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Joyce Edwards leads the way in 2024 hoops recruiting rankings

Joyce Edwards debuts as the No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2024 after an impressive summer with AAU powerhouse FBC United. (Mina Park/Just Women’s Sports)

Prospects in the Class of 2024 are set to embark on a new chapter of high school basketball as they enter their junior seasons.

Coaches from the nation’s top programs have had an eye on these recruits for quite some time. Just Women’s Sports presents the first round of recruiting rankings for the 2024 girls basketball prospects, a mere two seasons away from joining the college ranks.

Click here to see the latest top-25 rankings from the Class of 2023.

1 | Joyce Edwards, Camden (S.C.)
6-foot-2 forward

Edwards is the reigning USA TODAY HSSA Girls Rising Star of the Year and is a fixture on the court for both Camden and AAU powerhouse FBC United. Edwards can navigate her way around the rim better than any member of her class. During this summer’s Under Armour Association Finals, she ensured that FBC United advanced to the championship by standing out in a crowd of many of the most elite players in the high school ranks.

2 | Olivia Olson, Benilde Saint Margaret (Minn.)
6-foot point guard

Olson is the only player on this list with a verbal commitment. Sold on Kim Barnes-Arico’s vision after a Labor Day visit, Olson is one of the highest-ranking commits in Michigan women’s basketball history. She chose the Wolverines over UConn, Duke, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Minnesota, Oregon, Stanford, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

3 | Jaloni Cambridge, The Ensworth School (Tenn.)
5-6 point guard

Another FBC United standout, Cambridge was named National Sophomore of the Year by MaxPreps after averaging 17.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Cambridge started every game this summer for the U17 national team, leading the squad with 16 points and nine assists in the gold-medal game.

4 | Kendall Dudley, Sidwell Friends School (District of Columbia)
6-1 wing

Kiki Rice, Jadyn Donovan and now Dudley. A member of this summer’s inaugural Team Durant Girls 17U roster, Dudley is among the star upperclassmen for Sidwell’s powerhouse program. Those who followed the Quakers’ undefeated run will remember her 18-point, eight-rebound performance at the inaugural State Champions Invitational in April. She also served on this past year’s Jr. NBA Court of Leaders.

5 | Taliyah Parker, South Grand Prairie (Texas)
6-1 guard

Parker is a new addition to South Grand Prairie this year after transferring from Putnam City West (Okla.). One of the most versatile guards in her class, she has offers from 30 schools around the country, including from each of the Power 5 conferences.

6 | Kiyomi McMiller, Life Center Academy (N.J.)
5-7 point guard

Originally from the talent-packed DMV area, McMiller has an unmatched handle as a rising junior. During her sophomore season, she backed it up with 27.1 points per game. Her speed and ball awareness are already advanced, and wherever she lands at the next level will be able to use her unique skill set right away. McMiller’s creativity as a guard separates her from competitors and high-level recruits alike.

7 | Sarah Strong, Grace Academy (N.C.)
6-2 forward

What a year it’s been for Strong, who won a Class 1A state title with Grace Academy in the 2021-22 season. During that campaign, she averaged a double-double with 25.5 points and 17.6 rebounds per game while shooting 42 percent from the 3-point line. The daughter of Danny Strong, the former NC State star and international player, and Allison Feaster — who played in the WNBA for the Charlotte Sting, Los Angeles Sparks and Indiana Fever — is having a tremendous 2022, having also won a gold medal with the Team USA U18 3×3 squad in August.

8 | Adhel Tac, South Grand Prairie (Texas)
6-5 post

Another formidable member on the South Grand Prairie roster, Tac is the total package — her height is only a fraction of what makes her an intriguing prospect. On both ends of the court, the paint belongs to her. In Tac’s sophomore season, she averaged 14.1 points per game on 63.4 percent shooting.

9 | Blanca Thomas, Charlotte Catholic (N.C.)
6-5 post

Thomas possesses both size and skill. As a sophomore, she averaged a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds per game. Her hustle and dominance beneath the rim have earned her plenty of attention, but in late August, she narrowed her list of schools to 10: Duke, Louisville, Michigan, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Stanford, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.

