Syla Swords isn’t some under-the-radar player or some well-kept secret that only the most hardcore basketball fanatics know about.
The freshman was a 2024 McDonald’s All-American and part of a Michigan class that, on paper, appeared to be a formidable one. It’s early, but 14 games into the season, the young Wolverines have lived up to the hype, claiming a 10-4 record and ranked at No. 24 in the nation.
Swords is a big part of that, but she has been making noise in the basketball world since before she played a minute as a Wolverine. This summer, she competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, representing Team Canada and becoming the youngest player to play for the country in Olympic basketball. During her three games in Paris, she averaged 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. Those experiences were a precursor of what her first year at Ann Arbor would look like. She’s been a ferocious wing who plays beyond her 18 years.
An amazing debut
In her first official game, Swords helped Michigan push defending-champion South Carolina to the edge, scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in the 68-62 loss.
There are no moral victories, but watching a young Swords dominate versus the best collegiate program in the nation…
