Long Islanders in the 2024 Women's NCAA Tournament
Ohio State guard Celeste Taylor against Maryland in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten women's tournament on March 8, 2024. Credit: AP/Abbie Parr
Meet the nine Long Island-raised basketball players who will compete in the 2024 NCAA women's tournament.
Meghan Andersen, Fairfield
The freshman guard/forward from Wantagh, who played at Our Lady of Mercy, was unanimously selected as the MAAC Rookie of the Year and was a unanimous All-MAAC first team selection. She leads Fairfield in scoring (15.2 points per game) and is second in rebounding (5.3 rebounds per game).
First game: No. 13 Fairfield plays No. 4 Indiana in the first round of Albany Regional 1 on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Bloomington, Indiana.
Where to watch: ESPN2
Janelle Brown, Fairfield
The senior guard from Middle Island and former Longwood High School star was named the MAAC Player of Year and a unanimous All-MAAC first team selection. She is averaging 13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds, with 116 assists and 79 steals. Brown scored 35 points in a win over Sacred Heart in November.
First game: No. 13 Fairfield plays No.4 Indiana in the first round of Albany Regional 1 on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Bloomington, Indiana.
Where to watch: ESPN2
Alabama center JeAnna Cunningham. Credit: Michael Wyke
JeAnna Cunningham, Alabama
The 6-5 senior center from Brentwood, who played at St. Francis Prep during her high school career, played her first two seasons at West Virginia before transferring to Alabama. Cunningham is averaging three points and 2.7 rebounds with 18 blocks in 32 games this season.
First game: No. 8 Alabama plays No. 9 Florida State in the first round of Portland Regional 4 on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in Austin, Texas.
Where to watch: ESPN2
Michigan guard Lauren Hansen. Credit: AP/Abbie Parr
Lauren Hansen, Michigan
The graduate transfer student, who played at Ward Melville, is headed to the NCAA Tournament in her third college stop. Hansen started at Auburn and then played three seasons at Missouri before transferring to Michigan. Hansen, a guard, is averaging 11.9 points. She was named All-Big Ten honorable mention.
First game: No. 9 Michigan plays No. 8 Kansas in the first round of Portland Regional 3 on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Los Angeles.
Where to watch: ESPNews
Tamia Lawhorne, Marshall
The graduate transfer student from Amityville, who played at Long Island Lutheran, started her collegiate career at George Mason before transferring to Marshall. Lawhorne, a forward, is averaging four points per game.
First game: No. 13 Marshall plays No. 4 Virginia Tech in the first round of Portland Regional 3 on Friday at 3:30 p.m. in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Where to watch: ESPN2
Cara McCormick, Holy Cross
The senior guard from Smithtown, who played at St. John the Baptist, is in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. McCormick was named to the All-Patriot League third team this season. She is averaging a career-high 10.5 points per game with 106 rebounds and 100 assists.
First game: Holy Cross plays UT Martin in the First Four on Thursday at 9 p.m. in Iowa City, Iowa. The winner gets the No. 16 seed and a first-round game in Albany Regional 2 against Caitlin Clark and No. 1 Iowa on Saturday at 3 p.m. on ABC.
Where to watch: ESPN2
Celeste Taylor, Ohio State
The graduate transfer student from Valley Stream is back in the NCAA Tournament with her third school. Taylor, a guard, made previous tournament trips with Texas and Duke. She was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the All-Big Ten second team. Taylor is averaging 10.2 points and 4.1 rebounds and has 70 steals. She played at Long Island Lutheran and was a two-time Newsday player of the year.
First game: No. 2 Ohio State plays No. 15 Maine in the first round of Portland Regional 3 on Friday at noon in Columbus, Ohio.
Where to watch: ESPN
Sydney Taylor, Louisville
The graduate transfer guard, who played at St. Anthony’s High School, spent her first four collegiate seasons at UMass before transferring to Louisville. Taylor is averaging 10.9 points per game and had a season-high 31 points against Georgia Tech last month.
First game: No. 6 Louisville plays No. 11 Middle Tennessee in the first round of Albany Regional 2 on Friday at 1:30 p.m. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Where to watch: ESPN2
Riley Weiss, Columbia
The freshman guard started her high school career at Hewlett before transferring to North Broward Prep in South Florida for her senior season. She averaged 39.9 points per game in her final season on Long Island. Weiss is averaging 7.4 points per game for Columbia.
First game: Columbia plays Vanderbilt in the First Four on Wednesday at 9 p.m. in Blacksburg, Virginia. The winner gets the No. 12 seed and a first-round game in Portland Regional 3 against No. 5 Baylor on Friday at 6 p.m.
Where to watch: ESPNU
