Ranking 16 most important players in 2021 NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four
5. Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
2020-21 stats: 14.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 20-47 FGs
The 2019-20 National Freshman of the Year really struggled offensively in the Elite 8, but she still managed to reach double-figures for the third time in four games as Boston nabbed five offensive boards and went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe. Boston, a load down-low, can dominate the boards, particularly on the offensive end, and is a strong rim protector.
4. Christyn Williams, UConn
2020-21 stats: 18 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 9-22 3pters, 29-59 FGs
Williams, who has played 40 minutes in each of the past two games and 118 total minutes over the last three contests, has seen a huge usage increase over the last two games, compiling 48 points on 20 of 41 shooting, including 5 of 14 from beyond the arc. The Huskies second-leading scorer at 16.1 points a game has scored in double-figures in 12 of her last 13 games, which includes five 20-point contests.
3. Kiana Williams, Stanford
2020-21 stats: 15.7 APG, 4.0 APG, 2.7 RPG, 23-59 FGs
Williams is an outstanding shooter and efficient scorer as well as an excellent ballhandler. The 5-8 senior has scored at least 13 points and doled out three assists in each of the four tourney contests. She has also knocked down multiple treys in each game and drains four treys a game in “Big Dance” at a 45.7% (16-35) clip.
2. Aari McDonald, Arizona
2020-21 stats: 25.2 PPG, 2.5 SPG, 3.0 APG, 6.7 RPG, 39-71 FGs, 14-28 3pters
The 5-6 senior guard can certainly put the ball in the bucket, topping the 30-point mark in each of the last two games against Indiana as well as Texas A&M, and she will be counted on heavily to continue on this roll.
McDonald can score at all three levels and is excellent in transition, but the Fresno (Calif.) native is certainly not just a scorer as she is an excellent shooter, strong rebounder, and a solid defender. While the speedster is the Wildcats catalyst, McDonald must not try to do too much and limit her turnovers.
1. Paige Bueckers, UConn
2020-21 stats: 22.5 PPG, 2.5 SPG, 6.5 RPG, 18 assists-to-6 turnovers, 31-66 FGs, 7-19 3pters
The 19-year-old sensation continues to be “as advertised” and became the first freshmen named as the AP Player of the Year on the women’s side on Wednesday. There s nothing that Bueckers can’t do on the court, and more importantly, she is clutch, as once again proved in the Huskies Elite 8 victory over Baylor, accounting for 10 of the team’s points during a 19-0 run that turned a 10 point deficit into a 9 point lead for UConn.
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She finished with 28 points, on 10 of 22 shooting, for her sixth straight game of producing at 18 points.