“This ain’t the '50s anymore.” That’s what Ohio State guard, Sammy Prahalis (who, by the way, is on this list), told us just a few weeks back in regards to the evolution of women’s basketball. Honestly, we couldn’t have said it any better. To put it simply, you’re sorely missing out if you haven’t been watching. Leading the charge is the electrifying play of some of the nation’s phenomenal guards. And who better to give you the rundown than WNBA All-Star, Olympic gold medalist, and ESPN analyst Kara Lawson. Widely considered to be one of the greatest guards in women’s basketball history, (and known to break a few ankles herself), Lawson dishes on the illest ballers in the nation as the Women’s NCAA Tournament tips off this weekend.
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5. Sammy Prahalis, Ohio State
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Position (Class): Guard (Senior)
Height: 5-foot-7
Stats: 20.1 PPG, 6.4 APG
Kara Lawson's Take: “Prahalis is fantastic in any one-on-one situation. She finds ways to get open. A crafty guard with great skill, maybe the best skill of any guard in the nation, she can go either way to the hoop using her killer cross-over to set up shots for herself and her teammates. This season, she's so much more effective than she was earlier in her collegiate career. She's always been able to deliver flashy highlights but this season she is much more effective overall.”
4. Chelsea Gray, Duke
Position (Class): Guard (Sophomore)
Height: 5-foot-11
Stats: 12 PPG, 6 APG
Kara Lawson's Take: “Gray has improved a ton over the last couple of years. I saw her play in high school so I've been watching her since she was 14. She backed up Jasmine Thomas (now in the WNBA) over the past couple years and this year she is really showing off her skill. She's quick, has the ability to get into the lane, is a high-level passer, strong, fast, and determined. She's had a great year for a young Duke team.”
3. Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame
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Position (Class): Guard (Junior)
Height: 5-foot-9
Stats: 17.0 PPG, 5.7 APG
Kara Lawson's Take: “She has really made a point to improve all-around every year and that's what I appreciate the most. Her efficiency shooting the ball is better, her assist-to-turnover ratio is up by a lot, and she has such a better feel and understanding of the game. She's just a really hard player to guard. She likes to go left but she has improved going right over the past couple years. More than anything, she's a competitor. Aside from her all-around skills, she just wants to win.”
2. Odyssey Sims, Baylor
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Position (Class): Guard (Sophomore)
Height: 5-foot-9
Stats: 14.8 PPG, 5.6 APG
Kara Lawson's Take: “Sims is a real talent. The thing I like most about her is her edge. She's kinda mean and doesn't have any sympathy. She'll go at you, go at you, go at you, and then go at you some more to see how much you can take. A tough, tough player, Sims will continually exploit match-ups. She's just relentless. Often, she gets overshadowed by the best center in the world (Brittney Griner) but Sims is the real deal.”
1. Riquna Williams, Miami
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Position (Class): Guard (Senior)
Height: 5-foot-7
Stats: 16.6 PPG, 2.6 APG
Kara Lawson's Take: “When I think of an ankle-breaker, I think of someone who can make her defender fall down and look silly – that's what Riquna does. Williams is great at breaking down any player one-on-one in the country; give her the ball on an island and she'll do what she wants. She and teammate Shenise Johnson have had to create a ton for themselves as well as their role players over their whole career and that says a lot. Williams is as fun to watch as any player in the country.”
