After ending last season as first-time Women’s National Invitation Tournament champions, Kansas women’s basketball is aiming even higher as the new season begins.
The Jayhawks got to introduce themselves to a crowded Allen Fieldhouse on Friday at the annual Late Night at the Phog season kickoff event.
The show began with head coach Brandon Schneider, the architect of that WNIT title-winning team, offering a few words on his hopes for the season before the entire roster was introduced.
“We have really high expectations,” Schneider said in media availability following the scrimmage. “We have a better team this year, I think, and we won 25 games last year and only had three players playing every game.”
After the introductions, the players split up into three teams and raced through a pseudo-obstacle course with a basketball twist. “Team Twin,” led by Taiyanna Jackson, barely beat out Zakiyah Franklin’s “Team KB,” winning by less than a second in the championship matchup.
Then, the Jayhawks suited up for a full-court scrimmage. The blue team, featuring Jackson and Franklin, staved off a late comeback from the crimson team, led by Holly Kergeister and Wyvette Mayberry, to win the 10-minute scrimmage 31-27, and Jackson showed a rare display of her range with a 3-pointer.
One highlight of the scrimmage was the chance for Kansas fans to see freshman guard S’Mya Nichols in action for the first time in Allen Fieldhouse. Nichols, a five-star recruit from Overland Park, is Kansas’ highest-ranked commitment in more than 20 years.
“It’s such a fun opportunity to be a part of, so many fans out there,” she said. “I was really more nervous for when I came out; I didn’t know how I was going to wave or if I would air ball in scrimmage.”
Nichols laid out more of what fans can expect from her game in a media session afterward: “They should expect me talking a lot. I talk nonstop. Bringing energy, being aggressive, being a good teammate.”
Her adjustment to Kansas has been as expected, with the help of the super-senior leaders Jackson, Franklin, and Mayberry.
“I personally think our super-seniors are awesome,” she said. “When I came in here, I always followed their lead, and when it came to workouts I was trying to keep up with them … and in conditioning, I always tried to beat them.”
Not only is she joining a team that won last season’s WNIT, but also one that is projected by coaches to finish third in the Big 12 Conference.
“I thought (third) was good, but obviously I want to be number one. So thank you, but we’ve still got more to go,” Nichols said. “I see high goals championship-wise. I feel like this team is, I like to call it a five-star team — we have every single thing, every package on this team to become a championship team.”
Jackson and Schneider also had high hopes for this year’s squad.
“We made it far last year, yes, but I don’t want to think about that team,” Jackson said. “Because we have a whole new team this year.”
“We have really high expectations. We have a better team this year, I think, and we won 25 games last year and only had three players playing every game,” Schneider said. “If we’re able to stay healthy, obviously our four returning starters are proven, and I think S’Mya brings an element to this program that we haven’t had since I’ve been here.”
A big part of this change was the Jayhawks’ trip to Europe over the summer, where they played Greek and Italian teams in exhibition games. Jackson said this opportunity really allowed the team to grow closer to one another and prepare for what they hope will be another season of big successes.
“The vibe is just different from last year,” Jackson said. “We all really want to be around each other; we want to hang out. We all have the same goals and we all know what to do, so that makes our bond and connection stronger.”
Both Jackson and Schneider spoke about just how much last year’s success has changed the perception of women’s basketball at Kansas, with increases in attendance that they hope will carry over to 2023-24.
“It’s, in my opinion, criminal, that the women’s program should not have the opportunity to continue to build and improve and grow and be nationally competitive now,” Schneider said. “You know, winning a Big 12 championship here would be an enormous accomplishment. And I think that would be the first goal because we know that if you can win a conference championship at this level, then that pretty much ensures that you’re nationally relevant and competitive.”
A Big 12 championship is just the first goal in the program’s lengthy list of hopes for this season, but the team is confident that it can surpass its projected third-place finish and shock not only the conference, but the nation.
Blue Team guard S’Mya Nichols (12) puts up a shot during Late Night in the Phog on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
Kansas center Taiyanna Jackson dances during Late Night in the Phog on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
Blue Team guard S’mya Nichols smiles while celebrating a bucket during Late Night in the Phog on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
Red Team center Paris Gaines (7) smiles after a bucket by Red Team guard Wyvette Mayberry (0) during Late Night in the Phog on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
Blue Team guard Zakiyah Franklin (15) puts up a shot against Red Team guard Ryan Cobbins (5) during Late Night in the Phog on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug
