Preview: Arizona
Last Season: Arizona was 21-6 overall and 13-4 in Pac 12 play, under Head Coach Adia Barnes. Of course all the way to the Final NCCA National Championship game.
The Coaches: Adia Barnes is the all time leading scorer at Arizona and is in her 6th year the Head Coach. Barnes had been at Washington as an assistant for four years as the Huskies came from the 2nd division of the Pac 12 to the NCAA Final Four. Barnes played professionally for 12 years including for 4 WNBA Teams.
Salvo Coppa, or Mr Barnes is a 6th year assistant. Coppa is from Italy and has extensive overseas coaching experience.
Ashley Davis is in her first year after coaching at Oklahoma State for 6 years. Davis played at TCU.
Erin Grant is in her first year after coaching at USC for 2 years. She has coached at Texas Tech, Memphis and New Mexico and played at Texas Tech.
Losses:
Aari McDonald averaged 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and
Trinity Baptiste averaged 9 points and 6 rebounds.
Several others who seldom played have left the team.
Additions:
Anna Gret Asi, 5-8 Frosh Guard from Estonia. 50% from three in HS. Played on two Youth National teams averaged 19 and 14 points per game.
Taylor Chavez, 5-10 Sr Point Guard who transferred from Oregon where she averaged 4 points making 9 starts. As a Soph Chavez averaged 6 points and shot 47% from three and was the Pac 12 6th person player of the year.
Madison Conner is a 5-10 Frosh Guard from Arizona. She did play a bit in 6 games and graduating early from HS to join the Wildcats. Conner was ranked # 56 out of HS.
Koi Love is a 6-0 Jr Wing who transferred from Vanderbilt. The season at Vandy was stopped after 8 games but Love averaged 21 points and 9 rebounds.
Aaronette Vonleh, 6-3 Frosh Post from Oregon ranked # 38.
Aryiah Copeland, 6-3 SR Post who Grad transferred from Alabama. Last season she averaged 14 points, 9 rebounds and was % 3 in the nation with a 61% Field Goal %.
Gisela Sanchez, 6-3 Frosh Forward from Spain. Sanchez averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds for her Club team in Spain last season.
Seven newcomers.
The Schedule: Unknown
The Team:
Cate Reese 6-2 Sr Post averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds
Sam Thomas is a 6-0 5th Year Sr Forward who averaged 7 points and 3 rebounds.
Lauren Ware 6-5 Soph Post North Dakota, ranked # 13 out of HS who averaged 4 points and 4 rebounds.
Bendu Yeaney, 5-10 Sr Guard from Portland who transferred from Indiana. Bendu averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds in her first season at Arizona.
Helena Pueyo is a 6-0 Jr Guard from Spain who averaged 4 points.
Shaina Pellington is a 5-8 Redshirt Sr G who averaged 6 points.
Derin Erdogan, 5-6 Soph Guard from Turkey who played little last season.
Semaj Smith is a 6-6 Sr Post who played little last season.
Predictions:
Big loss with McDonald of course. I would imagine the starters would be Reese and Ware at the post and Big forward with Chavez at the point, with Thomas and Love. Lots of depth for the Wildcats. Attendance will be great, what a job by Coach Barnes.
Key will be working into roles for several of the new players, but the league will be so very tough this season. The Wildcats should be top 5 but how high?
2022 Recruiting:
Maya Nnaji, 6-4 Forward MN Ranked # 10
Kailyn Gilbert, 5-8 Guard Florida Ranked # 27
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