Throughout the 2021-2022 season, the world of ladies’s faculty basketball produced some distinctive expertise that has garnered nationwide consideration past the ladies’s sport. Extra gamers have emerged as stars in girls’s faculty basketball and it has resulted in elevated consideration paid to the game.
Now with March Insanity formally right here and the 68-team bracket set, this is a superb time to focus on seven of the most effective girls within the nation.
These gamers have put up some superb numbers in addition to given us some nice moments that we’re certain to witness through the 2022 NCAA Girls’s Basketball Match.
Caitlin Clark (Iowa)
Together with her trademark three level shot from the middle emblem, her dazzling playmaking abilities, and her fierce competitiveness, Iowa sophomore guard Caitlin Clark has grow to be one of the vital thrilling gamers to look at. She is presently averaging 27.4 factors, 8.1 rebounds, and seven.9 assists a sport and is among the finalists for the Naismith Participant of the Yr. Her accomplishments embrace turning into the primary participant in Division 1 historical past to steer in each factors and assists, two consecutive 30-point triple-doubles that places her in firm with six NBA gamers, a profession excessive 46 level efficiency towards Michigan, and Massive Ten Participant of the Yr. Her expertise has gotten reward from Kevin Durant and Steph Curry. With Iowa because the #2 within the Greensboro area, the stage is about for her so as to add to her lineage.
Rhyne Howard (Kentucky)
With the WNBA on the horizon, Kentucky senior guard Rhyne Howard is searching for to finish her faculty profession on a excessive be aware. To date, there may be hope for the Wildcats as they upset South Carolina within the SEC match. Howard is understood for her excessive scoring fashion and this yr is averaging 20.4 factors, 7.3 rebounds, and three.4 assists. She is an All-American, two-time SEC Participant of the Yr, and second on Kentucky’s all-time scoring record. Her legendary run has put UK on the nationwide stage. Whereas the Wildcats have by no means reached the Candy 16 throughout her tenure, she is hoping that this yr would be the yr and with a #6 seed within the Bridgeport Area the time has come and the Washington Mystics can be watching.
Aliyah Boston (South Carolina)
Thought-about by many to be the highest heart in girls’s faculty basketball, South Carolina junior Aliyah Boston has an opportunity to steer her group to its first title since 2017. Underneath the management of the legendary Daybreak Staley and being a part of a program that produced Aja Wilson, Boston has basketball greatness throughout her and he or she is solidifying her place in historical past. This yr she is averaging 16.8 factors, 12.0 rebounds, and a couple of.6 blocks per sport and is a two time Lisa Leslie Heart of the Yr. The Gamecocks are the #1 seed within the Greensboro area and in the event that they proceed their run of excellence this yr it will likely be partly as a result of energy and tenacity that Boston supplies.
NaLyssa Smith (Baylor)
Texas born and bred, Baylor senior ahead NaLyssa Smith is among the most adorned gamers within the historical past of Baylor girls’s basketball. Smith is an All-American, 2021 Massive 12 Participant of the Yr, and 2021 Wade Trophy/Katrina McClain Award recipient. She additionally is aware of what it means to be an NCAA champion as she helped lead the Bears to the promised land in 2019. She will be able to rating and hit the glass as a dynamic energy ahead. This yr she is averaging 22.5 factors and 11.5 rebounds. She scored a profession excessive 37 factors towards Oklahoma within the Massive 12 match which the Bears received. Because the #2 seed within the Wichita Area, Smith is on the lookout for a second nationwide title so as to add to her illustrious pedigree with the WNBA calling.
Haley Jones (Stanford)
As a defending NCAA champion, Stanford junior guard Haley Jones is acquainted with profitable. Final yr she was named the Ultimate 4’s most excellent participant and helped lead her group all the best way. The Cardinal are the #1 total seed within the match, leaving the celebrities are aligned for Jones and her squad to do what few have finished and repeat as champions. The 6’1 guard has confirmed that she has what it takes to be a high-caliber scorer in addition to an efficient rebounder and playmaker. She is averaging 13.1 factors, 7.9 rebounds, and three.7 assists and is among the many finalists for John Picket Award for excellent participant. Because the #1 seed within the Spokane Area, it will not be a shock to see Jones and her squad win all of it.
Naz Hillmon (Michigan)
In a crowded Massive Ten, Michigan senior ahead Naz Hillmon stands out. Her junior yr was her most achieved up to now. She is the primary participant within the historical past of this system to realize All-American standing, be a finalist for the Wade Trophy, win Massive Ten Participant of the Yr, and declare Michigan Feminine Athlete of the Yr. Hillmon can do all of it, particularly on the boards. This season she is including to her legacy with 14 double-doubles to present 45 for her profession, and turning into the primary participant at Michigan, man or lady, to have 2,000 profession factors and 1,000 profession rebounds. She is presently averaging 21.0 factors and 9.4 rebounds per sport. With the Wolverines the #3 seed within the Wichita Area, Hillmon and her group have a possibility to convey glory again to the maize and blue.
Khayla Pointer (LSU)
It has been fairly a journey for LSU guard Khayla Pointer. A graduate pupil who exercised an additional yr of eligibility granted by the NCAA after COVID-19, Pointer has confirmed herself to be an throughout participant who can rating, rebound, and arrange her teammates. She is presently averaging 19.0 factors (2nd within the SEC), 6.5 rebounds (18th within the SEC), and 5.2 assists (2nd within the SEC). Her skills have led her to numerous accolades together with 2021 All-SEC First Workforce, 2021 All-SEC Defensive Workforce, and 2021 Louisiana Participant of the Yr. She is a finalist for the 2022 Nancy Leiberman Level Guard of the Yr. With LSU #3 within the Spokane Area, Pointer has the possibility to finish her superb profession profitable a title on her personal phrases. What number of graduate college students can say that?
