Mar. 25—CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Kyah Watson ended her career with 15 of the most hard-fought and athletic rebounds you may ever see.
J.J. Quinerly ended her career with class and dignity, even after struggling with one of her least productive games of the season, as West Virginia fell to North Carolina 58-47 in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Kylee Blacksten stretched defenses as a 6-foot-3 forward who could shoot 3-pointers. Tirzah Moore gave moments of strength and power on the inside.
“All of their journeys have been really different, ” WVU head coach Mark Kellogg explained after the game. “We talked about JJ’s journey. Kyah’s journey was different than Kylee’s journey. There’s other seniors that didn’t get in the game tonight that were part of this basketball game that had a different journey.
“Tirzah had a different journey. All different stories and a really close group. That’s what I’ve enjoyed about my two years here so far. They’re an easy team to coach. They’re just really good kids. They do the right things.”
The group not only put 50 wins on the record book over Kellogg’s two seasons, they helped create a movement that made WVU women’s basketball an actual product worth investing in.
School attendance records for the women’s program were set in each of the last two seasons, with an average of 4, 147 fans attending WVU’s 16 home games this season.
Now comes the big question: What’s next ?
There are six seniors moving on, none more impactful than Quinerly.
Her final tally: 2, 016 career points, 410 rebounds, 341 assists and 328 steals. No other player in program history can match all of those numbers.
And in the era of players transferring from one school to the next, it’s highly unlikely anyone will have a similar career with the Mountaineers.
“I could have left probably anytime in my career and probably could have went anywhere in the country, ” she said. “But I chose to stay at West Virginia just to make that legacy. Like I said, I think I’ve done that.”
The Mountaineers will have to replace three starters next season, but are expected to return guards Jordan Harrison and Sydney Shaw.
That duo can be explosive offensively.
And then there is freshman Jordan Thomas, a 6-foot-3 center who gained valuable experience her first season.
But replacing the scoring of Quinerly and the overall game of Watson will be a major focus over the next month.
“Kids graduate every single year, so that’s not abnormal, ” Kellogg said. “Finding scoring is typically OK. We’re going to lose some quality players, and we understand that.
“Now you go to the portal, I guess. That’s how you go about it at this point.”
There is already one intriguing prospect signed for next season. Incoming freshman Madison Parrish is a 5-11 guard out of the Cincinnati area, who was ranked No. 90 overall and a four-star prospect in the Class of 2025.
This is how recruiting service 247Sports evaluated her: “Parrish is a bouncy, athletic option on the perimeter. She is especially productive in transition, finishing well in the lane. Parrish has the frame to play through contact and still be effective. This physicality gives her potential on the defensive end that cannot be ignored.”
Parrish chose WVU over Kentucky in her recruiting process.
“Mountaineers women’s basketball got better today with the addition of Madie, ” Kellogg said when Parrish signed. “We have recruited Madie since the day we arrived here in Morgantown and have developed a great relationship with her and her family over the recruiting process.
“Madie is a long, athletic, and versatile guard. Offensively, Madie has great court vision, can score at all three levels on the court, and has a great feel for the game. Her length, athleticism and toughness will shine on the defensive end.”
The bulk of next season’s team will be additions through the transfer portal, which means Kellogg will try to keep a core built around experienced players.
Will it be enough to help the Mountaineers get over the hump and into the Sweet 16 ?
“I think we’re close. Obviously we’re closer now than we were a year ago, ” Kellogg said. “I think we’re at the doorstep.
“I keep saying, every time I get into this game, though, the advantage of playing at home is significant. If that’s the rules of the NCAA, then we need to continue to work really, really hard to see if we can’t get one of these in Morgantown, because I think that environment would be ridiculously off the charts and be so much fun for our community and our state.”
