UVA women open Wednesday with new faces adding to experienced roster

By Clay Meeks
JerryRatcliffe.com Correspondent

The weather’s getting colder, but John Paul Jones Arena is warming up for another season of Cavalier basketball. UVA’s women will open their regular season against Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday in Charlottesville, followed by three more home games before the team heads to the Cayman Islands Classic on Nov. 24th.

There’s much to look forward to for this refreshed, yet recognizable Virginia lineup, which returns with fifth-year veteran forward Camryn Taylor, who averaged 13.9 points per game in the 2022-23 season, along with fifth-year post player Sam Brunelle, who starred at nearby William Monroe High School before starting her career at Notre Dame. Remaining seniors Alexia Smith, Kaydan Lawson, and top rebounder Mir McLean will add to a strong, experienced group of athletes that will be looking to make a highly competitive push to win all of the way through this winter.

The squad this year is looking to showcase some exciting new talent as well, from both local and abroad, with the additions of guards Olivia McGhee from Louisa and McDonald’s All-American Kymora Johnson, who starred at St. Anne’s-Belfield in Charlottesville. They will join forward Edessa Noyan of Södertälje, Sweden, in making up this freshman core. Junior guard Jiliian Brown, with 34 starts in her previous two seasons at Northwestern will also be appearing in this new Virginia lineup.

Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton (referred to as Coach Mox) will likely be looking to lessen the effect of injuries on her lineup this season (an issue that left her with little more than just a starting lineup last year) through the players mentioned, as well as two other gains from the transfer portal in 6-foot-7 center Taylor Lauterbach and sophomore guard Paris Clark.

Coach Mox recently addressed the team’s concerns with injuries, positing that some of the residual medical issues from the offseason may initially affect rotations, stating, however, that, “hopefully by the end of this month, we’ll have just about everybody back, but I don’t know.” Coach Mox is also assured in the depth of this 14-player roster and their ability to “step up” when faced with the potential setbacks injuries will bring.

In last Thursday’s exhibition, a 102-51 victory against Pitt-Johnstown, Virginia had four inactives: McLean, Clark, Lawson, and Brunelle, who are all potential starters when they return.

The belief in the versatility and range of the talent present is definitely felt within this roster, with Taylor citing that this group can “take a lot of different things from each other.” Taylor’s faith in the capability of each of her teammates is obvious. She values that there’s “no hierarchy” present and states that in her position as a veteran, alongside her other teammates who’ve been with the program for extended periods, the upperclassmen “can kind of give that experience and kind of teach a lot of the young girls about the culture and what we know, things like that. But they can also bring in a new perspective, too, of like, what they’ve been through and what they see, so it’s a good mesh of everything.”

Coach Mox referenced some of the team’s offseason bonding and activities in her press conference as contributing to the chemistry present, saying, “I just think that our culture is thriving right now.”

It’s always reassuring to an entire program when coaches and players alike are confident in their respect and bonds with each other, and it seems Virginia fans have nothing to worry about.

There also shouldn’t be any doubt remaining in this team’s inside-the-paint presence. Even with the roster struggles last season, the team was still 50th in the nation in blocks per game and 23rd in rebounding per game. Coach Mox called the bigs “a big part of our success.” She also believes that the team’s lack of size can contribute beneficially, as some of her players can be in their “natural positions” more effectively. 

The offense, though not as proven as the other side of the ball, will definitely have a chance to shine, with guards like Johnson being able to score the ball at all three levels. Taylor says she expects the drive-and-kick to be much more threatening this season with the added 3-point shooters. Virginia struggled in this area last year, at 27.9 percent.

Overall, it is reasonable to expect both entertaining and competitive basketball from these women this season, despite a difficult schedule, which sees them facing some tough competition down the road.