10 | Britt Prince, Elkhorn North (Neb.)
5-11 point guard

Prince also runs on the cross country and track and field teams, excelling in both sports. Countless athletes benefit from playing multiple sports, but endurance goes a long way on the basketball court. In 2021-22, Prince helped lead Elkhorn North to its second straight state title, averaging 24.1 points, seven rebounds, 4.3 assists and 4.4 steals per game and shooting 40.4 percent from beyond the arc and 83.7 percent from the charity stripe. Oh, and she also picked up a state title in the 800m with a time of 2 minutes, 17.43 seconds.

11 | Allie Ziebell, Neenah (Wis.)
5-10 guard

This summer, AAU team Wisconsin Flight Elite took home the 17U Nike Girls EYBL Louisville title after Ziebell dropped a 30-piece on 10-of-12 shooting. Ziebell is a pure shooter, unafraid of tough defenders. During her sophomore season, no girls’ basketball player in the entire state of Wisconsin averaged as many points as she did (30.2 points per game).

12 | Jordan Lee, Saint Mary’s (Calif.)
6-3 forward

Lee is often first in line to celebrate with her teammates, but there’s a lot to appreciate about her game. She’s one of the best players California has to offer, and last season she averaged 18.1 points and seven rebounds per game. A multi-sport athlete, Lee also holds her school’s track and field records in the 800m (2:17.03) and the 1600m (5:02.75).

13 | Kennedy Smith, Etiwanda (Calif.)
6-2 wing

Etiwanda consistently develops top talent with its emphasis on work ethic and embracing tough competition, and Smith exemplifies that. When she was younger, Smith operated in the post. However, as she’s expanded her skill set over the first half of her high school career, she’s adjusted. She can succeed anywhere her team needs her. Smith demonstrated that last year when she averaged 18.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks per game as Etiwanda went 29-1.

14 | Mikayla Blakes, Rutgers Prep (N.J.)
5-9 guard

Named to the Skyland Conference’s 2021 All-Division First Team in cross country, Blakes will give any player on the East Coast a run for their money, and she’ll most likely outrun them, too. On the court for Rutgers Prep, Blakes averaged more than 18 points and four rebounds over 32 games in her sophomore season. Guard skills run in the family, as she’s the younger sister of Duke guard Jaylen Blakes.

15 | Maddy McDaniel, Bishop McNamara (Md.)
5-8 point guard

An honorable mention to The Washington Post’s 2021-22 Winter All-Met Team, the deft McDaniel impacts games with her ability to facilitate against even the stiffest of competition in the DMV region. After she received an invitation to participate in Steph Curry’s summer camp and the UA Next Elite 24 game, it’s obvious that McDaniel is on the rise.

16 | Liv McGill, Hopkins (Minn.)
5-7 point guard

McGill is the next elite point guard to step up for Hopkins, and she’s equipped with all the necessary skills. A vocal leader with a relentless defensive motor, McGill runs the game with a level of enthusiasm that goes above and beyond most.

17 | Toby Lee Fournier, Crestwood Secondary (Ontario, Canada)
6-2 forward

In Team Canada’s U17 World Cup game against Korea, Fournier turned in a double-double of 32 points and 17 rebounds. She also had five assists, three steals and two blocks, not to mention a now-viral dunk after one of those steals. Fournier was a consistent contributor to the eventual fourth-place team.

18 | Katie Fiso, Garfield (Wash.)
5-10 point guard

Fiso handles business on defense and leads the charge at the point. She always seems to be one step ahead of her competition. As a sophomore, Fiso led Garfield to a Class 3A state championship.

