Women’s college basketball: Top 12 seniors for 2019-20
A month has passed since Baylor won the NCAA championship — a time filled with team banquets, coaching hires and transfer-portal entries. So let’s take an early look at some of the top seniors for the 2019-20 season — players who will be a big part of the narrative on the road to New Orleans and should be in the mix as WNBA first-round draft picks a year from now.
1. Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon, 5-11, guard
2018-19 stats: 19.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 8.2 APG
Many expected her to be the first pick in the WNBA draft this year, but she wants another shot at the national championship. Ionescu led the Ducks to their first Final Four, and is one of the most dynamic players in the game, with 18 career triple-doubles.
2. Lauren Cox, Baylor, 6-4 forward
2018-19 stats: 13.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.5 BPG
The knee injury Cox suffered in the third quarter of the NCAA final wasn’t as serious as feared, which was a big relief for her and Baylor. She has plenty of time to heal and should enter 2019-20 as Ionescu’s top competitor for national player of the year.
3. Crystal Dangerfield, UConn, 5-5 guard
2018-19 stats: 13.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 5.9 APG
With Katie Lou Samuelson and Napheesa Collier gone, Dangerfield will be the senior leader for a team that must develop a new identity. She has risen to challenges before in her career, and she’ll likely do the same this time.
4. Ruthy Hebard, Oregon, 6-4 forward
2018-19 stats: 16.1 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 67.0 field goal percentage
Like Ionescu, she got a taste of the Final Four and wants another chance at the title. She was second in Division I in field goal percentage this past season, and for her Oregon career has made 64 percent of her shots (735 of 1,148).
5. Beatrice Mompremier, Miami, 6-4 forward
2018-19 stats: 16.7 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 52.8 field goal percentage
She had a strong season for the Hurricanes after spending her first two years at Baylor. She could have gone to the WNBA draft, but came back. She had 22 rebounds in Miami’s NCAA tournament second-round loss to Arizona State, but was 3-of-12 from the field. Consistency on offense will be her goal as a senior.
6. Kaila Charles, Maryland, 6-1 guard
2018-19 stats: 17.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.3 APG
The postseason was disappointing for the Terps, who fell in the Big Ten title game and the NCAA tournament’s second round. But individually, Charles was at her best then, averaging 23.2 points and 8.4 rebounds, something she’ll build on for her senior season. Whether she can add the 3-pointer to her skill set remains a question.
7. Kiah Gillespie, Florida State, 6-2 forward
2018-19 stats: 16.2 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.8 APG
She led the Seminoles in scoring, rebounding and 3-pointers (53) in her first season at Florida State after playing two years at Maryland. She should help Florida State, which exceeded expectations this past season, be one of the ACC’s favorites in 2019-20.
8. Tynice Martin, West Virginia, 5-11 guard
2018-19 stats: 18.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.7 APG
An explosive scorer, she missed 2017-18 with injury, and could have gone to the WNBA draft this year. But she decided to stay with the Mountaineers, who played in the WNIT the past two seasons. Her goal will be to get them back to the NCAA tournament and boost her draft stock.
9. Tyasha Harris, South Carolina, 5-10 guard
2018-19 stats: 10.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 5.3 APG
She can score big when she needs to, but her ability to control the pace and defend for the Gamecocks is also key. She had her fewest turnovers of her career last season (55), but can she improve on her career 31.1 percent shooting from 3-point range?
10. Tiana Mangakahia, Syracuse, 5-6 guard
2018-19 stats: 15.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 8.4 APG
She was second in Division I in assists per game. And while she is well-known as a distributor, she can also score big (she had 44 points against Florida State on Feb. 28). The Orange’s leader in scoring and assists, she was expected by some to enter the WNBA draft, but she opted for another season at Syracuse.
11. Mikayla Pivec, Oregon State, 5-10 guard
2018-19 stats: 15.2 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 3.4 APG
She has steadily improved each year, and was the rock for the Beavers this past season, leading them in minutes played (34.3 per game). She shot 52.6 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from 3-point range, although she took just 60 shots from long range. She might do more of that next season.
12. Haley Gorecki, Duke, 6-0 guard
2018-19 stats: 17.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.9 APG
Because of injuries to other Duke players, she had a lot on her plate this season. And she handled it well, leading the Blue Devils in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.