oldarce, 5 ppg and 4 rebounds.

Latasha Lattimore, 5 ppg.

Lazaria Spearman, 6 points and 6 rebounds per game.

Lashae Dwyer, 7 ppg.

Ja’Leah  Williams 4 ppg.

Shayeann Day-Wilson, 12 ppg and 3.5 assist per game. 

 

 Additions: 

Aurora Almon, 6-4 Redshirt Frosh Post.

Ahnay Adams, 5-6 Frosh Guard.

Darrione Rogers, 5-11 Grad Student Wing a transfer from Mississippi State where she averaged 8 ppg.

Daniela Abies, 6-0 Jr  Wing transfer from Wichita State where she averaged 13 ppg and almost 10 rebounds per game. 

Natalija Marshall, 6-5 Grad Student Post a transfer from Norte Dame where she averaged 5 points and almost 4 rebounds.  

Simone Pelish, 6-0 Frosh Guard from NY State.  A 4 star recruit.  

Leah Harmon, 5-6 Frosh Guard from NJ.  

Cameron Williams, 6-3 Grad Student Forward a transfer from Michigan.  Last season Williams average 7 points and 4 rebounds.

Sophia Zulich, 5-11 Wing Grad Student transfer from Denver where she Missed the last THREE seasons with injuries.                                   

 

Schedule:

Florida, Vanderbilt are the highlights

 

The Team: 

Jasmyne Roberts, 5-10 Sr Guard who averaged 11 ppg.

Lemyah Hylton, 5-11 Jr Guard who averaged 6 ppg.

Haley Cavinder, 5-6 Grad Student Guard who didn’t play at TCU  At Miami the year before she averaged 12 ppg. 

Hanna Cavinder, 5-6 Grad Student Guard who averaged 4 ppg the previous season. 

 

Prediction:

Only two players who played for Miami last season plus the Cavinders, of social media fame, who played the year before.   6 Grad students on the team.   We shall see how they mesh but it appears to be a rebuilding year. 

 

2025 Recruiting:  

Natalie Wetzel, 6-3 Wing Forward from PA, ranked # 79.

Soma Okolo, 6-1 Wing from TX.

Meredith Tippner, 5-10 Guard from PA, ranked # 93.

Camille Williams, 5-11 Guard from TX, ranked # 57.

 

ACC Preview: Louisville Cardinals

Preview:   Louisville Cardinals

WBB Website 

Last Season:  They were 24-10 and 12-6 in league play

The Coaches:  

Jeff Walz is the long time Head Coach with 465 wins averaging 27 wins per season.  He has coached Louisville to 12 Sweet 16s.  Also to to 8 Final 8s, 4 Final 4s and twice to the Final game.  

Stephanie Norman is in her 18^th year at Louisville and the long time Associate Head Coach. 

Jonneshia Pineda is in her 6^th year as an Assistant. 

Shay Robinson is in his 3^rd year 

Amanda Butler is in her first year after 6 years at Clemson as their Head Coach.

 

Losses:   

Eylia Love averaged 4 ppg and two others averaged less than 2 ppg.  All three have transferred from Louisville. 

Nina Richards who averaged 7 ppg.

Sydney Taylor who averaged 11 ppg.

Kiki Jefferson who averaged 12 ppg.

 

 Additions: 

 Izela Arenas, 5-9 Frosh Guard from SoCal, the daughter of long time NBA player Gilbert Arenas.  Ranked # 88. 

Reagan Bender, 5-9 Frosh Guard from Louisville.  Bender scored 1,818 points and made 212 threes in HS.

Imari Berry, 5-9 Frosh Guard from Tennessee ranked # 19. McD All American.

Anaya Hardy, 6-3 Frosh Forward from Detroit.       

Isla Juffermans, 6-4 Frosh, Forward/Post from Australia.  Named MVP of Asian U 18 tournament in 2022.  

MacKenly Randolph, 6-0 Frosh Forward from SoCal ranked # 23.  McD All American.

Tajianna Roberts, 5-10 Frosh Guard from San Diego ranked # 24.  

 

Schedule:

UCLA in Paris!, Kentucky, Colorado, Oklahoma and UConn.

 

The Team: 

Nyla Harris, 6-2 Forward who averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds last season. 

Jayda Curry, 5-6 Grad Student Guard who averaged 9 ppg and made 45 threes at 39%.

