2024-25 Shocker WBB Offseason/Preseason News

[1972Shocker]

Shockers to Play in First Emerald Coast Classic Women's Tournament

Wichita State is one of eight teams set to play in the inaugural Emerald Coast Classic Women's Basketball Tournament on Nov. 25 and 26 at Raider Arena on the campus of Northwest Florida State College.

The Shockers will join Alabama, Alabama State, UAB, Clemson, Creighton, Missouri and Syracuse for the holiday tournament in Niceville, Fla.

Two of the eight teams finished the 2023-24 season ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 with Syracuse ending the year at No. 20 and Creighton finishing at No. 23. Both teams, along with Alabama, made it to the Round of 32 in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Championships will be determined in two brackets. Alabama, Alabama State, Clemson and UAB will play in the Bay Bracket. Creighton, Missouri, Syracuse and Wichita State comprise the Beach Bracket.

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This looks to provided the Shocks with a couple of decent neutral site non-con games. These games on on Monday and Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving.

[SubGod22]

Go Shockers - Mark Your Calendars for Wichita State-Oklahoma in Charles Koch Arena

A 2024 matchup between the Shockers and Sooners is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 19 in Charles Koch Arena.

The last time the Sooners came to The Roundhouse, the Shockers claimed an 88-83 victory in 2019.

The Shockers are 7-15 all-time against Oklahoma and are seeking revenge after a loss in Norman a season ago when the Shockers took a first-half lead over then No. 23 Sooners, but Oklahoma's second-half effort gave them the win.

Game time and TV info will be announced at a later date. The remainder of the non-conference schedule will be released in the coming weeks.

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks' 6-6 transfer center has arrived on campus. She's a lefty.

[1972Shocker]

RH: Podcast with Parr, White, Ortiz on Shocker Women Basketball

Listen to the podcast

Wichita State women's basketball newcomers Kiyleyah "K.P." Parr, Bre'Yon White and Kyleigh Ortiz join us to talk about their first weeks as Shockers. They describe the family atmosphere that WSU coaches create during recruiting. Parr discusses why it's important to be remembered for more than basketball. White reveals her musical side and Ortiz tells us why she is Kevin Durant fan. We also talk TV shows, advice for young athletes and jersey numbers.

Parr is a freshman guard from Waco, Texas. La Vega High won back-to-back Class 4A titles. She scored 21 points and had eight steals in the championship game in March to earn tournament MVP honors.

White is a 5-foot-11 senior forward from Houston, Texas. She is a transfer from TCU.

Ortiz is a 5-foot-6 junior guard from Kansas, Oklahoma, and Coffeyville Community College. She earned second-team All-Jayhawk Conference honors as a sophomore after averaging 9.1 points and 2.2 assists for the Red Ravens, who went 20-12.

[1972Shocker]

2024-25 Roster:
Point Guards: 5-6 Jr. Jasmine Peaks**, 5-5 Fr. Kiyleyah Parr*
Combo Guards: 5-6 Gr. Taylor Jameson***
Shooting Guards: 5-7 Jr. Princess Anderson**, 5-6 Jr. Kyleigh Ortiz**
Big Guards/Wings: 5-11 So. Salese Blow, ? Fr. Fiona Diomonde*
Small Forwards: 6-0 Sr. Bre'Yon White***, 6-1 Sr. Ornella Niankan, 6-0 RJr. Carla Budane, 6-0 RSo. Jordan Jackson
Power Forwards: 6-2 Jr. Maimouna Sissoko**, 6-1 RJr. Jayla Murray
Post Players: 6-6 Sr. Aicha Ndour ***, 6-4 Sr. Ella Anciaux

New Additions: 9 including 3 D-1 Transfers***, 4 Juco Transfers**, and 2 Freshmen*

Returning Starters/Primary Subs: Salese Blow, Jayla Murray, Ornella Niankan

Returning Little Used Reserves: Ella Anciaux, Carla Budane, Jordan Jackson

Note: Ella Anciaux did average 20 MPG over the last 6 games last year after Sierra Morrow left the team. Whether or not she remains in anything close to that kind of a role remains to be seen.

Coming off a 10-22 (5-13 AAC) year it may not be such a bad thing to have so many newcomers although losing sophomore forward Daniella Abies who led the team in scoring and rebounding isn't ideal.

