While most storylines during the preseason were about the senior class, the freshmen certainly made a statement during Week 1 of the 2023-24 women’s college basketball season.
There is plenty of young talent to keep an eye on, which has even big basketball names like Magic Johnson and Kevin Durant following the action. MiLaysia Fulwiley is reminding everyone that South Carolina is still very much on the map, while Mikaylah Williams is showing the world how deep LSU can be aside from the Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith duo.
Here are five freshmen who impressed during Week 1:
JuJu Watkins — USC
The No. 1 player of the class of 2023 has certainly lived up to the hype. Head coach Linsday Gottlieb described Watkins as “the full package” and that’s exactly what she showed in the first two games of the season.
The 6-foot-2 guard lifted the Trojans to an 83-74 victory over No. 7 Ohio State in her college debut with 32 points shooting 61.1% from the field. She also added six rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal. With those stats, Watkins beat WNBA legend Lisa Leslie’s 30-point performance during her own first game as a USC freshman in 1990.
Watkins had a more “quiet” game against FGCU with 18…
