By Dave Johnson
W&M Athletics

After winning 18 games and earning a top-four seed in the CAA women's basketball tournament, William & Mary's top three scorers are now preparing to cross the stage at next week's graduation ceremonies. That includes grad guards Riley Casey and Sydney Wagner, who together combined for more than half of W&M's point production. Plus, senior Bre Bellamy, who started nearly every game she played in Green and Gold and provided the squad some serious experience in the post. 

So, Tribe coach Erin Dickerson Davis did what most coaches are doing these days — turned to the portal.

With an up-and-coming program to sell, Davis added three Division I transfers to her roster. Those three, plus a trio of freshmen who signed in the fall, will join nine returning players that want to continue what they started last season.

"The girls returning, they tasted winning, and they've been working out the whole offseason with the intention of continuing to win," Davis said. "We got a really good draw in the portal. I can't wait for the summertime to see how we can jell it together."

The most familiar name is Nylah Young, a 5-foot-11 forward who had 1,316 points and 290 rebounds in four seasons (94 games) at Hampton University. Young, who will be studying for her M.S. in business analytics, gives the Tribe some needed strength and scoring in the post.

Young averaged 17.1 points in her last 16 games of the 2022-23 season. She had 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting and eight rebounds in a loss to W&M on Feb. 3.

Combo guard Bella Nascimento (Manhattan) and wing Anahi-Lee Cauley (Villanova) join the program with two remaining years of eligibility.

Nascimento averaged 9.5 points a game last season, primarily coming off the bench. Cauley had moments but didn't get a high level of playing time for the Wildcats, who went 30-7 and advanced to the Sweet 16 last year.

"I think Bella just wanted a new start," Davis said. "When she came to campus and met our staff and had a chance to watch our players work out, she saw the intensity of our players. She felt like she had a good connection with the girls on the team.

"Anahi definitely had a winning culture at Villanova but she didn't have the opportunity to play. She's a biochemistry major and uber-smart. Coming to a school like William & Mary will help her academically and athletically."

In the fall signing period, W&M added 5-10 wing Cate Carlson (Virginia Beach), 5-7 guard Cassidy Geddes (Hickory, N.C.) and 5-3 point guard Monet Dance (Roswell, Ga.).

The returnees are led by seniors Kayla Beckwith, Rebekah Frisby-Smith, Caitlin Wingertzahn and Lanni Brown and sophomores Alexa Mikeska and Kayla Rolph. Also back is sophomore forward Dani McTeer, who made the CAA's All-Rookie team in 2021-22 but missed last season with an injury.

Last season, with Casey and Wagner carrying the offense, nearly 38% of William & Mary's field goal attempts were from behind the 3-point arc. That number is almost guaranteed to drop with the frontcourt now W&M's strength.

"That is definitely going to play into some of the offenses we run this season," Davis said. "The style of play should be the same. We're bigger, and we're a little more athletic than we were last season.

"But my vets were my combo guards, and now my rookies are my combos. And my vets are in the paint."

The most experienced player in the backcourt is Mikeska, a sophomore who started 23 of W&M's 30 games and was second on the team with 88 assists and 40 steals. She will be expected to score and lead more as a sophomore.

"We tried to teach her last season and let her understand how important it was for her to lead and to score," Davis said. "Now she has to kind of step into that role. Last year helped her feel confident doing it and hopefully when the newbies come in this summer, she'll take that role and drive with it."