ESPN Top 25 Players

[jdote33]

Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Azzi Fudd and the 25 best players in women's college basketball

We've ranked the 25 best players in the country this season, starting with the debate over whether Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark or Azzi Fudd should be No. 1.

www.espn.com

Questions, comments, concerns?

My initial thoughts were:
1. Alissa Pili probably deserves to be on this list.
2. Maddy Siegrist is too low.
3. Interesting to note some of the top 25 times that don't have a player on the list (Oregon, Arizona, Utah)
4. Angel Reese probably can make a pretty good argument she's top 5.
5. Injuries suck. Just the names missing are glaring. Grace Berger, Ashley Owusu, Ayoka Lee, Paige

 

[BRS24]

One of these players is rated #1, the other #14.

 

[GamecockFam]

One of these players is rated #1, the other #14.
View attachment 82245

Lol I came here to see the salty UConn fan reactions and was not disappointed. How am I not surprised that people would be critical of Boston's stats. I don't think it's a fair comparison. AE doesn't have to worry about being triple teamed every time she touches the ball...

 

[LoTrader]

Where is Leigha Brown from Michigan on this list? Every Michigan game I've seen over the past few years, Leigha Brown stands out. She will be a fine pro.

 

[bballnut90]

Lol I came here to see the salty UConn fan reactions and was not disappointed. How am I not surprised that people would be critical of Boston's stats. I don't think it's a fair comparison. AE doesn't have to worry about being triple teamed every time she touches the ball...

I don't think anyone in their right mind would take Edwards over Boston if picking between the 2 when you watch them play. No shade to Edwards who is having a great season, but Boston's in a completely different league and deserves to be ranked where she is.

 

[bballnut90]

Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Azzi Fudd and the 25 best players in women's college basketball

We've ranked the 25 best players in the country this season, starting with the debate over whether Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark or Azzi Fudd should be No. 1.

www.espn.com

Questions, comments, concerns?

My initial thoughts were:
1. Alissa Pili probably deserves to be on this list.
2. Maddy Siegrist is too low.
3. Interesting to note some of the top 25 times that don't have a player on the list (Oregon, Arizona, Utah)
4. Angel Reese probably can make a pretty good argument she's top 5.
5. Injuries suck. Just the names missing are glaring. Grace Berger, Ashley Owusu, Ayoka Lee, Paige

Reese is a hard sell for top 5 considering the level of competition she's faced. Numbers are there though.

Latson should be MUCH higher based on production so far.

Also Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu of USF deserves a shoutout. Not sure there are more than a handful of bigs who are better than her.

 

[dtbtbtb]

Yes, I'm a UConn homer but think that Lou is one of the top 25 players in the country this season

 

[bballnut90]

Yes, I'm a UConn homer but think that Lou is one of the top 25 players in the country this season

Good player and nice numbers, but hard to justify 3 from UCONN on there when they're #9 in the country. Same with Muhl (who also was HM). I'd put Pili/Czinano ahead of both and probably a few others.

 

[Forego]

Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Azzi Fudd and the 25 best players in women's college basketball

We've ranked the 25 best players in the country this season, starting with the debate over whether Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark or Azzi Fudd should be No. 1.

www.espn.com

Questions, comments, concerns?

My initial thoughts were:
1. Alissa Pili probably deserves to be on this list.
2. Maddy Siegrist is too low.
3. Interesting to note some of the top 25 times that don't have a player on the list (Oregon, Arizona, Utah)
4. Angel Reese probably can make a pretty good argument she's top 5.
5. Injuries suck. Just the names missing are glaring. Grace Berger, Ashley Owusu, Ayoka Lee, Paige

You’re right about Angel Reese being able to make pretty good argument for being ranked #5. After all she is the best player on a team that (according to Creme) is a 2 seed.
By the way, is it just a coincidence that an ad for Ina Garten cakes is in this thread?

 

[The deacon]

I suppose I could be called a Huskies homer, certainly a huge UConn fan, but against the grain of my BY compatriots, I'd opine that Azzi should be nowhere near that high. She had a run of 30-point games but her overall performance doesn't merit being ranked ahead of pretty much any others in the Top 10, perhaps even several more. Just within the Big East, Morrow and Siegrist have easily better resumes, both outstanding in scoring and rebounding. That Siegrist is ranked as low as 12th is a joke.

