3 standouts responsible for hot start of Michigan women's basketball

The Michigan women's basketball team has gotten off to a hot start this season. With their record sitting at 8-1 ahead of today’s game against the Detroit Mercy Titans, they’re trending towards the top of the Big Ten standings. The Wolverines, as a whole, have been putting up good numbers as they head into the middle of the season, but these three players have taken it upon themselves to lead the pack.

Jordan Hobbs

One of the players who is continuing to distinguish herself from the rest is Jordan Hobbs. Hobbs, a 6’3” guard from Springboro, Ohio, is a Senior on the Wolverines and an integral part of team leadership.  She’s averaging 13.7 points per game, making her 3rd on the team in that category. Her average of 6.2 rebounds per game makes her stand out, which is owed to her skill at reading the ball off the rim along with her height and reach advantage over smaller players. Her ability to draw contact when driving to the rim pairs nicely with her shooting 100% from the foul line, meaning she should be the go-to player for shooting Michigan women's basketball late in close games.

Olivia Olson

The next player has already shown that she has what it takes to catapult this team to the top. A 6’1” Guard from New Hope, Minnesota, Olivia Olson is a freshman who came out of the gates with a running start.

Olson is averaging 16.3 points and 5.8 rebounds a game, really helping her team out on both sides of the ball. One of her biggest strengths is her off-the-dribble shooting, allowing her to take good shots after creating quick separation from a defender. Another part of her game you can’t overlook is her ability to finish contested shots in the paint, whether they be layups or jumpers. Fans can look forward to seeing her execute on many a fastbreak opportunity, some of which she might start herself.

Syla Swords

Undoubtedly the star player of the Michigan women's basketball team, Syla Swords is an all-around act with great numbers on both offense and defense. Coming out of Sudbury, Ontario, the 6’ guard is the leading scorer on the team with 17.4 points per game while also leading the team in rebounds with 7.7 per game.

Swords can weave around defenders and get to the open spot for her teammates to pass her the ball, which also sets up an extra pass opportunity as the defense scrambles to find her. The freshman is the key to slicing through the rest of the team’s schedule, and the Wolverines' success is more or less assured so long as the team rallies behind her stellar play.

Along with the efforts of these key players, the Wolverines are in as good a position as any other to become the top team in the conference. They’ve only taken one loss, a 68-62 nailbiter for the first game of the season to defending national champion South Carolina, with the rest of their wins coming by margins as small as six points and as big as 65 points. Needless to say, they have the talent to accomplish whatever they want and, as long as they stick together, they will.