Olivia Cochran, 6-3 Grad Student Forward who averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds.  

Eseosa Imafidon, 6-5 Redshirt Frosh Post who redshirted last season.

Ifif Istanbulluoglu, 6-3 Soph Forward who averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds. 

Ja’Leah Williams, 6-0 Grad Student Guard who averaged 5 ppg. 

Merissah Russell, 6-0 Grad Student Guard who averaged 5 ppg.

 

Prediction:       

Great coach, great recruiting with three top 25 players coming in and solid returnees.    

 

2025 Recruiting:  

None yet.

  

ACC Preview - Georgia Tech

 

Preview: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

WBB Website 

Last Season:  17-16 and 7-11  in league play

The Coaches:  Head Coach Nell Fortner is in her 6^th season.  She has been Head Coach at several schools and USA National teams.

Blanche Alverson is in her 6^th season.  She is the Associate Head Coach.

LaSondra Barrett is in her 3rd season.

Michael Scruggs is in his 2^nd season.

Caleb Currier is in his 3^rd season. 

 

Losses:  Four transfers out,  plus one grad.  None averaged over 2.3 ppg. 

 

Additions: Zoesha Smith, 6-1 Grad Student Forward transfer from Georgia where she averaged 10 ppg and 5 rebounds playing about half the season before a season ending injury.   

Chazadi “Chit Chat” Wright 5-4 Frosh Guard, ranked 4 star .

Dani Carnegie, 5-9 Frosh Guard from NY.  Ranked # 29.

Gabbie Grooms, 5-9 Frosh Guard from Georgia.

Tianna Thompson, 5-10 Soph Wing from GA.  

Schedule:       

Georgia, Oregon, Mississippi State, Rice and Nebraska are the highlights.  

 

The Team:  

Tonie Morgan, 5-9 JR Guard who averaged 15 ppg.

Kayla Blacksher, 6-1 SR Forward who averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds per game. 

Rusne Augustinaite, 6-0 Soph Wing from Lithuania.  She made 71 threes at 35%. And averaged 11 ppg. 

Kara Dunn, 5-11 JR Wing who averaged 15 points and 4 rebounds. 

Ariadna Termis, 6-6 Soph Post from Spain.  Averaged 2 points and 8 minutes per game. 

Ines Noguero, 5-9 Soph Guard from Spain who averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds while starting every game.

D’Asia Thomas Harris, 6-2 Soph Forward who averaged 3 points and 2 rebounds.

 

Prediction:                          

Any team that returns 64 ppg  is going to be tough.  Plus Ga Tech has some good recruits.   Should be much better than last year’s 7-11 in league play.  

 

2025 Recruiting:  

McKayla Taylor, 6-3 Post from Georgia 

 

ACC Preview - Clemson Tigers

 

Preview:   Clemson Tigers

Clemson WBB Website

Last Season:   12-19 and 5 –13 in league play

The Coaches:  

Shawn Poppie is in his first season as Head Coach coming from Tennessee Chattanooga where he was 48-18 and with 28 wins this past season.

Chris Ayers is the Associate Head Coach.  He is in his first season after 6 years at Ole Miss.

Sydni Means is in her first year coming from Tulsa.

Katelyn Grisillo is in her first year Coming from Tennessee Chattanooga.

 

Losses:  

Makayla Elmore, 4 ppg and 5 rebounds.  Transfer to Pitt.

Ruby Winterhorn, 12 ppg and 5 rebounds.  Transfer to Tennessee.

And more but hard to figure out who.  

 

Additions:      

Loyal McQueen 5-8 Guard Grad student transfer from Alabama where she averaged 10 ppg. 

Jody Griggs 6-2 Soph transfer from Kentucky where she played just a few minutes.

Summah Evans 6-0 Wing a Grad Transfer from Mercer where last season she averaged 13 ppg.

Mia Moore 5-6 JR Guard a transfer from UAB where she averaged 15 ppg.

Tessa Miller 6-2 Sr Forward transfer from Belmont where she averaged 15 ppg and 5 rebounds while shooting 58% from the floor.  

Hannah Kohn 5-9 Soph Guard transfer from Chattanooga where she made 68 threes at 46%.

Anya Poole 6-2 Grad Student Forward transfer from North Carolina where she started all but one game as a Soph and JR.  She played less last season.  Poole was a 5 star recruit out of HS.

Raven Thompson 5-10 Jr Forward transfer from Chattanooga where she averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds. 

Kinsley Barrington, 6-0 Grad Student Forward a transfer from Cal Baptist where she averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds.  Barrington played at Southern Utah first.

 

Schedule:

Florida and South Carolina are the highlights in this rebuilding year.

 

The Team: 

Mackenzie Kramer 5-9 Guard Grad student who averaged 8 ppg. 

Kylie Kellerman 5-6 Soph Guard who played little.

Maddie Cluse 5-10 JR Guard who was averaging 7 ppg in 13 games before a season ending injury.  At Miami the season before she averaged 15 ppg.

Madi Ott, 5-10 Sr Guard who averaged 2 ppg. 

Eno Inyang, 6-2 Sr Post who averaged 4 points and 4 rebounds.

 

Prediction:  

Nine transfers into Clemson so a real rebuilding with their new coaching staff.   

 

2025 Recruiting:  

Hollard Harris, 6-1 Wing ranked # 42.

 

ACC Preview - Florida State Seminoles

Florida State Seminoles Preview

FSU WBB Website

Preview:   Last Season:  23-11 and 12-6 in league play

The Coaches:  

Brooke Wyckoff is the Head Coach in her 5^th season.  She is a former Florida State player.

Bill Ferrara is in his 3^rd season and the Associate Head Coach.

Morgan Toles is in her 5th season.  Toles is a former Florida State player.

Desma Thomas Bateast is in her 2^nd season.

Adam Surguine is in his 6^th season.

Abilgil Yuan is in her 2^nd season.

 

Losses: 

Sara Bejedi who averaged 12 ppg.

Alexis Tucker who averaged 5 ppg.

 

Additions:  

Raiane Dias Dos Santos 5-9 Soph Guard a JC transfer who averaged 12 ppg at the JC. 

Morelia Chavez, 6-1 JR Forward transfer from Eastern Arizona JC where she averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds.

Sydney Bowles, 6-1 JR Guard a transfer from Texas A&M.  Bowles averaged 3 ppg last season at Texas A&M after averaged 9 ppg as a frosh.  She was ranked # 37 out of HS.

Malea Williams, 6-4 Forward Grad Student a transfer from Cincinnati where she averaged 8 ppg and 6 rebounds.  Williams made 35 threes at 37%. 

 

Schedule:

Illinois, Florida, Texas Tech, Gonzaga and Tennessee highlight the schedule.

 

The Team: 

Ta’Niya Latson, 5-8 JR Guard who averaged 21 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.  Latson was All ACC first team. 

Makayla Timpson, 6-2 SR Forward who averaged 14 ppg and 9 rebounds last season.

O’Mariah Gordon, 5-4 SR Guard who averaged 13 ppg and shot 38% from three making 56.

Carla Viegas, 5-9 Soph Guard who averaged 4 ppg.  

Brianna Turnage, 6-1 JR Guard who averaged 2 ppg.

Marianna Valenzuela, 6-2 Redshirt Soph Guard who was injured last season.  As a frosh she averaged 6 points and 3 rebounds.  

Amaya Bonner, 6-0 JR Guard who averaged 4 ppg.  Bonner played at Cal as a Frosh. 

Avery Treadwell, 6-3 Soph Forward who averaged 2 points and 1 rebound.  

 

Prediction:

Three top scorers back, but not sure how the others fit in.  Still few player losses and 23 wins last bodes well for Florida State.

 

2025 Recruiting:  

Pania Davis, 6-6 JC Soph from New Mexico JC.  Davis is from Australia.

Mari Gerton, 5-7 Guard ranked # 93.

  

ACC Preview: Duke Blue Devils

Preview:   Duke

https://goduke.com/sports/womens-basketball

Last Season:   22-12 and 11-7 in league play

The Coaches:  

Kara Lawson now in her 5^th season at Duke.  Lawson of course was a famous player College and Pro.

Tia Jackson is the Associate Head Coach and in her 5^th season at Duke.

Kyra Elzy is in her first season after 4 years as the Head Coach at Kentucky.

Karen Lange is in her third season at Duke.

Karen Middleton the former Stanford Assistant is in her 2^nd season at Duke.

Pierre Miller is in his 2^nd season at Duke. 

 

Losses: 

Kennedy Brown the former Oregon State player who averaged 8 ppg and 5 rebounds. 

Camilla Emsbo who averaged 4 ppg. 

 

Additions: 

Riley Nelson 6-2 Soph Wing transfer from Maryland. Nelson missed half the season last year, however was a McD All American ranked # 18 out of HS.

Arianna Roberson, 6-4 Frosh Post from Texas ranked # 17.  Sadly Roberson will miss the season with an injury.

Toby Fournier 6-2 Frosh Forward from Canada ranked # 10.

Jenessa Cotton 6-2 Frosh Forward from SoCal ranked # 80.

 

Schedule:

Maryland, Kansas State and South Carolina highlight the Duke Schedule.

 

The Team:  

Reigan Richardson 5-11 SR Guard who averaged 12 ppg.

Ashlon Jackson 6-0 JR Guard started every game and averaged 9 ppg.

Jadyn Donovan 6-0 Soph Wing who started all except one game and averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds.

Oluchi Okananwa 5-10 Soph Guard averaged 9 points and 6 rebounds and was named the ADD 6^th person of the year.

Taina Mair 5-9 JR Guard who averaged 9 ppg a transfer from Boston College

Delaney Thomas 6-3 Soph Forward averaged 5 ppg and 3 rebounds.

Vanessa de Jesus 5-8 PG Grad Student who missed last season with injuries.  

Jordan Wood 6-4 Soph Post who played in about half the games.

Emma Koabel 5-11 JR Guard who averaged 12 minutes per game.

Louann Battiston, 5-5 Soph Guard who played little last season.

 

Prediction:

Four players back who averaged 9 ppg or better plus de Jesus who was injured last season, - and they have more solid depth.   Duke should improve over last season and be one of the top ACC teams. 

 

2025 Recruiting:  None yet.

  

Preview of ACC Teams: Cal

Pac 12 Preview:  Cal

Cal WBB Website

Last Season:  19-15 overall and 7-11 

The Coaches:

 Charmin Smith with 2 degrees from Stanford returns for her 17th season at Cal and is now the Head Coach for her 6th year.  

Heidi Heintz is in her 3rd year.  Heintz was an assistant at St Mary’s the previous three years.  She is the Associate Head Coach.

Eliza Pierre is in her 4th year after 4 years at UCSB.

Tarvon Bryant is in his 2nd year.

Jenny Huth is in her first year at Cal.  Huth has coached at Oregon State, UCLA, Florida State, Kentucky and was once the Head Coach at Northern Colorado.

Kai Felton is back for her 12th year at Cal.  Kai has been an Assistant at Oregon, 2 years, and at USC, 5 years.  Kai is no longer an official coach but she is a Special Assistant. 

 

Losses (6 players):  McIntosh was honorable mention All-Pac-12

Leilani McIntosh averaged 10 ppg and almost 5 assists per game and turned pro.

Kemery Martin averaged almost 7 ppg.  Transferred

Ila Lane averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds. 

McKayla Williams averaged 6 ppg and 5 rebounds. 

Mia Mastrov who averaged 3 ppg.

Alma Elsnitz played just 11 games.

 

Additions: 5 freshmen and 3 transfers

Natalia Ackerman, 6-1 Grad Student Forward a transfer from Cal Poly.  Ackerman averaged 12 points, 9 rebounds and was first team all Big West.

Gabrielle Abigor, 6-3 Frosh Post from Northern California High School (NorCal).

Kamryn Mafua, 6-2 Frosh Forward from NorCal, ranked # 56.

Sofia Bowes, 5-10 Frosh Guard from Norcal

Lola Donez, 5-11 Frosh Guard from Hawaii where she was the state player of the year.  

Zahra King, 5-10 Frosh Guard from Brooklyn.  King was ranked # 76.

Gisella Maul, Soph Guard transfer from Texas where she had highs of 9 points and 6 assists.  Maul was ranked # 38 out of HS.

Jayda Noble, 5-11 Guard and is a Grad student.  Noble is a transfer from Washington where she averaged 3 points and 4 rebounds. 

Kayla Williams, 5-7 Guard and a Grad student a transfer from USC.  Last season Williams at USC averaged 5 ppg.  The season before while a student at UC Irvine she averaged 15 ppg. 

