NC State women’s basketball head coach Wes Moore has assembled a nice squad of players for the season ahead. Moore is going to value the amount of flexibility offered by each of these players and has the ability to go positionless whenever he needs.
Most players on the roster are capable defenders and can switch on a dime. The season ahead will be difficult playing in a tough conference, but success is definitely within reach, as any player on this team can be plugged in to play at any moment in time. Let’s break down how each facet of this team can come together this year.
The Players
Junior guard Aislinn Konig
Konig returns as one of the best players from last year’s roster. Konig averaged 10.3 points, 3.1 assists and had the highest 3-point percentage on the team last year at 34 percent. Konig adds a spark to this basketball team and is one of the most offensively refined players in the entire basketball program at NC State.
Graduate guard Kiara Leslie
Leslie is a tough, experienced player who knows her way around the court. Leslie averaged a strong 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and one steal last season. Leslie also averaged the most rebounds of any returning player and the second most overall last year. Leslie brings a veteran presence to the team, being a graduate student, and will most certainly help groom the young talent coming into the program.
Senior forward DD Rogers
Rogers did not put up strong stats last season due to a lack of minutes on a deep Pack roster last year, but should see her role increase with departures of leading rebounders Chelsea Nelson and Akela Maize. Rogers grabbed 103 total rebounds last year, showing her tenacity on the boards, especially considering she only started one game last year.
Junior forward Erika Cassell
Cassell, much like Rogers, did not see that many minutes last year for the same reason. Both players even played the exact same minutes per game at 11.6 and both played in 32 games, starting in one. However, Cassell is a much more consistent shooter than Rodgers, hitting almost 64 percent from the free throw line and beginning to add a 3-point jump shot to her game with 26 attempts last season.
Graduate guard Kaila Ealey suffered a major knee injury and will be out for the season. Ealey averaged 8.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals last season.
New Faces
Freshman forward Jada Rice
Rice is a post player from Collins Hill High School in Georgia. Rice averaged 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game, showing her versatility in the paint and defensive capabilities.
Freshman center Elissa Cunane
Cunane is the tallest player on the roster, measuring in at 6-foot-5. Cunane will play the center position and was heavily recruited out of Northern Guilford High School as the number one center in the state, according to Prospects Nation. Cunane averaged an astounding 19.7 points, 13.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 3.8 blocks and 1.7 steals in high school.
Freshman forward Esra McGoldrick
McGoldrick, who came to NC State from New Zealand, was rated 11th in international recruits. McGoldrick stands at 6-foot-2 and is a very flexible player that Moore will be able to plug in at any position and go. McGoldrick is a capable defender and knockdown shooter that will excite the audience.
The Schedule
Season Opener – November 7 vs. Belmont
The season opener for any sport often has the ability to set the tone for the rest of the season, and this will be no different. Stopping Belmont guard Darby Maggard will be key to winning this game, as she is shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc.
December 30 vs. Davidson
The game versus Davidson is notable because it is the last nonconference game of the season. In total, the team plays 29 regular season games, 13 out of conference and 16 conference games.
February 18 vs. Notre Dame
The NC State Wolfpack will get a shot at the reigning NCAA champions, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and their star-studded roster on February 18. Star guard Arike Ogunbowale and starters forward Brianna Turner and guard Marina Mabrey will bring an exciting game to Reynolds Coliseum.
March 3 vs. Miami
This game is significant because while No. 25 Miami is ranked below NC State, the Hurricanes should quickly ascend the rankings due to the talent on their roster. The Canes return three of their five starters from last year, including guard Mykea Gray, who played the second-most amount of minutes for the Canes last season.
Ranking – 17
The Wolfpack is ranked 17th in the AP polls, which is good enough for third in the ACC. Notre Dame, Louisville, Syracuse, Duke and Miami are other ACC teams that are ranked, while the top five include UConn, Oregon, Baylor and Louisville along with the aforementioned Notre Dame.
Last season, NC State finished the year as No. 21 in the AP poll and entered the NCAA tournament as the fourth seed in their section of the bracket. NC State ended up losing a spot in the Elite Eight to top-seeded Mississippi State 71-57.
This basketball team is talented from top to bottom, and with a healthy mix of veterans and youth, development will be key for a powerful season.
