The women’s NCAA basketball freshman class of the 2023-24 season has arrived, and it’s been seriously HOOPING.
It’s one thing to join the upper echelon of women’s basketball programs. (Hello, Dawn Staley!) It’s another to make your impact felt less than two weeks into the season. These first-year students missed the memo that they were, in fact, first-year athletes.
Despite an opening week of women’s college basketball that included highlight reel-worthy plays and two massive upsets, fan chatter has been building about the rather impressive freshmen class. (Thank goodness there’s at least three years to witness all this talent!)
These freshmen for WBB were made on a different island man lol.
— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) November 14, 2023
Here are five women’s basketball freshmen, including LSU’s Mikaylah Williams, who should absolutely be on your radar:
1
Zoe Brooks - NC State
In her NCAA debut, Brooks had 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal against Charlotte. She followed that up with another 12-point performance, four rebounds and three assists as NC State stunned No. 2 ranked UConn on Sunday.
With help from junior Saniya Rivers, Brooks has been growing up in real-time by taking what the defense gives her and being efficient with her shot selection.
YOU LOVE TO SEE IT.
Really enjoying what Zoe Brooks brings playing on and off the ball alongside Saniya
Really good patience to get to her spots pic.twitter.com/wRKYYy0Gpc
— Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) November 12, 2023
2
Hannah Hildalgo - Notre Dame
There is no denying that Hildalgo is a baller. In her debut against South Carolina, her energy was nearly palpable. She did not care who was on the other side of the floor. They were going to get buckets!
Hidalgo casually carved up the Gamecocks for 31 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. The next game, against the New Jersey Institute of Technology, she dropped 26 points, six rebounds, six assists and 12 steals — NO BIG DEAL.
Have yourself a week then, Rook 💪
Hannah Hidalgo is your Rookie of the Week!
🗒️ https://t.co/cHz83uMb3m@HannahHidalgo | @ndwbb pic.twitter.com/PhT1X1vJyk
— ACC Women's Basketball (@accwbb) November 13, 2023
3
Milaysia Fulwiley - South Carolina
Fulwiley is henceforth known as “Milaysia Fulwilin'” because that’s what she does: dominate on the basketball court. (Shout out to ESPN’s Elle Duncan and Andraya Carter for the assist with the name.)
While Hildalgo was balling on one side of the ball, Fulwiley was making SportsCenter top-10 highlights on the other side in her NCAA debut. She caught the attention of Magic Johnson, Kevin Durant and other hoopers with her show-stopping 17 points, six assists, six steals and one block performance.
But she’s not new to this. She’s TRUE to this.
I could watch Milaysia Fulwiley ALL DAY 🤮 @MilaysiaF pic.twitter.com/eWQA1MbgHt
— Overtime (@overtime) May 18, 2021
4
JuJu Watkins - USC
Somebody tell Watkins to take it easy. We can’t handle her breaking new records regularly. Breaking Lisa Leslie’s 30-point freshman debut record wasn’t enough. Watkins had to follow it up with two more 30-point statlines. EXCUSE ME, JUJU!
Now, she’s averaging 28 points just because she can. Everybody else is on notice. Like her Twitter handle says: JuJu be ballin’.
JuJu Watkins put up 35 last night with 6 steals! @Jujubballin pic.twitter.com/Kl8YhURM05
— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) November 14, 2023
5
Mikaylah Williams - LSU
Mikaylah Williams is a walking bucket. The former No. 1 recruit is currently averaging 22 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals on 62 percent shooting. The best part is that she’s only played four games.
On Tuesday, she scored 42 points, the most scored by any LSU freshman since the 1976-77 season. Even head coach Kim Mulkey had to marvel at her historic performance, saying, “I guess it’s those moments where you [realize] that rim is as big as the ocean.”
GO OFF, MIKAYLAH.
Mikaylah Williams just dropped 42. The most points by any @LSUwbkb player in the last 25 seasons 🤯
BUCKET 🪣 @mkwill12_ pic.twitter.com/N3IgNCJSsY
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 14, 2023
