Who Will Be The Face of Women's College Basketball For The 2023-24 Season?

[Skeets]

Ah, if Paige can replicate her freshman year, the media will go nuts over the "come back" story and Paige will become the face of women's college basketball. The media controls everything, facts be damned.

 

[bbfanLA]

It’s crazy that Brink, Bueckers, Clarke and Reese were rated the top four players in their class and they all lived up to the hype. All four have been All-Americans and have played in a national title game, while two have won NPOY awards. I wonder if another class has been that dominant before their senior year even started.

 

[choclate45]

It’s crazy that Brink, Bueckers, Clarke and Reese were rated the top four players in their class and they all lived up to the hype. All four have been All-Americans and have played in a national title game, while two have won NPOY awards. I wonder if another class has been that dominant before their senior year even started.

And Cardoso was #5.

 

[Bald Husky]

What Paige does in the early OOC games will determine if she becomes the major player she was 2 years ago. I wish the OOC schedule would come out so I can see the teams she will be taking advantage of early on. She and Caitlin, along with Reese will be the players everyone will be talking about. As far as I know, none of these players will be competing against each other this year, except hopefully in the NCAA tournament.

 

[Bone Dog]

Azzi was the face last year before her injury. Breathless commentary about how she was an NPOY candidate after the first few games. Then the injury and she fell out of the public eye. If Paige starts strong, like she did against Arkansas two seasons ago, she will get the same treatment. I don't think it matters what anyone else does, not Caitlin, not Angel, not Kamila, not Cameron. This distinction is Paige's to take. The anticipation of a healthy season for her is widespread, not just in the BY. No one in the media wants to be left behind by the Buckets Parade.

 

[AmeriConn]

What Paige does in the early OOC games will determine if she becomes the major player she was 2 years ago. I wish the OOC schedule would come out so I can see the teams she will be taking advantage of early on. She and Caitlin, along with Reese will be the players everyone will be talking about. As far as I know, none of these players will be competing against each other this year, except hopefully in the NCAA tournament.

Paige and Angel may be meeting in the Cayman Islands Classic in November.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Maybe the Peanut Butter and Jelly duo will be the face, as in the open-face sandwich.

 

[The deacon]

Sports TV always focuses on star power.

Unfortunately...

 

[Next 12]

This is Paige Buecker's time to shine and show the public what they had missed when she went down with her injuries. Now , Paige will be the face of Women's BB because she was expected to be the face the last 2 years and unfortunately was injured for 1 and a half seasons and her greatness was lost. Now, she is the comeback player of the year and all eyes will be on her. Other greats will be in the running,but, if Paige plays like the Paige we all know she can.........No Contest. GO PAIGE!!!! GO HUSKIES!!!!!

 

[The deacon]

If I were the media I would shout out multi players as the faces of WBB!
Paige, Caitlin, Angel, Azzi, and Cameron!
With so much talent out there why limit it to one!

Azzi's got a UConn following and had a national face a few years ago, but she's got lots to prove before she belongs with the other four. Surely hoping that happens.

 

[The deacon]

I would think Angel as LSU is the defending champion. And they were also considered a Cinderella championship team. And I am guessing that Kim will have another cupcake OOC, therefore being undefeated for most of the season will help.
Remember how long Arike was the face, so...

Angel got carried to that title by a reserve player, and didn't even play a good game. LSU a Cinderella team with Kim Mulkey as the coach? Think back: clearly Iowa was the Cinderella story.

Plus, in defeat, Caitlin was worlds better than Angel in victory.

 

[The deacon]

As the former POY, Caitlin likely will be the face, if there is a single face. Not only was she the POY, she was 2nd in scoring and 1st in assists. She put up huge numbers, led her team to an upset of the previously undefeated S.C. powerhouse and to the national championship game, and is probably the most exciting player in the nation. She hits bombs from the logo/Steph Curry range, plus she may break Kelsey Plum's career scoring record.

By New Years, Paige may also be getting comparable attention, especially if UConn is undefeated and she has regained her form. In my opinion, Paige has been the best player in the nation for the past 3+ seasons--or would have been if healthy.

I think Brink is the next best player. Bayou Barbie will get recognition too, though she is a one-trick pony. She is quick as heck, but she rebounds and scores from underneath only.

