Preseason WNIT | 11/9/2023 10:56:02 AM

A shift in how the NCAA regulates tournament scheduling in women’s basketball has led to major changes in multiple events, and the Preseason WNIT has been remodeling its approach in response. For the 2023 event, the Preseason WNIT will feature three teams and two games, as South Carolina State plays at Utah on Nov. 9, with Utah traveling to Baylor for a game on Nov. 14.
 
Utah earned high praise in the AP preseason poll, earning the No. 5 spot overall. Baylor also was recognized for its strong roster and was voted No. 19 in the poll.
 
This is the 29^th Preseason WNIT; the 2022 event consisted of four teams, and in 2021 the event was modified to an eight-team field hosted by Kansas State and NC State, with all teams getting three games. The 2020 tournament was cancelled because of COVID-19. Recent champions include Oregon State (2019), Iowa State (2018), Louisville (2017), Notre Dame (2016) and Baylor (2015).
 
2023 team capsules:
 
Baylor – The Bears are leaning on a large number of new or somewhat unknown players, some transfers and others who have been waiting for their turn, but the talent level looks imposing. Although a foot injury will cap her minutes early, senior guard Sarah Andrews is ready to dominate after scoring 15 ppg last year and earning first-team all-Big 12 honors. The backcourt defense gets a lift from Kentucky transfer Jada Walker, while the offense adds Ohio transfer Yaya Felder, who averaged 22 ppg last year. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs was named the conference freshman of the year after averaging more than 10 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, tops among all freshmen in the country. The Bears have a history of centers who leave impact on games and welcome 6-foot-7 Letycia Vasconcelos, who ranked No. 36 on ESPN’s incoming freshman list.
 
South Carolina State – Tim Eatman takes over as head coach after seven seasons on the bench as an assistant at Rutgers. The Lady Bulldogs have been working to turn the tide after winning just seven games over the past two seasons and return their top two scorers in sophomores Nicole Gwynn (11.4 ppg, team-high 44 3-pointers) and Lovely Sonnier (9.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg, team-high 50 steals). South Carolina State doesn’t blink at the challenge of early-season road games as this year includes a trip west to the South Dakota Thanksgiving Classic and then seven straight road games before starting play in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Despite their struggles last season, the Lady Bulldogs dug in on defense, holding opponents to 30.4 percent shooting from 3-point range and 41.4 percent overall.
 
Utah – The Utes broke new ground last year in claiming a share of the Pac 12 regular season title, and the program celebrated a run to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2006. The preseason 2023-24 pick to win the league, Utah has the comfort of five returning starters, including last season’s player of the year in senior Alissa Pili, who averaged 20.7 ppg after transferring from USC. Another lineup feature is junior Gianna Kneepkens, who topped 15 points and five rebounds per game and drained 71 3-pointers. Three transfers add some significant depth, highlighted by ex-Wisconsin star Matyson Wilke, who is a multi-category asset but currently slowed by a back injury that isn’t expected to linger. Head coach Lynne Roberts (entering her ninth season at Utah) saw her team reach as high as No. 3 in last year’s AP poll.
 
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