What you need to know heading into a year full of intrigue and uncertainty for the Orange.
The Syracuse Orange women’s basketball team begins another new chapter in program history, starting the 2024-25 season with last night’s season opener versus Niagara. (Ed. note: My fault this wasn’t published prior to the game)
What comes next is anyone’s guess.
The Orange are hoping to ride high this year coming off one of the Orange’s most successful campaigns in program history during coach Felisha Legette-Jack’s second year in her role. However, this offseason saw plenty of change, a number of new faces and legit uncertainty (for better or worse) regarding the Orange’s outlook moving forward. Can FLJ keep Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament hunt once again, as she did the previous two seasons?
With a new season filled with plenty of intrigue, here is your guide to get you prepared for this year of Syracuse women’s basketball:
Offseason changes
(Writer’s note: players listed in order based off position)
Returning players: Sophie Burrows (G), Georgia Woolley (G), Lexi McNabb (G), Madeline Potts (G), Dominique Camp (G), Saniaa Wilson (F), Kyra Wood (F), Izabel Varejão (C)
New additions: Angelica Velez (G, transfer – LSU), Olivia Schmitt (G, recruit), Shy Hawkins (W, recruit), Keira Scott (F, recruit), Journey Thompson (F, transfer – Arizona State)
Departures: Kennedi Perkins (G, transfer – Marquette), Dyaisha Fair (G, out of eligibility – WNBA Draft), Cheyenne McEvans (G, out of eligibility), Alaina Rice (G, out of eligibility), Alyssa Latham (F, transfer – Tennessee), Marilena Triantafylli (C, transfer – Saint Louis)
David Butler II-Imagn Images
For more on my initial preseason thoughts on the Orange, check out this story for added context.
First game depth chart
Barring any significant changes between now and Syracuse’s first game, here is a current projected look at Syracuse’s depth chart to start the season:
Full schedule
Here is the complete calendar which lies ahead for the Orange, including TV networks (games in bold are conference games):
- November 5: Niagara, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network+
- November 10: St. Joseph’s, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network+
- November 13: Maryland, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network
- November 17: Fairleigh Dickinson, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network+
- November 20: Albany, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network+
- November 25: Missouri — Emerald Coast Classic, Raider Arena (Niceville, FL), TBD
- November 26: Creighton or Wichita State — Emerald Coast Classic, Raider Arena (Niceville, FL), TBD
- December 1: Yale, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network+
- December 4: Texas A&M, ACC/SEC Challenge, Reed Arena, ESPNU
- December 8: Notre Dame, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network
- December 18: Binghamton, Dr. Bai Lee Court, TBD
- December 21: Dartmouth, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network+
- January 2: Georgia Tech, McCamish Pavilion, ACC Network+
- January 5: Florida State, Donald Tucker Center, ACC Network
- January 9: SMU, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network+
- January 12: Miami (FL), JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network
- January 16: Louisville, KFC Yum! Center, ACC Network+
- January 19: Boston College, Conte Forum, ACC Network
- January 23: NC State, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network
- January 26: Clemson, Littlejohn Coliseum, ACC Network+
- February 2: Virginia, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network
- February 6: Virginia Tech, Cassell Coliseum, ACC Network
- February 9: Wake Forest, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network+
- February 13: Stanford, Maples Pavilion, ACC Network
- February 16: California, Haas Pavilion, ACC Network
- February 20: North Carolina, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network
- February 23: Duke, Cameron Indoor Stadium, The CW
- February 27: Pittsburgh, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network+
- March 2: Boston College, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network
Marquee game of the year candidates
Looking at the entire schedule, here are some initial “game of the year” candidates to watch for in order based on when they appear on the calendar:
- November 13: Maryland, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network
- December 4: Texas A&M, ACC/SEC Challenge, Reed Arena, ESPNU
- December 8: Notre Dame, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network
- January 12: Miami (FL), JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network
- January 23: NC State, JMA Wireless Dome, ACC Network
- February 23: Duke, Cameron Indoor Stadium, The CW
Also recommend checking out this piece where we ranked the best Syracuse basketball weekends where both the men’s and women’s team play.
Preseason predictions — ACC media poll
Syracuse was picked to finish 11th this year in the ACC, which now includes a new trio of teams with Stanford, California and SMU all in the fold. Voters included the conference’s 18 coaches and the Blue Ribbon Panel.
The Orange were picked to finish better than Virginia Tech, Clemson, California, Boston College, SMU, Wake Forest and Pitt. From first to 10th, Syracuse is behind the following teams: Notre Dame, NC State, Duke, Louisville, Florida State, North Carolina, Stanford, Miami Virginia and Georgia Tech.
During both seasons of Legette-Jack’s tenure, the Orange have beaten their preseason projections set by the ACC’s voters. In 2022-23, Syracuse was picked to finish 10th and ended with a nine-seed in the ACC Tournament. Most recently, the Orange were expected to finish ninth in 2023-24 but ended with a three-seed and tied for second in record versus conference opponents.
David Yeazell-Imagn Images
ESPN’s most updated bracketology update does not have the Orange making the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Ten ACC teams are projected to make it heading into this year, which is tied for second-most of all conferences. Those teams include Notre Dame (two-seed), NC State (three-seed), Duke (three-seed), North Carolina (four-seed), Louisville (five-seed), Florida State (five-seed), Virginia (eight-seed), Stanford (First Four Byes), Clemson (Last Four In) and Miami (Last Four In).
Syracuse has not reached the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back years since 2018 and 2019.
Biggest big picture questions heading into the year
- Who can make up the scoring production lost by the departure of Dyaisha Fair?
- Can Woolley make a leap as a scorer and offensive hub?
- Who among the veterans steps up to fill in for some of the offseason losses?
- After a promising exhibition game, just how good are Hawkins and Scott?
- Do the Orange have more outside shooting to work with compared to last year?
- Can Syracuse still pull off the insane upsets like it did in 2023-24?
- How does Syracuse fare in a bigger and still equally as dominant ACC?