I'm with you, Milford, except when you say Paige has been the best player if healthy is still presuming she'd be better than Caitlin. Possibly, but Caitlin is unworldly talented, too. We're blessed to be able to watch both.

 

[JellyBean]

Everybody is picking the Big name players. I am going for that dark horse. That under the radar player that is going to boost a program and make a name for herself. I am picking Lauren Betts. I like that she stayed in the PAC 12 conference and went to UCLA. With some key returning players and Betts with something to prove, I think she is going to be the face of WCBB for the 2023-24 season.

 

[Bald Husky]

I'm with you, Milford, except when you say Paige has been the best player if healthy is still presuming she'd be better than Caitlin. Possibly, but Caitlin is unworldly talented, too. We're blessed to be able to watch both.

Paige and Caitlin are two extremely talented basketball players. Even though they play the same position (PG/SG), they are entirely unalike in their game. Caitlin is an in-your-face offensive player, always moving in a fast pace, and seems to do her shooting "on the go". Paige is deliberate, rarely pushing the ball up the court. She is content to let the game come to her, and does a great job of that, while Caitlin forces the issue whether it is an assist or a scoring play. Each fits their respective teams perfectly, so judging the best player is not an easy task. To me, they are both great and will be stars going forward for a long time. Reese, ah, I would pick these two guards over her any day of the week.

 

[BobbyJ]

Everybody is picking the Big name players. I am going for that dark horse. That under the radar player that is going to boost a program and make a name for herself. I am picking Lauren Betts. I like that she stayed in the PAC 12 conference and went to UCLA. With some key returning players and Betts with something to prove, I think she is going to be the face of WCBB for the 2023-24 season.

For that to happen Close will have to make serious changes to her offense or else Betts will spend most of her time watching Osborne and Rice grind the shot clock down dribbling around the perimeter. Or Jones chucking 3s off of every touch she gets.

 

[Centerstream]

Angel got carried to that title by a reserve player, and didn't even play a good game. LSU a Cinderella team with Kim Mulkey as the coach? Think back: clearly Iowa was the Cinderella story.

Plus, in defeat, Caitlin was worlds better than Angel in victory.

I agree with you wholeheartedly, I was only posting what I think ESPN (sadly, the face of WBB) will do.
Personally, I would like it to be Paige.

 

[diggerfoot]

Bueckers became the most talked about player as a freshman for two reasons. One is her personality, which perhaps should not be a factor in becoming the face of college basketball, but that is the reality. Her personality is still there.

The other is she plays beautiful basketball, the overall reason I have been such a fan of UConn over the years. Beautiful basketball, as opposed to heroic or great, manifests itself in the vision, decisions and execution on the court. Before injury Bueckers had the best vision and execution of any player.

Though beauty is an artistic term whose criteria is pleasing to the eye, it manifests itself in terms of metrics through such things as shooting percentage, A/T ratios, and efficiency ratings. All these reflect cerebral basketball that knows when to do what. As a freshman Bueckers had the best of these metrics out of all guards (some post players had higher shooting percentages) and they got better before she was injured her sophomore season.

Who knows how she will recover from injury this time, but if those metrics improve from their already high level she will become at least one of the faces, a new “3 to see,” if not the sole face.

 

[SECbbfan24]

Angel got carried to that title by a reserve player, and didn't even play a good game. LSU a Cinderella team with Kim Mulkey as the coach? Think back: clearly Iowa was the Cinderella story.

Plus, in defeat, Caitlin was worlds better than Angel in victory.

Angel needs to learn to tone it down. I actually think she won't be the best player on her own team this coming year but I'm sure she will be good again.

But on that other comment, Iowa was preseason top 5 team (4 and 6 in polls), LSU was 14 and 16 in preseason and LSU lost basically their entire roster and replaced them (minus Reese) with transfers who were holdovers at their former programs... I won't call them a cinderella but certainly they overachieved greatly with what they really had.

But regardless, this thread makes me chuckle because who cares. Clark, Reese, Paige, and Brink will also get their share of attention. All excellent players who provide different tangibles to their teams. I don't know if I would just sit and point to a single face or name when looking at an upcoming season but thats just me.

 

[sun]

I think it'll be Angel.
She was featured in SI, won the Espy for Best Breakthrough Athlete & her popularity has skyrocketed.