19 | Mackenly Randolph, Sierra Canyon (Calif.)
6-1 forward

During her time with this summer’s Team USA U17 gold-medal team, Randolph finished with a team-high 60 percent three-point shooting percentage. She averaged 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds across seven games for the national team. Randolph is also the daughter of two-time NBA All-Star Zach Randolph, who spent 18 years in the league. A true student of the Southern California basketball scene, Randolph played for Team Mamba, which was coached by the late Kobe Bryant.

20 | Justice Carlton, Seven Lakes (Texas)
6-2 forward

Carlton is truly a well-rounded forward. In her sophomore season for Seven Lakes, Carlton averaged 25.5 points and 2.9 blocks per game. She’s an effective scorer from all over the court, whether she’s behind the arc or driving into traffic beneath the rim.

21 | Kennedy Ume, McDonogh School (Md.)
6-4 forward

Ume was named a finalist for the U16 Team in 2021 but didn’t ultimately make a national team roster until this summer, when she won gold in Hungary after averaging 6.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game with the U17 team. She also totaled 10 steals across seven games.

22 | Kate Koval, Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.)
6-5 post

Born in Kyiv, Koval helped Ukraine’s U18 3×3 team to the quarterfinals this summer. Koval is a strong, physical big with a high ceiling. Last season, she averaged a double-double with 18.7 points and 12 rebounds for Long Island Lutheran.

23 | Morgan Cheli, Archbishop Mitty (Calif.)
6-2 guard

Cheli is a disruptive guard who’s managed to make a name for herself both in Northern California at the storied Archbishop Mitty High School and on the global stage. In July, she joined her high school coach, Sue Phillips, and led the gold-medal U17 national team in steals, averaging 3 per game.

24 | Zamareya Jones, North Pitt (N.C.)
5-7 point guard

The third FBC United star in this round of recruiting rankings, Jones is a bold shooter who happens to score on most of her attempts. During her sophomore season at North Pitt, she averaged 24.3 points per game while shooting 61 percent from the field. Her social media bios all read “Heart over Height,” and those who have seen her play can attest to that fact.

25 | Tajianna Roberts, La Jolla Country Day (Calif.)
5-10 guard

A standout guard for hoops powerhouse La Jolla Country Day, Roberts is used to playing against high-level players. She averaged 14 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while sharing the spotlight with 2023 standouts Breya Cunningham and Jada Williams. Roberts is a focused defender with a smooth shot and a high basketball IQ. She’s also the only player on this list to have delivered a TED Talk.

Caroline Makauskas is a contributing writer for Just Women’s Sports. She also writes about college basketball for Blue Ribbon Sports and covers a variety of sports on her TikTok @cmakauskas. Follow her on Twitter @cmakauskas.

London Derby Pits Arsenal Against Chelsea as WSL Debate Brews

Arsenal's Kim Little talks to her team in a huddle.
Arsenal trail Chelsea by seven points in the WSL standings. (Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

An age-old rivalry headlines the WSL this weekend, as second-place Arsenal gears up for Sunday's Stamford Bridge showdown against league leaders — and reported recipient of USWNT star Naomi Girma — Chelsea FC.

Both clubs are on an undefeated tear, with Chelsea yet to register a loss halfway through the 22-match 2024/25 season.

Meanwhile, newly minted head coach Renée Slegers's Arsenal will attempt to avenge the Gunners' lone loss — a 2-1 October stumble to first-season WSL boss Sonia Bompastor's Blues.

Chelsea and Arsenal's dominance goes beyond the WSL, as both sides also advanced to the semifinals of the League Cup with massive shutout wins this past Wednesday.

WSL attacker and USWNT star Catarina Macario looks on during a Chelsea match.
International stars like the USWNT's Cat Macario give Chelsea an edge in WSL play. (Harriet Lander/Chelsea FC/Getty Images)

Wright shines spotlight on WSL investment debate

A product of a system that often places men's and women's teams under the same leadership, Chelsea and Arsenal have set the standard for the top-flight UK league — and cast other clubs in their shadow.

As some WSL teams continue to snag top international stars, those seeing departures risk falling by the wayside — putting into question a system that might be inhibiting the league's growth and parity.

"In England, with the women's league, I believe if you gave some owners the opportunity to back out of supporting the women's game, I think they would, simply because I feel like they're all about profit," Arsenal legend and outspoken women's football advocate Ian Wright told The World Economic Forum in Davros this week.

Wright acknowledged that the women's game, which suffered from a near 50-year FA ban, is still "playing catch up on every level, infrastructure, training, coaching and every level of development."

"Because of the past it wasn't allowed to be built up, so we are trying to do that now. So, it needs owners, individuals and corporates that will invest."

Currently, the English FA is considering expanding the lower tiers of the women's football pyramid to incentivize development and professionalization at the club level.

Arsenal player Lotte Wubben-Moy battles with Mayra Ramirez of Chelsea at the 2023/24 FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup Final.
Another London Derby lights up the WSL this weekend. (Copa/Getty Images)

How to watch WSL rivals Chelsea vs. Arsenal in the London Derby

Sunday's WSL rivalry match pits the league-leading Blues against the Gunners at 7:25 AM ET, with live coverage on ESPN2.

Unrivaled Teams Eye First Wins as WNBA Stars Hit the 3×3 Court

Chelsea Gray of Unrivaled team Rose BC controls the ball
Rose BC is one of three Unrivaled teams still searching for their first win. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball is back, as a second slate of weekend games shines a spotlight on the new league's three winless teams as they rally for redemption.

Phantom BC, Mist BC, and Rose BC are all 0-2 out of the gate, with the six-team league evenly divided between the undefeated and the winless after last week's debut.

At least one of the three will end up in the win column on Friday night, with the Mist and Phantom squaring off in the first game of the doubleheader.

Both lineups contain serious firepower, with Unrivaled co-founder Breanna Stewart leading the Mist alongside sharpshooter Jewell Loyd, whose 20 points per game have her currently in fourth-place on the league's stat sheet. The Phantom boasts the talents of Sabrina Ionescu and Brittney Griner.

While both have fallen victim to more cohesive game-plans, the Phantom in particular have struggled, posting a league-low average of 58.5 points per game to ultimately drop their first two outings by an average of 29 points.

Saturday's action sees Chelsea Gray and Angel Reese's Rose BC step into the spotlight, going up against a Mist team facing back-to-back matchups.

The Rose roster features two of the offseason league's top scorers in Gray and Kahleah Copper, who each averaged 14.5 points per game through Unrivaled's opening weekend. However, they'll need to lock in on defense to quiet Mist standout DiJonai Carrington's shooting in transition.

Vinyl's Rhyne Howard dribbles around Rose's Kahleah Copper in their Unrivaled game.
Rhyne Howard leads the Vinyl with 23.5 points per game. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Friday's Unrivaled doubleheader tests undefeated teams

The second game of Friday's doubleheader flips the script as two teams put their undefeated starts on the line.

The Laces, led by Kayla McBride's 24.5 points per game, will take on a Vinyl side that rosters three of the league's Top 10 scorers — more than any other Unrivaled team. The trio of Rhyne Howard, Dearica Hamby, and Arike Ogunbowale are poised to cool the Laces' hot start.

How to watch Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball games

Unrivaled's second weekend slate tips off on Friday with the Phantom vs. the Mist at 7:15 PM ET, before the Laces play the Vinyl at 8:15 PM ET. Live coverage of both games will air on TNT.

LSU Visits Rival South Carolina in Top 5 NCAA Basketball Battle

SEC basketball players Flau'jae Johnson and Last-Tear Poa of LSU high-five on the court
LSU is one of just two undefeated DI women's basketball teams left this season. (Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)

One of the NCAA's fiercest rivalries hits the hardwood on Friday, when undefeated No. 5 LSU travels to No. 2 South Carolina for yet another high-stakes SEC basketball battle.

Anticipation for the matchup has been building since Wednesday, when the NCAA postponed the game. Originally set for Thursday, winter weather disruptions in Louisiana delayed LSU's ability to safely travel to Columbia.

