How often does Maryland women’s basketball guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough think about last year’s second-round NCAA tournament loss?
“Every time I was in the gym,” she said, “which was every day.”
For Walker-Kimbrough and fellow senior Brionna Jones, the loss to Washington in Xfinity Center was the first time their team didn’t reach the Final Four.
It left “a bad taste in their mouth,” Walker-Kimbrough said, but this year, a new-look team with balance from talented upperclassmen and a heralded freshman class provides a chance to move past that feeling.
“I don’t think you ever forget that feeling and that sting,” coach Brenda Frese said. “But for me, when we start a new season, that was a past team, and this is a new season with new players.”
And there are plenty of new faces to focus on.
The Terps welcomed six freshmen to the roster this season, representing the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation. The group features three McDonald’s All-Americans who were ranked in the top 25 nationally by ESPN, two of whom will likely start.
Destiny Slocum will be the team’s starting point guard, and guard Kaila Charles was also in the starting lineup for the team’s two exhibitions earlier this month. They lead a group that will look to replace the contributions from four seniors last year, including two starters and the Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year.
The team said the freshmen have met their lofty expectations in the preseason, including during a trip to Italy this summer to play two exhibition games.
“I don’t know if too many of the seniors [around the country] can say their freshmen class pushes them,” Walker-Kimbrough said. “But day in and day out, they push me to be the best Shatori, and I’m honored to have that.”
Along with the freshmen, Baylor transfer guard Ieshia Small is eligible this season. That means of seven of the team’s 12 healthy players are new faces. Frese said she’s most looking forward to “blending” the team together.
“The chemistry from going to Italy in the summer, I think the chemistry is getting there,” Small said. “Eventually, we’ll be fine. We’re just learning each other right now.”
Frese anticipates she’ll lean on her five returners in the season’s earlygoings.
Walker-Kimbrough was an All-American guard last year who ESPN ranked as the fourth-best player in the country entering this season. Jones, a center, was No. 16 on ESPN’s list.
During the offseason, they recognized the need to emerge as leaders, Frese said.
“Just making sure all the freshmen are where they need to be,” Jones said. “That’s where the focus is right now.”
The newcomers look to the senior duo for guidance, and have marveled at their on-court abilities.
“In practice, I’m like, ‘Wow.’ The hype is real about them,” Slocum said. “[Walker-Kimbrough] makes shots that I couldn’t even think of ever making. [Jones], we were in scrimmage and she dropped her shoulder, and this guy went flying across the floor.”
Junior guard Kristen Confroy is another returning starter. After setting the program record for 3-pointers in a season last year, the Solon, Ohio, native will look to bring more sharpshooting to the court this year.
But Frese said one of the biggest disappointments she felt last year came from not doing “our job” for that group of seniors. She hopes to change that this season, starting with non-conference tests.
The No. 6 Terps play No. 5 Louisville and No. 18 Arizona State early on and welcome No. 3 UConn to Xfinity Center on Dec. 29.
Then, they’ll look to three-peat as Big Ten regular-season and tournament champions before having the chance to avenge last season’s abrupt end.
“You look up, we got two Final Four banners. There was not one reason that we shouldn’t have another one, but we’re going to try and get one this year,” Walker-Kimbrough said. “Start of a new season, turn of a new page.”
