If things go according to script, Wisconsin will be well represented in the NCAA Division I women’s basketball championship celebration. That’s because two Wisconsin natives and a third former University of Wisconsin player contribute prominently to UConn, the undefeated top seed in the women’s field.
But this is March, and anything can happen. Plus, there are several other Wisconsin connections to know about in the women’s field.
Here’s a look:
The majority of the roster at UW-Green Bay
Despite losing 85% of its scoring from last season, the Phoenix again won the Horizon League, first with a 17-3 league record and then with a tournament win over Youngstown State on March 10 in the title game.
Conference player of the year Jenna Guyer (15.2 points, 6.3 rebounds per game) hails from Minnesota, one of the few players not from the Badger State. Here’s everyone else from Wisconsin:
KK Arnold (Germantown), Connecticut
She’s started 33 of 34 games this year for the No. 1-ranked and undefeated Huskies, with 7.5 points per game and a team-leading 4.8 assists per contest. She also earned a spot on the all-defense team in the Big East, in addition to first-team all-conference.
Allie Ziebell (Neenah), Connecticut
She comes off the bench but still averages 7.9 points per game while shooting 43% from 3-point range for undefeated UConn. She tied a school record earlier this year with 10 3-pointers in a game.
Serah WIlliams (University of Wisconsin), Connecticut
Williams is second on UConn in blocks and scores 7.1 points per game for the No. 1-ranked Huskies. She has also started 33 games. She had three excellent seasons at UW, averaging 19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds last year.
Grace Grocholski (Kettle Moraine), Minnesota
The second-team all-conference pick in the Big Ten averages 12.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game for the Gophers, plus 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals per contest. The junior was honorable-mention last year in the Big Ten.
Iyana Moore (Milwaukee), Notre Dame
She played high school ball in Tennessee but calls Milwaukee home. She transferred after three seasons at Vanderbilt and is now the team’s third-leading scorer at 12.0 points per game.
Grace Schmidt (Watertown Luther Prep), Cal Baptist
She averages 10.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game for the Western Athletic Conference champion, shooting 52% from the field in the process. The senior has spent all four years in the program and routinely led the way in field-goal percentage. She was named second-team all-conference this season.
Taylor Stremlow (Verona), Iowa
The sophomore averages 8.2 points per game and shoots better than 40% from 3-point range; she had a then-career-best 10 points against Murray State in last year’s NCAA Tournament.
Maggie Hartwig (Sauk Prairie), South Dakota State
Though she occasionally comes off the bench, she’s the leading rebounder (5.5 per game) for the Summit League champion. The junior transfer from Evansville also scores 5.5 points per game.
Carter McCray (University of Wisconsin), West Virginia
The Big 12-champion Mountaineers get 7.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game from McCray, who averaged 10.6 points and 7.1 rebounds with Wisconsin last year.
Other Wisconsin players to note
Wisconsin coaches to know
Who’d we miss? Email jradcliffe@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin-tied players and coaches in the women’s NCAA Tournament field
Reporting by JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