 

[Bone Dog]

Last remarks about Paige:

1. Freshman year Paige was the NPOY even though Caitlin had better basic stats (Paige had way better complex stats), and TV personalities put some energy into trying to get some of Paige's stardust to rub off on her. "They're close friends" etc.
2. The next season, hobbled Paige carried her team to the NC and Caitlin did nothing noteworthy other than mamas some stats.
3. The following season, with no Paige again, Caitlin managed to carry her team to the NC -- this was an awesome achievement given her supporting cast -- and finally deserved the NPOY and all the recognition.

See the pattern here? With Paige back and a team that might run the table, no way Caitlin can hold the spotlight. Every media eye will be on Paige and what she might do next.

 

[MilfordHusky]

For anyone who has forgotten, here's what P. Buckets can do against a top team when she's not even 100% healthy:

 

[MilfordHusky]

P. Buckets against South Carolina as a freshman:

 

[nwhoopfan]

As far as the Paige is better/will be better if healthy arguement...I was at the Regional Final in Seattle. Clark's performance was probably the best I've ever seen by any basketball player. It was PHENOMENAL. She doesn't take a back seat to anybody. And then she followed it up with a nearly identical performance in taking down unbeatable South Carolina.

 

[Jumper33]

I voted for Paige, but I had to consider it. Last season there was so much Clark coverage, and then in the tournament and post-season there’s been a lot of spotlight on Reese. The POY and the outspoken champion.

But Clark’s team, in all likelihood, will not be as good this year as they were last year. Reese may still be the face of LSU, but now she is sharing with Van Lith and Morrow. Especially Van Lith, she is a big topic of conversation.

Paige though, if she plays like we know she can, she will be back to being the “face”. Everyone loves a comeback story!

Really though, all these athletes and more will get their moments to shine. As they should because women’s basketball deserves visibility.

 

[JellyBean]

For that to happen Close will have to make serious changes to her offense or else Betts will spend most of her time watching Osborne and Rice grind the shot clock down dribbling around the perimeter. Or Jones chucking 3s off of every touch she gets.

Great points. I think Coach Close knows what she has in front of her now. Sometimes you have talent but not in the right way. Then there are times when you get the right talent to implement the style of play that you have always envisioned. Coach Close has that this year and for a few years to come. UCLA is going to be a problem. Rice is going to show out this season with Betts as her running mate.

 

[wingsfan055]

I completely agree!! No need for me to add anything. You said the same thing I would have. Sifaka, normally I agree with your comments, but I'm not going to hold visitingcock's feet to the fire because he/she misspelled her name. I'm more interested in the gist of the comment. Cardoso has to become the face her HER TEAM BEFORE she can become the face of WCBB. That hasn't happened yet. So....the jury is still out on THAT verdict.

A healthy and mature Paige Bueckers can set WCBB on its ear this season if she can get on, and stay on the floor. She was ALL THAT and a bag of chips her freshman year. She is so much more than that now. I expect Paige to be down right nasty in her approach to playing the game, getting hers while making those around her better. She'll be fun to watch this year. I expect Caitlan to be Caitlan. I'm interested to see if anyone is able to contain her, or even slow her down.

Cardosa was carried by Boston for a couple of years. She won't be the face of her team let alone NCAAW.

 

[visitingcock]

Cardosa was carried by Boston for a couple of years. She won't be the face of her team let alone NCAAW.

She was carried the first year. She pulled her own weight last year and she will
Again this year. Will she be the Face” of her team? Maybe not but she will be the rock upon which her team will be built. Will she be the face of wbb? No. Too camera shy

 

[Carnac]

She was carried the first year. She pulled her own weight last year and she will
Again this year. Will she be the Face” of her team? Maybe not but she will be the rock upon which her team will be built. Will she be the face of wbb? No. Too camera shy

I’ll be watching Cardoso closely this year. I expect her to be promoted to a starter.

 

[Carnac]

For anyone who has forgotten, here's what P. Buckets can do against a top team when she's not even 100% healthy:

I’m expecting nothing less than this type of performance from Ms. Buckets this year.

 

[ucbart]

It's going to be interesting because the three best players in the country(Caitlin, Paige, and Azzi) play on teams that have no affiliation with ESPN. The B1G's contract with Fox starts this year and ESPN, especially the on air coverage, will stick to it's own athletes, so I suspect that Reese, Brink, and whoever the best player in the ACC is, will get the most coverage. Print wise, Clark, Paige, and Azzi will certainly get a lot of coverage, but that's it.