City of Basketball Love

Rich Flanagan (@richflanagan33)
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(Ed. Note: This article is part of our 2023-24 season coverage, which will run for the six weeks preceding the first official games of the year on Nov. 6. To access all of our high school and college preview content for this season click here.)

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Walk into the Finneran Pavilion during a Villanova practice and a face that is far more noteworthy than it is familiar greets anyone passing by.

Maddy Siegrist was the face of Villanova basketball since she stepped onto the court as a freshman in 2019 and rose to prominence in the Big East and nationally over the latter two seasons of her career. The only difference in receiving her presence now is she is here as ambassador, not the first player in program history to earn First Team All-American.

She has returned to campus as the Special Assistant to the Senior Women's Administrator (SWA), where she will assist with ticket sales and promotions while helping grow the program’s brand. That will be her role in the offseason as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft looks to continue her role as ambassador after helping the Dallas Wings reach the league semifinals in year one.

Head coach Denise Dillon enters her first season without Siegrist to rely on in clutch situations, but having her back for former teammates and new players to see is worth far more than the Villanova-record 2,896 career points she racked up over four years.

“Maddy led the way in getting Villanova back on the map,” Dillon said. “She got that national attention, and her accolades will forever hold true here at Villanova. It’s remarkable what she did individually in her time.”

The Wildcats finished 30-7 overall (17-3 Big East) last season and fell to Miami (Fla.) in the Sweet 16. Three days later, Siegrist declared for the WNBA Draft and thus began Villanova’s transition to what it will be this season: one without an all-time Big East record 1,693 points or a player who set the longest streak by any women's or men's Division I player this century with 37 straight games scoring 20 or more points.

Dillon, who has a .755 winning percentage (71-23) through three seasons on the Main Line, has been in this situation before where celebrated players move on, and the next phase begins. She’s excited by what Siegrist helped create and feels this new group has an opportunity to continue that upward trajectory.

“You have an opportunity to continue to build this season, and while it may not be the same results you had last season, it’s on you all to figure out how to get back to that spot,” Dillon said. “We have the personnel and while we don’t have the experience, we’re going to get there.”

Christina Dalce played opposite Siegrist in the frontcourt, and she benefited from the attention the two-time Big East Player of the Year garnered when she touched the ball. The 6-foot-2 junior forward is coming off a season that saw her average 7.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Her 86 rejections last season were eighth nationally, and she will be the Wildcats’ primary option in the high and low post, the area where Siegrist flourished. Dalce noted that “we were honored for our March Madness run and we got to live the moment one more time, but after that it’s about walking in and preparing for the next day.”

The next stage in the evolution of Villanova basketball is taking what was accomplished a season ago and applying it to the current game plan to meet the expectation that has been established.

“Our system with Coach Dillon and the way she coaches is different from so many others because our offense is rare,” Dalce said. “With our personnel, we can be a fast team and beat people with our fast dribbling. It says a lot and builds our confidence on what we were able to do last year but also continues to build off that.”

Bella Runyan appeared in all 37 games last season as a junior and the 5-11 guard has now been thrust into a leadership role with both Siegrist and longtime backcourt mainstay Brooke Mullin having moved on. She averaged 4.0 ppg and 2.2 apg and was one of six players on last years’ team to make at least 19 three-pointers. She admits that not having Siegrist directing players where to be on both ends has been an adjustment but one she is growing more comfortable with her move into the starting lineup.

“It was a little weird not having that voice because she was such a leader,” Runyan said. “She led by example in how she played but also could be very vocal. Now having to step in and be that vocal leader, I will never be able to be the player that she is because she’s one of kind, but it’s been a transition. We’re finally finding our roles and voices without her on the team.”

Lucy Olsen, the former Spring-Ford star and All-Big East Second Team selection, and Maddie Burke – a former Central Bucks West standout coming off her first full season with Villanova after transferring from Penn State — will have to carry the bulk of the perimeter scoring load. Olsen avgeraged 12.4 ppg, 4.4 apg and 1.4 spg while draining 52 makes from behind the arc. Burke, as Dillon described, “fell into her role and embraced it. Last year, if she missed a couple, she’d stop shooting and not help us, but now she has learned quickly to look for her shot and call for the ball.”

