The Wisconsin women's basketball team, currently 13-8, is on track to finish the season with a winning record for the first time in 15 years. New head coach Robin Pingeton has dragged the struggling program back to relevance, and several players, including three new transfers, have been especially important in ushering in this new era for Badger women’s basketball.
Destiny Howell came to Wisconsin as a graduate student this season after spending five years at Howard University. Howell has been a huge factor in Wisconsin’s success, averaging 13.8 points per game while leading the team in field goals made (101) and 3-point field goals made (46).
Howell had a career game in Wisconsin’s double-overtime duel against the Oregon Ducks, scoring a career-high 39 points, with 30 of those coming from the 3-point line.
“[It’s] kind of like I’m not even there fully, like I’m in a whole different space,” Howell said after the game. “I’m not really thinking, I’m just moving. I’m moving intentional with…my subconscious, like just out there hooping.”
Not far behind Howell, guard Kyrah Daniels is averaging 13.1 points per game. Daniels joined Wisconsin this year after two seasons at Missouri, quickly becoming a consistent offensive option for the Badgers.
Defensively, Gift Unchenna has been a key leader. The senior transfer from Nigeria spent her first three years at Southern Illinois. In her first year as a Badger, Unchenna leads the team in blocks, with 29. She has also managed to corral 135 total rebounds throughout the season — an average of 6.4 per game — 84 of those coming on the defensive end.
Unchenna has contributed to the Badger’s offensive success as well. In a close match against Nebraska, Unchenna went 10-for-17 in field goals with a total of 22 points.
Returning Badgers have also stepped up for the team this season, including senior Lily Krahn. Krahn has proven to be a reliable shooter for Wisconsin this season, with a .525 field goal percentage and a .491 3-point percentage. Earlier in the season, Krahn showed her consistency in a win against the University of Illinois-Chicago, going 9-for-14 from the field, including 7-for-11 on 3-pointers.
Along with Krahn, returning senior Ronnie Porter has also been performing at a high level this season. The senior has contributed effectively both offensively and defensively. Porter currently leads the teams in steals this season (34) as well as assists (96).
The team dynamic has changed significantly for Wisconsin. Last year, the Badgers put all their trust in their star Sarah Williams. By the end of the season, Willams was responsible for over a quarter of Wisconsin’s total points, and when Williams struggled, so did the rest of the team.
Under Pingeton, the Badgers have many players —including some off the bench — who have taken on this leadership role and put up points when the team needs it. Wisconsin has been working more collectively as a team, which has proven successful so far.
The Badgers will face tough competition to end the season, including No. 3 UCLA and No. 10 Iowa in their last two scheduled games. Wisconsin looks to keep stacking wins in a push to finish with a winning record for the first time since 2011.
