Syracuse Women's Basketball Team Undergoes Major Roster Changes for the Upcoming Season

Apr 21, 2025 at 12:26 AM

Following a less-than-stellar 2024-25 season, Syracuse University's women’s basketball team has undergone significant roster adjustments. With four of their five primary starters no longer eligible to compete, including top scorer Georgia Woolley and leading rebounder Kyra Wood, only Sophie Burrows remains as a starter. Under head coach Felisha Legette-Jack, the team has introduced two promising freshmen to revitalize their lineup. This article explores how each position on the court is being restructured for the upcoming campaign.

Roster Overhaul Details

In the point guard position, Camdyn Nelson, a highly-touted recruit from Connecticut who earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors, is expected to step into the starting role. She boasts impressive statistics with averages of 17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game in her high school career. Meanwhile, Angelica Velez and Olivia Schmitt are likely to back her up, though they have yet to establish themselves as consistent contributors.

Shooting guard sees Sophie Burrows retaining her starting spot after an explosive sophomore year where she averaged 12.2 points per game. Her fellow Australian, Madeline Potts, could also play a crucial supporting role given her strong three-point shooting abilities shown last season.

At small forward, Dominique Darius joins the team after transferring from UCLA and USC. Her experience and past performances suggest she will be a reliable addition. Backing her up are sophomores Keira Scott and Shy Hawkins, both of whom demonstrated potential during limited playing time last season.

The power forward position faces challenges following the departure of Kyra Wood. Incoming freshman Jasmyn Cooper, ranked among ESPN's top recruits, looks set to fill this gap alongside returners Aurora Almon and Journey Thompson, providing depth at the position.

Finally, at center, Oyindamola Akinbolawa transfers in from Auburn to address the void left by Izabel Varejão. While her stats may not dazzle, her presence offers stability in what was previously a one-player rotation.

From a journalist's perspective, these changes signal a period of transition and opportunity for Syracuse women’s basketball. The infusion of fresh talent promises exciting developments but also poses challenges as new players integrate into established systems. Fans eagerly await seeing how Coach Legette-Jack molds this revamped squad into contenders within their conference and beyond.