Now that the OOC schedule is out, it’s time for some way-too-early thoughts about the upcoming season.

I doubt that I was the only one bemoaning the fact that the exit of arguably our top seven players. The outlook is difficult to discern with so many new faces, but given the losses of personnel through transfer or graduation, a lot will be riding on how well the incoming personnel perform. GW’s top five from last year (Brown, Innis, Lok, Robertson, Taiwo) are all gone after contributing 72% of the scoring and 60% of the rebounding. That’s a lot to make up for, but since their output contributed to unremarkable results, major improvements to our offensive scheme are needed regardless of who suits up. If the Revs want to make any noise in the A10 this season, the offense has to be better. The good news, at least on paper, is that the incoming crop of players show a lot of individual potential.

Start with 6’ 1” Bryant graduate transfer, Mariona Planes Fortuny, who gives GW a much needed inside scoring and defensive presence (16.3 ppg and 6.5 rpg). Last season, she earned All-America-East 1st Team honors. Multi-year D1 starters Makala Andrews of Lafayette (13.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg and All-Patriot 3rd Team recognition) and forward Paige Mott of Northwestern (8.0 ppg and 4.9 rpg) help to fill the experience void left by the departing players. All three players eclipsed the 1000-point mark in their undergraduate careers and will challenge returning Revs for playing time. 6’2” Maeve Fotsa and 6’0 Filippa Calisto are athletic JC transfers with multiple years of eligibility at GW and time to develop.

The freshman class is also the best of the McCombs era. With 5’9” Gabby Reynolds, Michigan’s 2024 Miss Basketball (29.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.9 apg), we get a true PG who could provide an immediate impact and help to offset the loss of Robertson. 6’3” Kyraha Parnell (15.5 ppg, 10.4 rpg) was a Top 10 forward in Virginia with great inside/out skills, and Morgan Matthews, 6’0 (22.4 ppg) is another prolific high school scorer and PG with good size.  Miriam Diala, a 6’1” forward is also intriguing. She was a member of Germany’s 2024 U20 FIBA EuroBasket squad, and gained a lot experience competing against many strong and talented European players.

Of the returning players, I think Kamari Sims could play big role, with Caia Loving and Maxine Engel being question marks. Engel is the best pure shooter of this lot, but she has to improve the other parts of her game to get significant minutes. Loving has had some moments inside, both rebounding and scoring, so hopefully, the improvements keep coming. And Sara Lewis definitely has potential.

The 2024-25 team looks to have experience, depth, and more scoring potential than last year’s team, and hopefully by committee, they can make up for the loss of Robertson’s explosiveness and Taiwo’s intangibles. The Revs are taller and longer than last year’s squad, and hopefully this translates to better and more consistent interior play, both offensively and defensively.

The OOC schedule seems sufficiently rigorous to establish some viable rotation options, but as GWAA alluded, it’ll be two more months before we can begin to find out. In the meantime, the coaching staff has their work cut out, getting what looks to be a pretty talented group, to play as a cohesive unit. In year four of the McCombs era, this year looks to be a defining season for Coach and her staff.

Hoping the next two months go by fast.