Ranking 16 most important players in 2021 NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four
14. Victaria Saxton, South Carolina
2020-21 stats: 12.7 PPG, 2.0 BPG, 6.5 RPG
Saxton has done a little bit of everything this Tournament and has done so pretty efficiently. The 6-2 junior forward got things started offensively for the Gamecocks in their Elite 8 victory over Texas, scoring the team’s first eight points. She has also collected at least six rebounds in each of the four games, which includes multiple boards on the offensive end in each contest, and swatted five shots against Oregon State. Saxton is shooting 67.7% (21-31) from the field during Tournament play.
13. Cameron Brink, Stanford
2020-21 stats: 9.0 PPG, 3.7 BPG, 5.4 RPG, 15-27 FGs
Brink has been a human eraser at the rim this entire year and has recorded 13 blocks over the last three games. The 6-4 freshman forward has also been highly efficient around the rim and demonstrated her range, making 3 of 8 from deep.
12. Trinity Baptiste, Arizona
2020-21 stats: 10.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG
The 6-0 senior forward has been doing yeoman’s work on the glass recently, and that will need to continue this weekend for the Wildcats to have any chance of advancing and possibly pulling the most surprising upset of women’s tournament in years. Baptiste, who has scored in double-figures in two of the four NCAA Tournament contests, is averaging a rebound every 3.39 minutes that she is on the floor. Over 33% of her rebounds this season have been on the offensive end (55-156).
11. Anna Wilson: Stanford
2020-21 stats: 8.2 PPG, 1.5 SPG
Wilson is not the offensive juggernaut that the majority of the rest of the players on this list are, but that doesn’t mean she is any less important. The 5-9 sparkplug is a superb defender and an excellent playmaker who doesn’t turn over the ball.
She has scored in double-figures in two of the four Tournament games and has knocked down 12 of 17 shots overall, including 7 of 8 from long distance. Wilson, who has not committed a turnover in each of the last two contests, has recorded 12 assists and committed two turnovers over the last four contests.