NCAAW: Exclusive photos from SEC women’s basketball Media Day

On Wednesday, Oct. 16, the 16 women’s basketball teams of the SEC gathered in Birmingham, Alabama for Media Day.

Swish Appeal’s contributing photographer Christina Merrion was there to capture the optimism ahead of what promises to be another exciting season of women’s hoops.

South Carolina

The defending national champions, fresh off an undefeated 39-0 season, not only enter the season ranked No. 1 in the AP preseason top 25 poll, but also are projected to again finish atop the SEC. Head coach Dawn Staley was in Birmingham with senior forward Sania Feagin and junior guard Raven Johnson, who was named to the Preseason All-SEC Second Team.

Texas

A newcomer to the SEC, head coach Vic Shaefer’s Texas team is projected to finish second in the conference standings. The Longhorns also are No. 4 in the AP preseason poll. Senior guard Rori Harmon and sophomore forward Madison Booker attended Media Day. Harmon, who is returning to the court after missing the majority of last season with an ACL injury, was voted to the Preseason All-SEC Second Team. Booker not only was selected to the First Team, but also named Preseason Co-SEC Player of the Year.

LSU

Although reigning SEC Player of the Year Angel Reese headed to the WNBA, LSU still sports two leading candidates for the conference’s top individual crown, with senior guard Aneesah Morrow and junior guard Flau’jae Johnson sharing Preseason Co-SEC Player of the Year honors with Texas’ Booker. The pair accompanied head coach Kim Mulkey to Media Day. The Tigers, while ranked No. 7 in the AP preseason poll, are expected to finish third in the conference.

Christina also caught up with Johnson for a short interview. Johnson, of course, is a multidimensional talent, both on the court and off the court. In addition to her music career, Johnson has tried her hand at coaching. She also has a podcast. And, she’s a landowner, recently purchasing 20 acres in Atlanta. Christina asked about her property investment ambitions.

Tennessee

New head coach Kim Caldwell takes over on Rocky Top, hoping to lead Tennessee to a season superior to their projected seventh-place finish in the conference standings. To make that happen, Caldwell will be relying on fifth-year senior guard Jewel Spear, who led the Lady Vols in scoring last season.

Kentucky

New head coach Kenny Brooks arrives at Kentucky from Virginia Tech with his star charge, grad guard Georgia Amoore, in tow. After a 12th-place finish and only four conference wins last season, the Wildcats are expected to improve, projected for eighth place in the standings. Amoore, who earned All-American honors last season, was voted to the Preseason All-SEC First Team.

Mississippi State

After an 8-8 conference record and seventh-place conference finish last season, Mississippi State is expected to slip to 11th place in 2024-25. It will be head coach Sam Purcell’s third season in Starkville, while senior guard Jerkaila Jordan, the Bulldog’s leading scorer in 2023-24, prepares for her final collegiate season.

Texas A&M

Entering their third season under head coach Joni Taylor, Texas A&M is forecasted as the SEC’s 13th-ranked team. Last season, the Aggies finished 9th with a 6-10 conference record. Grad guard Aicha Coulibaly, who joined Taylor in Birmingham for Media Day, will look to again lead the Aggies in scoring.

Additional highlights

Ole Miss is projected to finish fifth in the SEC, with the Rebels ready to benefit from the play of grad guard KK Deans, who only played six games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Last season, head coach Shea Ralph led Vanderbilt to their first winning season since 2015-16. This season, Ralph’s fourth in Nashville, the Commodores are expected to finish in 10th place.

Georgia aims to improve on last season’s 3-13 conference record and 13th-place finish behind senior guard Asia Avinger. The Bulldogs are projected for 14th in the conference standings.

Arkansas is expected to finish at the bottom of the SEC, a drop from last season’s ninth-place finish and 6-10 conference record. It will be head coach Mike Neighbors’ eighth season at the helm of the Razorbacks.