Syracuse women’s basketball: Seven new players announce transfers, per reports

Syracuse Orange women’s basketball players Kiara Lewis, Amaya Finklea-Guity, Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi, Digna Strautmane, Maud Huijbens, Khamya McNeal, and Kiara Fisher have entered the transfer portal, according to reports. Ten Syracuse players have now entered the portal this offseason including Lewis, Finklea, Djaldi-Tabdi, Strautmane, Huijbens, McNeal, Fisher, Emily Engstler, Taleah Washington, Faith Blackstone, and Lauren Fitzmaurice (did not participate in 2020-21 season).

Lewis, a redshirt senior, led the Orange in scoring this season with 14 points per game. She started in all 24 games for Syracuse and averaged 37.1 minutes per contest. Lewis was named All-ACC Honorable Mention at the end of the regular season. She surpassed the 1,000 career point mark this year, ending her career at ‘Cuse with 1,156 points.

Lewis arrived in Central New York in 2017 after transferring from Ohio State. A five-star recruit coming out of Chicago, Ill., Lewis appeared in every contest of her freshman season and averaged 6.7 points and 1.8 assists for the Buckeyes.

Lewis sat out her the 2017-18 season at Syracuse due to NCAA transfer rules. The following season, Lewis played the backup role to Tiana Mangakahia. Off the bench, she averaged 8.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per contest.

With Mangakahia out in 2019-20 due to her breast cancer diagnosis, it was Lewis’ turn to lead the Orange and White. Lewis started in all 31 games that season and averaged 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 37.7 minutes per game. She led the team in points (547), assists (151), and steals (54). Her performance earned Lewis multiple accolades including All-ACC First Team, All-ECAC Second Team, two-time College Sports Madness National Player of the Week, and Florida Sunshine Classic All-Tournament Team.

Finklea-Guity, a senior, came to Syracuse as a five-star recruit from Dorchester, Mass. and started in 96 straight games before freshman Kamilla Cardoso took over her role this year. In four years, Finklea-Guity averaged 6.1 points per contest off 51.2% shooting from the field. Finklea-Guity earned ACC All-Freshman Team honors after contributing 6.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in her debut season.

Djaldi-Tabdi, a redshirt junior, was a five-star recruit out of France. She redshirted her freshman season at Syracuse. The following year, she quickly became the Orange’s go-to sixth man, averaging 8.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game off the bench. She earned All-ACC Freshman Team honors and was twice named ACC Rookie of the Week that season. Last year, Djaldi-Tabdi appeared in every contest and averaged 8 points and 3.5 rebounds. In 2020-21, Djaldi-Tabdi averaged 4.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 24 games.

Strautmane, a senior, joined the Orange as a five-star recruit from Latvia. Strautmane started every game in her Syracuse career (120). In four years, she averaged 9 points and 5.3 rebounds in 29.6 minutes per contest. She surpassed the 1,000 career point mark this year, ending her career at ‘Cuse with 1,084 points.

Lewis would have once again been the starting point guard for Syracuse next season since Mangakahia declared for this year’s WNBA draft. Finklea-Guity, Djaldi-Tabdi, and Strautmane would have likely seen similars role next year as this season.

Next year’s Orange team will look a lot different than what we have seen recently. What are your thoughts?