"It's a rivalry, it really is," newly re-signed South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said earlier this week. "It's not only a rivalry between the programs on the floor, but it's a rivalry with the fanbases."

A championship-fueled SEC basketball clash

With the last three national championships under their belts,​ LSU (2023) and South Carolina (2022, 2024) have seen WNBA superstars like Angel Reese and Aliyah Boston pass through their ranks.

This season's lot is just as talented, with LSU's Aneesah Morrow and Flau'jae Johnson preparing to lead the Tigers against the a dominant Gamecock defense anchored by team rebounds leader Chloe Kitts.

Coach Kim Mulkey's roster will have their work cut out for them in Columbia, where South Carolina is on a 68-game home winning streak. Even more, the Gamecocks haven't lost to the Tigers since January 2012, winning 16 consecutive meetings between the pair.

That said, while last year's South Carolina team ran the table on their way to a national title, LSU is one of just two Division I teams to still hold a perfect season. The Tigers' 20-0 record is the second-best start in program history, just below their 2022/23 team who strung together 23 wins before South Carolina handed them a first season loss.

If Staley's squad can do it again on Friday, they'll earn an eighth victory over currently ranked teams — and third over a Top 10 roster — so far this season. Their lone loss came at the hands of No. 1 UCLA, the only other program still holding an undefeated record.

On the other hand, LSU has just two victories over ranked teams so far, with Friday's matchup marking their first Top 10 test of the season.

Angel Reese  of LSU and Kamilla Cardoso of South Carolina competing at the NCAA basketball SEC Conference Tournament Championship
The NCAA basketball rivalry between LSU and South Carolina has spanned decades. (Jim Dedmon/USA TODAY Sports)

How to watch LSU vs. South Carolina college basketball

LSU tips off against South Carolina at 5 PM ET on Friday, airing live on ESPN.

Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball Shatters TV Viewership Records

Rose BC's Kahleah Copper lays up a shot during an Unrivaled game.
The Friday debut of Unrivaled saw record TV viewership on TNT. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Friday's Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball debut was an unequivocal success for TV partner TNT Sports, as the new offseason 3x3 league's opening lineup became the most-watched women's basketball games in the broadcast network's history.

The doubleheader logged viewership averages of 313,000 and 311,000, respectively, with the first game peaking at 364,000.

Notably, these numbers do not include viewers on Max, where every Unrivaled game is available to stream live under the league's six-year, $100 million media deal with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).

Unrivaled star Shakira Austin #1 of the Lunar Owls drives against Aaliyah Edwards #3 of the Mist during the first half at The Mediapro Studio on January 17, 2025 in Medley, Florida.
Unrivaled debuted to great acclaim late last week. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

In 2022, WNBA games averaged 372,000 viewers across Disney networks, with the league later surpassing 500,000 across ABC, ESPN, and CBS in 2023 before reaching a 1.19 million average on ESPN in 2024.

Unlike the well-established WNBA, which is on the cusp of entering its 29th year, Unrivaled is a new-look product in its first-ever season. With that in mind, Unrivaled's initial numbers are promising, particularly for a league that's prioritizing long-term wins over instant gratification.

"I think we put ourselves in a great position to be successful right away, but it’s a marathon,"  league president Alex Bazzell told The Athletic before Unrivaled’s launch. "We’re not running out there from Day 1 trying to get millions of viewers out of the gate."

One piece of the Unrivaled fan engagement puzzle

Viewership is just one way the league is measuring fan engagement, with Unrivaled also turning an eye toward social media metrics.

"[Viewership is] not fully indicative of what is the overall fan interest because there’s so many ways to consume leagues and teams and highlights," noted Bazzell.

It's one reason that partnering with WBD was so appealing to the new league. The media giant's already robust sports social media channels are elevating Unrivaled content across platforms to an established, sports-hungry audience.

To that end, Unrivaled’s opening weekend content garnered 31 million views across WBD’s social channels and fueled a 59% viewership boost of the media giant's women's sports-specific TikTok account.

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