I would also argue that Aaliyah Edwards should be ranked at least in the Top 10, and definitely higher than Azzi. If we're debating potential, that'd be a different story for Azzi, but her name recognition is what has her at #3, not her performance to date.

I'm hoping like everyone else on the Boneyard that she comes back healthy enough to help the Huskies to a national title. Yet individual awards for her this year seem very unlikely, unless we're talking all-Big East tournament or, in our best of dreams, MOP of the Final Four!

 

[bballnut90]

I suppose I could be called a Huskies homer, certainly a huge UConn fan, but against the grain of my BY compatriots, I'd opine that Azzi should be nowhere near that high. She had a run of 30-point games but her overall performance doesn't merit being ranked ahead of pretty much any others in the Top 10, perhaps even several more. Just within the Big East, Morrow and Siegrist have easily better resumes, both outstanding in scoring and rebounding. That Siegrist is ranked as low as 12th is a joke.

I would also argue that Aaliyah Edwards should be ranked at least in the Top 10, and definitely higher than Azzi. If we're debating potential, that'd be a different story for Azzi, but her name recognition is what has her at #3, not her performance to date.

I'm hoping like everyone else on the Boneyard that she comes back healthy enough to help the Huskies to a national title. Yet individual awards for her this year seem very unlikely, unless we're talking all-Big East tournament or, in our best of dreams, MOP of the Final Four!

I think 3 might be high for Fudd based on only playing in 7 games, but she's torched some really good teams and went toe to toe with Clark so it's hard to say she's not on that level. I'd keep Edwards behind Fudd because Fudd is the clear go to when they're both in the lineup. Fudd was averaging 20.6 per game (24 excluding the ND injury game), and Edwards averaged 16 per game during the same stretch. Edwards has really come into her own taking on a larger role since Fudd went down, having her 3 highest scoring games in those 4 games.

Hard to justify putting Morrow/Siegrist much higher when both of their teams are unranked. Both are having great seasons though.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

It's an OPINION on the top 25 PLAYERS...NOT TEAM.

 

[cancontent]

I'm confused as to how Fudd and Sheldon are getting ranked as high as they are when they've played a limited number of games. Berger didn't make the list for this very reason. And with both players out until who knows when, how is this fair to others who have been busting their tails so far this season?

Would it not makes sense or be fairer if this was based on playing at least 10 games? Stuff like this is why people continue to beat the ESPN bias drum.

 

[The deacon]

I think 3 might be high for Fudd based on only playing in 7 games, but she's torched some really good teams and went toe to toe with Clark so it's hard to say she's not on that level. I'd keep Edwards behind Fudd because Fudd is the clear go to when they're both in the lineup. Fudd was averaging 20.6 per game (24 excluding the ND injury game), and Edwards averaged 16 per game during the same stretch. Edwards has really come into her own taking on a larger role since Fudd went down, having her 3 highest scoring games in those 4 games.

Hard to justify putting Morrow/Siegrist much higher when both of their teams are unranked. Both are having great seasons though.

I agree with the gist of your point about Azzi but Aaliyah's all-around game and contributions have been there, game in and game out. Again, I understand about Azzi's potential to be on that level, but numerous players have offered better and more frequent top performances to this point, on the court, including Aaliyah.

As for Maddy and Aneesah, this is about the top players, not the top teams. Countless great athletes in pretty much every sport have been recognized for their performances in spite of the struggles of their teams. And in these two players' cases, their teams are not even struggling. DePaul is 9-4 and 'Nova is 10-3, the latter with losses only to good teams - Creighton, Baylor and Iowa State. That DePaul and Villanova don't happen to be ranked Top 25 at the moment shouldn't be reason to hold it against two of the very best players in the country (and maybe so far this season the two best in the Big East). I have no trouble justifying a much higher ranking for them.

 

[Dillon77]

Where is Leigha Brown from Michigan on this list? Every Michigan game I've seen over the past few years, Leigha Brown stands out. She will be a fine pro.

Agreed. Kiser is a fine story, but Leigha Brown is the heart, soul, grit and best player on that team.

 

[BRS24]

Lol I came here to see the salty UConn fan reactions and was not disappointed. How am I not surprised that people would be critical of Boston's stats. I don't think it's a fair comparison. AE doesn't have to worry about being triple teamed every time she touches the ball...

