After such an inspiring 2023-24 campaign that included a toe-to-toe battle with the National runners-up Iowa, the WVU Women’s Basketball team will attempt to make even more noise in their upcoming season.

Last year, the Mountaineers finished the season 25-8 and made the second round of the NCAA tournament. This all came during the first year of the Mark Kellogg era in Morgantown. It also had a variety of players win individual awards for their outstanding performance.

JJ Quinerly was recognized as the Big 12 Defensive Player of the year and was a First Team All-Big 12 team. Her teammate in the backcourt, Jordan Harrison, was also a All-Big 12 Defensive team selection and a All-Big 12 second team selection to go with that.

While Kellogg will be returning most of his key players in the stat columns, there are some areas of question to help round out the team should they want to make a very deep run come March.

The first question needing answer for Kellogg is to find a leader to replace Jayla Hemingway. Hemingway had spent three seasons at WVU and really stepped up into a leadership position last season, taking a role off the bench after starting most games a season prior. Her impact went beyond her play on the floor and every successful team needs a Jayla-like player.

The other biggest question that was evident from last season was the size on the roster. The big 12 has some of the best post players in the country and Kellogg’s team struggled at times to defend the paint and rebound the basketball.

6-foot-4 Danelle Arigbabu could be a potential name to help fill that role. The center from Germany transferred up from the JUCO level and her progress throughout the year really spoke to Kellogg. Continuing that same progress throughout all of the off-season could prove vital for the Mountaineers’ upcoming success.

Another piece added in the offseason was another 6-foot-3 forward from France, Célia Rivière. The more size Kellogg can have off his bench to use when needed could be much important.

With Arigbabu and Rivière, the Mountaineers will also be keeping 6-foot-3 Kylee Blacksten who started all games at center this past season. However, by adding more size, it would allow for Blacksten to play more of a four-role where she can stretch the floor and give Kellogg more options.

A key addition to the team to help fill a potential hole in the upcoming season was Sydney Shaw who transferred from Auburn. Shaw’s defensive ability will fit right in with Kellogg’s full-court press and high turnover forcing style. But more importantly, she will add depth at the point guard spot.

The 5-foot-9 point guard can give Jordan Harrison, who averaged 32 minutes per game, some rest at bringing the ball up the floor. It will also help serve a reliable second option for Quinerly who sometimes got herself into foul-trouble during games.

All together, it is very easy to say that the upcoming WVU Women’s Basketball roster has gotten much better for this upcoming season. However, there is still some time in the offseason to add potential pieces that could be needed as no team is ever perfect.

One thing will be for sure with this team in Kellogg’s second season in town, they are going to be really, really fun.