Burke led the team with 69 three-pointers made on a 36.1% clip and Dillon felt games like the 64-61 win over St. John’s on Jan.14 where she hit back-to-back threes to cut the deficit to one with 1:02 remaining are indicative of what’s to come this season. Dillon also mentioned Burke’s 15-point performance in a 73-57 victory over Creighton where she sank five treys as another strong game.

The final starter will be 5-6 junior guard Zanai Jones. Jones (1.9 ppg) will command the Wildcats offense at point guard, allowing Olsen to play more off the ball. 

“She is a junior now but experienced and has taken that next step on what she needs to do,” Dillon said. “She has the ability but had to believe in herself.” 

Other key returnees include 5-10 junior guard Kaitlyn Orihel, the Archbishop Wood alum who connected on 22 three-pointers in 37 games, and 6-1 sophomore lefty Megan Olbrys, who averaged 2.4 ppg and 1.8 rebounds in 25 games. Kylie Swider, whose brother Cole played three seasons at Villanova, will have a chance to play significant minutes backing up Dalce after the 6-4 senior appeared in 15 games a season ago.

With several starters and key rotational players back from one of the most successful seasons in program history, Dillon is hoping the progression continues with many of them having added something to their arsenal.

“That’s always been the case with us; we push players to add something and enhance their game in the offseason,” Dillon said. “I’m looking for them to find that confidence and while we have a vision for it, we want them to sense it as well.”

Freshman Maddie Webber has been a welcomed addition and someone who will play valuable minutes in her first collegiate season. The 5-11 guard averaged 17.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 3.0 spg as a high school senior and led South Fayette to consecutive Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) titles and an appearance in the PIAA Class 5A final in March. 

“As a freshman, Maddie reminds me a lot of me at that time but a little more skilled offensively,” Runyan said. “She’s long and athletic and can be a really good defender once she adjusts to college speed. She’s very versatile with her ability to shoot and get to the rim off the bounce. I’m really excited for her to come into the rotation this season.”

Another freshman who has been a nice surprise is 6-1 guard Brynn McCurry, who is working her way back from an ACL and medial meniscus tear she suffered during her first game of her senior season at Sparta (N.J.).  She was sensational as a high school junior, avg. 20.6 ppg, 9.1 rpg and 5.8 apg and leading Sparta to the Group 3 state championship, its first Group championship since 2001. Despite missing her entire senior season, McCurry scored 1,350 career points and was recently cleared to begin full contact, according to Dillon.

“She’s a fighter and plays the game,” Dillon said. “The first practice, the ball drops off a rebound and she dives on the loose ball. I thought, ‘She’s going to be just fine.’ She knows how to play the game and makes people feel comfortable.”

These cornerstones and rookies are tasked with banding together to remain in the top portion of the Big East. The increased exposure and recognition brought on by last year’s run was spurred by Siegrist and players like Dalce and Olsen. 

What makes Siegrist’s stardom and supporting accolades so meaningful is the widespread perception of the Villanova program. The Wildcats ended last season at No. 12 in the AP Top-25 and earned a vote in the preseason poll. Closer to home, season ticket sales have soared with over 1,000 already purchased.

The momentum created by last year’s run doesn’t solely rest with Siegrist but players like Runyan have sensed a shift that the fanbase and alumni feel there’s a lasting effect.

“It’s almost overwhelming the love and support,” Runyan said. “It’s unfathomable and truly, credit Maddy and Coach Dillon for all that success on the court. It’s keeping people coming back for the exciting games.”

Siegrist has been a fixture at Villanova over the last four seasons and her success will permeate through the program for decades to come. She will be a regular on campus and at practice until the WNBA season begins, but she is not bringing back her NCAA-leading 29.2 ppg or 9.3 rpg. It can’t be said that Siegrist won’t walk through that door because she will, even if it’s only for a few months, but the precedent that she set remains the same for the Wildcats. Dillon will not accept anything less.

“Of course, they want to get that chance again to go to the Elite Eight, but I think there are so many things that happen before that,” Dillon said. “Our goal is to finish in the top four of the Big East, and we want to fight to get into March Madness. It’s not us getting to the Sweet 16 but rather getting to the NCAA Tournament is a great accomplishment.”