Cal Women's Basketball receives preseason honors and media prediction for 2021-2022 season
Some hype to build off of the players
Cal Women’s Basketball had three players named to the Preseason All-Pac-12 Honors list. Sophomore Guard Jayda Curry was named to the All-Conference Team, followed by Senior Guard Leilani McIntosh and Senior Forward Evelien Schipholt who were named as honorable mentions.
Curry is coming off a historic season in which she became the first freshman in Pac-12 history to lead the conference in scoring (18.6 ppg) and to open the season with three consecutive conference Freshman of the Week honors. She concluded the season earning the media Freshman of the Year honor and earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention and being named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team. Nationally, she led all freshmen in 3-point field goals made per game (2.2) while ranking second in scoring and total free throws made (111).
McIntosh is coming off a season in which she ranked second in the conference in steals (2.1 spg) on her way to earning Pac-12 All-Defensive honorable mention. Her 48 steals were nine shy of a career-high and came in 10 fewer games. McIntosh also ranked third in the conference at 4.2 assists per game and had five or more assists in nine conference games.
Schipholt started all 24 games for the Bears last season and led the team in rebounding (6.8 rpg), which ranked 10th in the Pac-12. She finished the season with a 48.9 shooting percentage, which was a career-high and good for 10th in the conference. Last season, Schipholt was named the Pac-12 Player of the Week for the first time in her career on Dec. 27 following her 20-point, 10-rebound performance against Saint Mary's. She finished the season with five double-doubles, including a career-high 23 points and career-best 17 rebounds against Utah State on Nov. 16.
The Pac-12 announced the preseason Media Poll ahead of the start of Media Day, with the Bears picked to finish 11th in the conference. The Bears have been picked to finish in the bottom 4 of the conference for the third straight season.
With their experience, depth and talent this should be the year the Bears make a move in the conference. I don't know where they'll finish but I reckon it'll be higher than 11th.