The competition begins for the coach Christa GerlichThe team’s team when Jackson State visits United Supermarkets Arena on Tuesday, November 15.
Texas Tech’s second of three games is a home match against Colorado on Wednesday, Nov. 16, before the Lady Raiders close out the round-robin tournament on Sunday, Nov. 20 with a game at Louisiana.
Colorado opens the event Nov. 12 when they host Jackson State, before the action shifts to Lubbock for four games.
As part of the schedule, Louisiana will face Colorado on Nov. 15 at United Supermarkets Arena before taking on JSU on Nov. 16.
Originally created as a 16-team event, the 2022 preseason WNIT iteration will be the 28th all-time. In 2021, the event has been reduced from 16 teams to eight.
The 2022 Preseason WNIT will release an all-tournament team, but will not award an overall champion. The timing and broadcast coverage of the tournament will be announced at a later date.
Full schedule:
Saturday, November. 12:
Jackson State at Colorado (Boulder, Colo.)
Tuesday, November 15:
Louisiana vs. Colorado (Lubbock, Texas)
Texas Tech vs. Jackson State (Lubbock, Texas)
Wednesday, November. 16:
Louisiana vs. Jackson State (Lubbock, Texas)
Texas Tech vs. Colorado (Lubbock, Texas)
Sunday, November 20:
Texas Tech at Louisiana (Lafayette, La.)
Know your enemies:
Colorado (22-9, 9-7 pp. 12):
The University of Colorado is looking to make back-to-back appearances and build its programs first NCAA Tournament berth since 2013. Coming off an impressive 22-win season that included a 13-0 start, Colorado returns two starters from one season. Front by Jaelyn Sherrod and Kindle Weta. UC’s PAC-12 Sixth Player of the Year Quay Miller also returns for the Buffs. Miller averaged 10.6 points and 5.1 boards a season ago. Colorado added a pair of 6-3 post players, in Arizona transfer Aaronette Vonleh and freshman Briana McLeod. Head coach JR Payne is in her seventh year at the helm of the Colorado program and has posted a 94-84 record during her time in Boulder.
Jackson State (23-7, 18-0 SWAC):
Jackson State has risen to new heights over the past four seasons under head coach Tomekia Reed. One of the best mid-major programs in the nation last season, JSU won 23 games at school, including a perfect 18-0 mark in SWAC play. The Lady Tigers have won 21 games in the 2021-22 season, and enter the NCAA Tournament with the longest winning streak in the nation. Reed’s squad is about to pull off one of the biggest upsets in women’s basketball history. Kim Mulkin and third-seeded LSU led by one point in the fourth quarter before JSU fell 83-77. JSU had its first WNBA draft pick in 2021-22 when Ameshia Williams-Holliday was selected with the 25th overall pick by the Indiana Fever. In addition to Williams-Holliday, JSU lost guard Deysha Rogan and guard Jariah Covington. Williams-Holliday was JSU’s leading scorer (19.4 points) and rebounding leader (11.4 rebounds) in 2021-22, while Rogan was the Lady Tigers’ second-leading scorer. Houston transfer Mia Crump is the only returning player who averaged more than nine points last season. Crump averaged 9.7 points and grabbed 5.1 boards.
Louisiana (18-7, 9-4 Sun Belt):
In the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference tournament, Louisiana went 18-7 in 2021-22. Led by Louisiana’s all-time winningest coach in program history (Gary Brodhead), the Ragin’ Cajuns made the postseason WNIT after sharing the 2020-21 Sun Belt Conference regular season title with Troy. Louisiana returns 2021-22 Preseason All-SBC selection Brandi Williams and starting point guard Destiny Rice. Williams was limited to just three games in 2021-22 after suffering an injury. Williams, the 2019 Sun Belt Man of the Year, scored a career-high 24 points against Rice and scored in double figures against Texas A&M Kingsville and LSU. Williams was a second-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection in 2020-21. A transfer from Alabama, Rice averaged 9.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in her first season with Louisiana. She is ranked 78th in the ESPNW Top-100. The Ragin’ Cajuns need to replace their second leading scorer and one of the best players in program history, Tyreona Dockett. Dockett averaged 11.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
