Drexel women’s basketball, one of the most well-regarded mid-major programs in Division I basketball, was expected to go through a rebuilding year during the 2023-2024 season. The team was lacking offensively minded players and was predicted to be a middling team in the CAA. However, Drexel women’s basketball coach Amy Mallon got the team to hit their stride at the right time, and in perhaps her most impressive feat as head coach, guided the squad to a Cinderella run through the CAA Playoffs, to a CAA Championship and then to a March Madness appearance.
Now, with the entire conference’s attention on the Dragons, Drexel is predicted to finish second in the CAA. Here is everything you need to know about Drexel women’s basketball for the 2024-2025 season.
Who’s out?
The Dragons graduated Brooke Mullins, Jasmine Valentine, Erin Sweeny, Erin Doherty and Hetta Saatman, while losing Momo Laclair to the transfer portal.
Mullins was the team’s second leading scorer (10.2 PPG) and chipped in across the board as the team leader in assists, blocks and steals. Saatman also excelled as a strong, veteran role player and carried the mantle as the starting center for Amy Mallon’s squad
Who’s in?
Mallon and her staff brought in a stellar class of three transfers and three true freshmen to bolster the championship defense campaign. Transfers Deja Evans (Albany), Molly Lavin (American) and Cara McCormack (Holy Cross) and freshmen Mariah Watkins, Iriona Gravely and Emilee Jones all have the potential to make strong impacts on the court.
Evans in particular stands out as an option to make her presence felt in West Philadelphia, as the sophomore brings accolades such as third team All-America East, America East All-Rookie team and America East All-Defensive team. Lavin and Watkins also project to make an impact for the Dragons.
Season Outlook
The expectation for the Dragons this year is to defend their title. Drexel is a talented team who returned their most important players in Amaris Baker, Chloe Hodges and Grace O’Neil.
Baker, in particular, is one of the premier offensive players in the CAA and she dazzled the DAC by averaging nearly 17 points per game over the final 11 games of the 2023-2024 season. Baker can score at all three levels and established herself as the most natural scorer on the team last season.
Hodges had a breakout season where she scored nearly nine points per game while having a large impact in the paint on both ends of the course. The Aussie started every single game for the Dragons while shooting the highest percentage from the floor on the team.
O’Neil enters her third season as the starting point guard for Amy Mallon, and is a true jack-of-all-trades. Despite standing at just 5 foot 7 inches, the Archbishop Carrol alum led the team in total rebounds and steals. An area she can improve is her scoring, as she shot a mere 26 percent from deep and just 32 percent from the floor. While scoring will not necessarily be O’Neil’s calling card, she will need to at least be more efficient in her offense if she is to continue seeing the most minutes on the roster.
With the combination of a strong cast of returning players and an impressive class of recruits, the goal for Drexel women’s basketball should be to win the regular season CAA title, and then defend their crown in the CAA Tournament. Amy Mallon does not need to do much to defend her record, but going to their second NCAA Tournament in two years would be a huge accomplishment, and a testament to the remarkable program that Drexel women’s basketball has been and continues to be.