Georgia basketball: Women’s team is gaining on SEC powerhouses

Georgia basketball saw its women’s team fall in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, and while it wasn’t the prettiest win, the Lady Dogs have a  bright future.

Head coach Joni Taylor has a strong group behind the senior leaders Que Morrison, Jenna Staiti, Malury Bates and Mikayla Coombs. Those four ladies were huge this season for the Lady Dogs, but those younger players have this gritty attitude on the court that makes the future so exciting.

Georgia finished the season 21-10 overall, 9-7 in SEC Play, 11-5 at home, 7-3 in away games and 3-2 on neutral sites.

The ladies made it back to the NCAA tournament and got to the second round, so they should be immensely proud of themselves for having such a great year.

Georgia basketball has its women’s team headed in the right direction.

South Carolina is on a different level right now, and some could even say that Tennessee is getting back to playing at an elite level, but the Lady Dogs are not far off contending with them and even beating them.

While that seems like a bold statement to make, the way Taylor continues to recruit at the high level she is and develop these young ladies, it’s only a matter of time before it’s Georgia’s opportunity to take it all.

She is recruiting against Dawn Staley and the other elite women coaches, but that doesn’t phase her. Taylor can go out and get who she needs, and there are some seriously talented basketball players.

The four seniors could all play in the WNBA or some form of women’s professional basketball. They all worked hard to improve their craft and get better each year. Morrison especially is someone who will likely have a long WNBA career.

Staiti has a chance to for sure, but we will see. Her defensive play and even her ability to shoot from wherever elevates her.

Who Taylor is returning impresses us the most because they are some of the most talented women to don the Red and Black.

Sarah Ashlee Barker is a rising junior, and she is scrappy. She will be a force next year. Barker averages 7.7 points a game for now, but that should increase next season. Reigan Richardson averaged 5.9 points, and the freshman grew a lot throughout this past season.

Jillian Hollingshead is another freshman that earned a lot of time on the court during her first season, and I expect her to take on a role in 2022. Kimora Jenkins is a guard who will be pivotal next season as the rising sophomore has the tangibles to be elite.

Seven ladies made plays throughout the 2021 season that will return for 2022 in a significant role. That number means Georgia will have five starters and more than enough bench players with the same talent level. The Dawgs will be deep and still relatively young.

South Carolina has quite the squad, but Georgia is putting together a scrappy bunch of playmakers to give the rest of the SEC a run for their money.

Taylor understands having a good culture only elevates the basketball program. She keeps Andy Landers’ legacy alive while also elevating it to a level where they will eventually win a national championship and some SEC titles.