The Shocks are very small at the 1 and 2 guard spots. Salese will probably play 30+ MPG at the 3. Princess Anderson put up a lot of points at Pratt averaging 23.7 PPG as a freshman and 26.7 PPG as a sophomore. How her game will translate at the D-1 level remains to be seen. Neither the 6-6 Ndour or the 6-4 Anciaux have shown they can use their size to impact games so far in their careers. Will see if that changes much this year. The 6-2 Sissoko average 16.5 PPG and 12.6 RPG as a sophomore at Cloud County and would seem like the heir apparent to Daniella Abies.

A lot of unknowns at this point but my WAG at a depth chart, keeping in mind a have only seen 4 of these 12 players play, would be:

1. Jasmine Peaks, Taylor Jameson, Kiyleyah Parr
2. Taylor Jameson, Princess Anderson, Kyleigh Ortiz
3. Salese Blow, Bre White, Ornella Niankan
4. Jayla Murray, Ornella Niankan, Bre White
5. Maimouna Sissoko, Aicha Ndour, Ella Anciaux

I think a redshirt is possible for Fiona Diomonde. Not seeing much of a role for Carla Budane and Jordan Jackson except as practice players and supportive teammates.

That depth chart would allow Coach Nooner to rotate 12 players in and out of the lineup to varying degrees. Last year Coach Nooner generally played 10 to 11 players in a game with the bulk of the minutes spread over 7 or 8 players.

You would hope we could improve on 5 non-con wins and 5 AAC wins in 2024-25. Seems like a pretty low bar. With all these newcomers and the loss of Dani Abies I am expecting the Shocks will be picked near the bottom of the AAC in the preseason rankings. The Shocks finish 13th this past year ahead of only Tulane.

[WuDrWu]

My apologies if this is a repeat, but the Roundhouse podcast on 3 of the new players is worth your time, especially the middle of the 3 with Bre White. If you're not a fan after listening, then you probably should reassess your thinking. Impressive young woman.

[1972Shocker]

My apologies if this is a repeat, but the Roundhouse podcast on 3 of the new players is worth your time, especially the middle of the 3 with Bre White. If you're not a fan after listening, then you probably should reassess your thinking. Impressive young woman.

I agree with your comments on Bre White. Sounds like she could be a real team leader. Unfortunately, we only have her for 1 year.

[1972Shocker]

[1972Shocker]

Looks like Jayla Murray is going without the knee brace this year.

[1972Shocker]

The Lady Shocks have 9 new faces on their roster this year plus a returning redshirt, Jordan Jackson, who did not see the floor last year. Jordan was a D-II transfer so not sure how much of a factor she might be.

They have been posting a series of tweets showing a very brief glimpse of these newcomers:

And a quick look at the French Freshman, Fiona Diomonde

[1972Shocker]

Wichita State Women's Basketball AAC Pairings:
Home Only
South Florida
Rice
Florida Atlantic

Away Only
East Carolina
Temple
Memphis

Home and Away
UAB
Charlotte
Tulane
North Texas
Tulsa
UTSA

[1972Shocker]

Looks like Fiona Diomonde, the final 2024-25 roster piece, has arrived from France. I know less about Fiona, by far, than any of the other 14 players on the rosters. So she is kind of a mystery for now. But as a 5-10 guard she potentially feels a need for an upsized guard to go along with Salese Blow.

[1972Shocker]

A League of Their Own players had nothing on these Lady Shockers. Gracefully and Grandfully.

[SubGod22]

Go Shockers - RH: Podcast with Peaks, Jameson, Anderson on Shocker Basketball

Listen to the podcast

Jasmine Peaks, Taylor Jameson and Princess Anderson continue our series on Shocker basketball newcomers.

Jameson, who played at Heights, talks about returning home for her final season. Peak explains why Stephen Curry is her favorite NBA player. Anderson, who played at Pratt Community College, talks about how her connection with assistant coach Antwain Scales from junior college.

We also talk about why they chose Wichita State, Caitlin Clark and summer workouts.

Wichita State leaves for the Virgin Islands later this month where it will play two exhibition games.

[1972Shocker]

I don't think I had heard about the Virgin Islands trip. Only 2 games but with all the newcomers every little bit of competition will help.