North Carolina A&T, Charleston’s Barbot Headline CAA Women’s Basketball Preseason Honors
Ben Kane
RICHMOND, Va. (Oct. 18, 2024) – North Carolina A&T has been selected as the favorite to win the 2024-25 CAA Women’s Basketball title and Charleston’s sophomore guard Taryn Barbot was named CAA Preseason Player of the Year as determined by a vote of the league’s 14 head coaches.
North Carolina A&T tallied 11 first-place votes to sit atop the preseason predicted order of finish. Defending CAA champion Drexel got two first-place votes and was picked second, while Towson received one first-place vote and was chosen third. Charleston and William & Mary finished in a tie for fourth, just ahead of sixth-place Delaware. Elon, Campbell, and Stony Brook took the next three spots, followed by Monmouth, UNCW, Hofstra, Northeastern, and Hampton to round out the 14-team poll.
Barbot earned Preseason Player of the Year following an impressive rookie campaign for Charleston. Averaging 15.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists across 28 starts, the sophomore guard was highly decorated in the 2023-24 season, becoming the program’s first CAA Rookie of the Year. She was also named to the All-CAA Second Team and All-Rookie Team.
Barbot was accompanied on the Preseason All-CAA First Team by Towson graduate student guard Patricia Anumbga, North Carolina A&T graduate student guard Maleia Bracone, Drexel senior guard Amaris Baker, and North Carolina A&T senior guard Jordyn Dorsey.
The Preseason All-CAA Second Team consisted of Elon senior forward Iycez Adams, North Carolina A&T junior center Chaniya Clark, UNCW sophomore guard Taylor Henderson, William & Mary senior guard Bella Nascimento, and Delaware graduate student forward Chloe Wilson.
North Carolina A&T went 22-12 overall and finished in a tie for third in the CAA with a 13-5 mark. The season ended on a high note as the Aggies earned their first postseason victories since 2010 and advanced to the Super 16 of the WNIT. A&T returns all five starters from last season, including 2023-24 First-Team All-CAA member Jordyn Dorsey (12.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.4 apg) and guard Maleia Bracone (11.2 ppg).
Surging from a seventh-place regular season finish to capture a CAA Championship, Drexel was chosen second in the poll. The program claimed its third CAA title after winning seven consecutive games to close the regular season and advance through the tournament.
The Dragons will look to extend their postseason win streak further into the double digits, with the likes of CAA Tournament MOP Amaris Baker (11.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and Chloe Hodges (8.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg) returning to Philadelphia.
Towson went 20-11 overall and reached the semifinals of the CAA Tournament in 2023-24. The Tigers return three starters from a year ago, including CAA All-Second Team selection Patricia Anumgba, who averaged a team-high 14.4 ppg. Alexia Nelson (9.8 ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.1 apg) returns to partner with Anumgba in the backcourt.
Charleston looks to build on last season’s 22-10 record with the help of Preseason Player of the Year Taryn Barbot. The Cougars recorded their most wins since 2010 and posted just the third 20+ win season in program history. Barbot returns as the only starter after earning CAA Rookie of the Year and All-CAA Second Team distinctions (15.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg).
William & Mary went 15-14 last season, including a 12-6 mark in CAA play. Three starters return for the Tribe, led by junior guard Bella Nascimento (12.4 ppg, 2.3 apg.), who tallied an impressive six games with 20 or more points in the 2023-24 season. Sophomore guard Cassidy Geddes returns following a CAA All-Rookie Team selection (9.7 ppg, 2.1 apg, 1.7 spg).
The race for a CAA title tips off on November 4th. The season culminates March 12-16 at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, D.C. for the 2025 CAA Women’s Basketball Championship.
2024-25 CAA Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st) |
Points |
| 1. |
North Carolina A&T (11) |
166 |
| 2. |
Drexel (2) |
148 |
| 3. |
Towson (1) |
134 |
| T-4. |
Charleston |
124 |
| T-4 |
William & Mary |
124 |
| 6. |
Delaware |
119 |
| 7. |
Elon |
86 |
| 8. |
Campbell |
76 |
| 9. |
Stony Brook |
70 |
| 10. |
Monmouth |
65 |
| 11. |
UNCW |
59 |
| 12. |
Hofstra |
50 |
| 13. |
Northeastern |
33 |
| 14 |
Hampton |
19 |
Preseason Player of the Year: Taryn Barbot (Charleston)
2024-25 All-CAA Preseason First Team
| Name |
School |
Class |
Position |
Hometown |
| Patricia Anumgba * |
Towson |
Gr. |
G |
Silver Spring, Md |
| Amaris Baker * |
Drexel |
Sr. |
G |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
| Taryn Barbot * |
Charleston |
So |
G |
Floral Park, N.Y. |
| Maleia Bracone |
N.C. A&T |
Gr. |
G |
Anderson, S.C. |
| Jordyn Dorsey * |
N.C. A&T |
Sr. |
G |
Augusta, Ga. |
2024-25 All-CAA Preseason Second Team
| Name |
School |
Class |
Position |
Hometown |
| Iycez Adams |
Elon |
Sr. |
F |
Greensboro, N.C. |
| Chaniya Clark |
N.C. A&T |
R-Jr. |
C |
Fort Myers, Fla. |
| Taylor Henderson |
UNCW |
R-So |
G |
Charlotte, N.C. |
| Bella Nascimento |
William & Mary |
Sr. |
G |
Grafton, Mass. |
| Chloe Wilson |
Delaware |
Gr. |
F |
Freeport, N.Y. |
Honorable Mention: Ande’a Cherisier (So., C, Delaware); Tara Cousins (Gr., G, Delaware); Cassidy Geddes (So., G, William & Mary); Jania Hall (Gr., G, UNCW); Raven Preston (R-So., G, Elon).
*Unanimous Selection
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