 

The Schedule:

Gonzaga, Auburn, Alabama, Michigan State and either Arizona or Vanderbilt are the highlights. 

                                        

Returning Team (6 players):  Lulu Laditan-Twidale 5-10 Soph Guard from Australia who averaged 6 ppg.

Anastasia Drosouni, 5-11 Soph Guard From Greece who was out all last season.       

Ioanna Krilimi, 5-10 Guard Grad student who transferred from U of San Francisco.  Last season Ioanna averaged 13 points and made 61 threes at 38%.

Marta Suarez , 6-3 Redshirt Sr Forward from Spain and a transfer from Tennessee.  Last season Marta averaged 12 points and 7 rebounds.  She also made 42 threes at 29%.

Claudia Langarita, 6-4 Sr Post averaged 2 points and 1 rebound.   

Michelle Onyiah, 6-3 Grad Student Post averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds.  

 

Predictions:  The incoming Frosh class was ranked 23 overall.  Cal returns 40 ppg so the frosh and transfers will be needed for depth.   Cal does return three starters.  

 

2025 Recruiting:  

Grace McCallop, 5-9 PG from KS.  

 

 

Previews of ACC Team - Boston College

 Thus begins Stanford in the ACC.   I’ll be writing previews and post them about very 4-5 days given 17 teams other than Stanford in the ACC.

  

Preview:   Boston College Eagles

https://bceagles.com/sports/womens-basketball

Last Season:  Boston College was 14-19 and 5-13 in league play.

 

The Coaches:

Joanna Bernabei-McNamee is the Head Coach now in her 7^th season as Head Coach.   She is 64- 53 is her last 4 seasons at Boston College.  She averaged 9.5 assist per game one season when she played for West Liberty University.

Sean Ehlbeck is in his 3rd season as an assistant.

Shelby Boyle is in her 2^nd year as an assistant, after 2 years as an intern at BC.

Denesha Stallworth is in her 2nd season.  Previously she coached at UCSB and played for Cal before transferring to Kentucky.

Chris Meadows is in his 3^rd year.

Losses:  

Ally VanTimmeren who averaged 6 ppg.

JoJo Lacey who averaged 8 ppg. 

 

Additions:  

Athena Tomlinson is a 5-5 Frosh Guard from Fresno.  She was ranked # 65 in the nation. 

Deborah Mukeba Kasanda is a 6-5 Frosh Post from Belgium.  She had 19 rebounds in the European U 18 championship game last year.

Tatum Greene is a 6-3 Frosh Wing from Baltimore.  A 4 star recruit whose Mom played for North Carolina and in the WNBA.

Kennedi Jackson, 6-4 5^th year Post a transfer from Charleston Southern where she averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds.

Savannah Samuel, 6-1 Sr Wing.  Samuel started out at Oregon State then West Virginia and last season sat out at Boston College.  In her 2 seasons at West Virginia she averaged 16 minutes per game. 

 

The Schedule:  

Arkansas, Providence, Harvard appear to be the toughest teams.

 

The Team: 

Teya Sisberry averaged 13 ppg and 6 rebounds.  She is a 6-1 JR Forward.

Andrea Daley is a 6-0 SR Guard who averaged 13 ppg and 5 rebounds.

Dontavia Waggoner is a 6-0 Wing and a Grad Student.  She averaged 13 ppg and 6 rebounds.  However she also set the school record with 99 steals on the year

T’yana Todd is a 6-0 JR Wing who averaged 11ppg making 48 threes at 36%.

Kaylah Ivey is a 5-8 5^th year SR PG.   Ivey averaged 4 ppg however she also averaged 5.8 assist per game.

Ava McGee, 5-10 Jr Guard who averaged 1.6 ppg.

Nene Ndiaye, 6-1 Soph Forward who averaged 3 points and 2 rebounds.

Kayla Lezama, 5-11 Jr Guard who averaged 2 ppg.

Lili Krasovec, 6-3 Soph Forward who averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds.

  

Predictions:          

The core is returning and several good Frosh and transfers should help BC improve their record.   The team will be relying on the newcomers for height and rebounding and interior defense. 

 

2025 Recruiting:  

Amirah Anderson 5-10 Guard form VA, ranked # 71.

Kennedy Hall 6-3 Forward from MD

Kylie Torrance 6-1 Wing from NC