No salt whatsoever. I was just posting stats. I love looking at data. I didn't make a comment on who should be #1. There's also a bit of chatter about PGs on the list, however Nike is not, and although she leads the nation in assists, her PPG is not high, so perhaps that's why.

 

[cancontent]

I'm also excited to see some Canadians getting consideration outside of the top 25. Yvonne Ejim continues to get better every season and is extending her range. Keishana Washington has been under the radar because she plays in the CAA at Drexel but her numbers are insane! I remember seeing her in high school and have been tracking her progress since joining the team.

In these two players' cases, going to programs that were the right fit versus chasing a Power 5 program opportunity has paid off for both of them. It's great to see that their efforts are being noticed.

 

[dabears17]

Yes, I'm a UConn homer but think that Lou is one of the top 25 players in the country this season

Lou, Nika, and Audrey received votes.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

One of these players is rated #1, the other #14.
View attachment 82245

The one only getting 23 minutes is really crushing it.

 

[Bigboote]

Lol I came here to see the salty UConn fan reactions and was not disappointed. How am I not surprised that people would be critical of Boston's stats. I don't think it's a fair comparison. AE doesn't have to worry about being triple teamed every time she touches the ball...

Yeah, I know, the things you have to put up with on a UConn message board.

 

[visitingcock]

One of these players is rated #1, the other #14.
View attachment 82245

The one ranked No 14 has 17.5 pts pgm, 9.1 rbs pgm and 1.2 blocks pgm while playing 33minutes pgm

The one ranked No 1 has 12.4 pgm, 9.1 rbs pgm and 1.7 blocks pgm game while playing 24 minutes pgm . Even against Stanford Boston played only 19 minutes - including overtime

But Edwards is playing great this year!

 

[hoopsnloops32]

The one ranked No 14 has 17.5 pts pgm, 9.1 rbs pgm and 1.2 blocks pgm while playing 33minutes pgm

The one ranked No 1 has 12.4 pgm, 9.1 rbs pgm and 1.7 blocks pgm game while playing 24 minutes pgm . Even against Stanford Boston played only 19 minutes - including overtime

But Edwards is playing great this year!

Didn’t she only play 19 minutes because of foul trouble? Aaliyah is still scoring more points per minute against tougher competition night in and night out while being the third best offensive option for her team most nights. And avoiding foul trouble.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

The one ranked No 14 has 17.5 pts pgm, 9.1 rbs pgm and 1.2 blocks pgm while playing 33minutes pgm

The one ranked No 1 has 12.4 pgm, 9.1 rbs pgm and 1.7 blocks pgm game while playing 24 minutes pgm . Even against Stanford Boston played only 19 minutes - including overtime

But Edwards is playing great this year!

I’d also just add raw numbers are pretty useless. What are their adjusted rebounding numbers? Edwards plausnfor the best shooting team in the country and Boston plays for the best defensive team in the country. There are going to be far more rebounds available for Boston so knowing their adjusted rebounding numbers is much more valuable. I.e how many rebounds of the available rebounds are they both bringing down?

 

[Bone Dog]

But but but... Boston is triple-teamed on every play by... hmmm... er... by the stout defenders on... a bunch of cupcakes.

I get it. Boston is awesome, all snark aside. But she isn't currently working very hard for that top ranking, even if she deserves it, at least in "theory." I don't have an obvious candidate to take her place there. Maybe Brink?

The problem for Boston is that the SEC kinda sucks this year, which means she won't get a whole lot of opportunities in conference play to demonstrate her excellence before the tournament. There is that game against UConn in February, which ought to be interesting. And LSU, Arkansas and Tennessee should be good games.

The sunny side of this situation is that Cardoso and Watkins will get lots of minutes, which means SCar can come back just as strong next year. The future Dawn has engineered looks bright.

I'm also looking forward to Boston & Co giving a couple of well deserved spankings to Georgia, and maybe an overdue wake-up call to LSU.

 

[bballnut90]

Didn’t she only play 19 minutes because of foul trouble? Aaliyah is still scoring more points per minute against tougher competition night in and night out while being the third best offensive option for her team most nights. And avoiding foul trouble.

She played 29 minutes, but yes she was benched part of the game due to fouls