Alright ladies & gents, I know our ladies may not generate the same interest as the men, but keep in mind, this will be a final 4 team in 2027 IMHO, and the next 3 years is shaping up to be the golden era in UM's WBB (if we keep all players home).......make sure you read the additions below (I know it's a lot of info for those who like to just scan info😀)!!
Departed:
-Yulia Grabovskaia ...6'5" reserve post player transfered to Univ of Washington after only 1 season of transferring into UM. Was the tallest player on team last year, but probably wants more playing time & UM played with 5 guards last year instead of a "big" in the middle.
Additions:
-Ashley Sofilkanich...6'3" sophomore F from Bucknell...avg 19.7 ppg, 8.4 rebs, 3.0 asst, 50.3% FG%, 26.3% 3pt%.
Her game: Ashley was actually the Patriot League POY (says a lot). She doesn't seem fleet footed or highly athletic, but man, her tape shows she is a very High IQ player player and is extremely crafty and skilled around the rim & can put the ball in the hoop in a multitude of ways. We are talking turn around jumpers in the lane, mini "Dream Shake" moves, & great anticipation of what the defender will do and the ability to counter with a timely move to score inside. She can put it on the floor some to get to her spots. A really good passer. The only question is whether the competition of the Patriot League was near the level of the B1G, in other words, I don't know if she steps into the B1G and puts up almost 20 ppg, especially with Liv Olson and Syla Swords returning, the way she did at Bucknell. However, I do expect Ashley to be a primary low post/inside scoring option & threat for UM WBB next year, and so this is a really good pickup and fills a void for inside scoring. So let's welcome Ashley to the Maize and Blue. She'll be a a senior in 2 years when we win it all in 2027 (2 years to jell with our current young squad)!
-Kendall Dudley.....6'2" freshman Wing from UCLA....since I live in DC & she played for the prestigious Sidwell Friends HS (where American presidents send their young kids) this is someone I've seen play on ESPN in the Geico national championship tournaments and she is a former 5-star player (was approximately #12 overall player in nation about the same as Liv Olson) who graduated in the same class as current UM 5-star players Syla Swords and Olivia Olson. KBA did previously recruit Kendall. This means we now have 3 five-star players and 1 four-star from last year's class (a heck of a haul for any team, men or women!).....First, throw out her freshmen stats of 1.9ppg, 2.3 rebs, 0.8 assets, & 46.5% FGs. As you may know, she played on a veteran team selected as the #1 overall seed in March Madness in UCLA.
Her game: Kendall is a 3-level player who can do a little of everything well like shoot the 3, put it on the floor, pass well, finish at the hoop, and rim run! Last season, KBA played 3 guards who were basically position-less, and Kendall fits this style very well (excellent fit)! She could play all 5 positions if need be. She has a high motor and is a really good defender (a good two-way player). While her freshmen stats aren't impressive, once she establishes chemistry with Liv, Syla, Mila, etc., she could be a key cog on this team as they get the title in 2027. Liv Olson runs the floor so well and even gets out in transition, and Kendall does similar things.....I can't wait to see them all together next year. So let's welcome Kendall Dudley to the Maize and Blue!
P.S. Aday Mara is not the only player we swiped from UCLA!!😀
Both of these players "could" start next year with Mila Holloway (5'10") , Syla Swords (6'0") , Liv Olson (6'1"), Kendal Dudley (6'2"l, and Ashley Solfikanich (6'3")..........6'3" frosh Te'Yala Delfosse, 5'7" Brooke Quarles-Daniels, and 6'0" Macy Brown could all fight for starters position, since 2 starters graduated (Jordan Hobbs & Greta Kampshroeder). We'll see how it all unfolds next year.
Go Blue....UM WBB will be a final 4 team in 2027👍
Departed:
-Yulia Grabovskaia ...6'5" reserve post player transfered to Univ of Washington after only 1 season of transferring into UM. Was the tallest player on team last year, but probably wants more playing time & UM played with 5 guards last year instead of a "big" in the middle.
Additions:
-Ashley Sofilkanich...6'3" sophomore F from Bucknell...avg 19.7 ppg, 8.4 rebs, 3.0 asst, 50.3% FG%, 26.3% 3pt%.
Her game: Ashley was actually the Patriot League POY (says a lot). She doesn't seem fleet footed or highly athletic, but man, her tape shows she is a very High IQ player player and is extremely crafty and skilled around the rim & can put the ball in the hoop in a multitude of ways. We are talking turn around jumpers in the lane, mini "Dream Shake" moves, & great anticipation of what the defender will do and the ability to counter with a timely move to score inside. She can put it on the floor some to get to her spots. A really good passer. The only question is whether the competition of the Patriot League was near the level of the B1G, in other words, I don't know if she steps into the B1G and puts up almost 20 ppg, especially with Liv Olson and Syla Swords returning, the way she did at Bucknell. However, I do expect Ashley to be a primary low post/inside scoring option & threat for UM WBB next year, and so this is a really good pickup and fills a void for inside scoring. So let's welcome Ashley to the Maize and Blue. She'll be a a senior in 2 years when we win it all in 2027 (2 years to jell with our current young squad)!
-Kendall Dudley.....6'2" freshman Wing from UCLA....since I live in DC & she played for the prestigious Sidwell Friends HS (where American presidents send their young kids) this is someone I've seen play on ESPN in the Geico national championship tournaments and she is a former 5-star player (was approximately #12 overall player in nation about the same as Liv Olson) who graduated in the same class as current UM 5-star players Syla Swords and Olivia Olson. KBA did previously recruit Kendall. This means we now have 3 five-star players and 1 four-star from last year's class (a heck of a haul for any team, men or women!).....First, throw out her freshmen stats of 1.9ppg, 2.3 rebs, 0.8 assets, & 46.5% FGs. As you may know, she played on a veteran team selected as the #1 overall seed in March Madness in UCLA.
Her game: Kendall is a 3-level player who can do a little of everything well like shoot the 3, put it on the floor, pass well, finish at the hoop, and rim run! Last season, KBA played 3 guards who were basically position-less, and Kendall fits this style very well (excellent fit)! She could play all 5 positions if need be. She has a high motor and is a really good defender (a good two-way player). While her freshmen stats aren't impressive, once she establishes chemistry with Liv, Syla, Mila, etc., she could be a key cog on this team as they get the title in 2027. Liv Olson runs the floor so well and even gets out in transition, and Kendall does similar things.....I can't wait to see them all together next year. So let's welcome Kendall Dudley to the Maize and Blue!
P.S. Aday Mara is not the only player we swiped from UCLA!!😀
Both of these players "could" start next year with Mila Holloway (5'10") , Syla Swords (6'0") , Liv Olson (6'1"), Kendal Dudley (6'2"l, and Ashley Solfikanich (6'3")..........6'3" frosh Te'Yala Delfosse, 5'7" Brooke Quarles-Daniels, and 6'0" Macy Brown could all fight for starters position, since 2 starters graduated (Jordan Hobbs & Greta Kampshroeder). We'll see how it all unfolds next year.
Go Blue....UM WBB will be a final 4 team in 2027👍
