Top International Women, Varsity Top 5

One of the great features of South African varsity basketball is the plethora of talent from beyond South African borders who play for South African universities. Despite the unfortunate stagnation which women’s basketball in South Africa has experienced over the last decade, these international players continue to show up in different competitions and add value to the South African game. In this article, we will highlight, the Full Court Press, international female varsity power rankings for 2021. 

1. Emma Makoni (Vaal University of Technology/Zimbabwe): Emma Makoni, a player I like to call “Easy E” was the standout player on a talent heavy Vaal University of Technology (VUT) ladies basketball squad. On the offensive end, Makoni had eye popping stats averaging; 16.2 points per game (ppg) the third highest total at USSA, including 20.6 ppg during the three knockout fixtures. Makoni also hit a tournament high, 13 three pointers, equivalent to 2.2 three pointers per match. Makoni is also quite tenacious, a character trait which enabled her to score 13 second chance points. Makoni also has a great knack for being able to share the ball ending USSA with 2.5 assists per game (apg). As a further testament to her all-round skill set, on the defensive end, Makoni also made her mark, averaging 3.5 steals per game (spg) of 21 takeaways during the competition. Makoni’s efforts and overall impact, which was evidenced by her 91.0 efficiency rating, helped propel VUT to a third straight USSA title and logically earned the Zimbabwe senior national player, the title of USSA 2021 tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP). Regardless of her stellar USSA performance, during an interview with Full Court Press, Makoni said the basketball community is yet to see her put out her best performance and it will be a treat for observers to see if she can live up to this declaration.
2. Happiness Maroto (Vaal University of Technology/Zimbabwe): Another player who contributed significantly to VUT’s USSA 2021 success was Happiness Maroto. Maroto was able to excel on what could be described as one of the best USSA squads that VUT has selected in recent memory. Maroto scored 11.5 ppg and hit an outstanding 30 out of 41 two point attempts, an average of 73.2%. Maroto is also highly skilled passer, with a good court vision, skills which saw her provide 2.8 apg. It is necessary to reiterate that, on team like VUT, it is very difficult to stand out, due to the high quality of players from starters to the last woman on the bench, however, with an efficiency level of 84.0, Maroto was one of the cornerstones in ensuring VUT emerged victorious at USSA 2021 and retained its status as South Africa’s premier varsity women’s team.
3. Chisom Udueze (University of Witswatersrand/Nigeria): Chisom Udueze was one of the revelation’s of USSA 2021. The Wits University frontcourt player played an integral part in helping the Lady Bucks attain third place at the competition and is probably the most improved player on the Wits squad. Udueze scored a team high 12.8 ppg, and toughness and never say die attitude, enabled her to score a tournament leading 32 second chance points. These qualities also saw her grab 8.3 rebounds per contest, including 30 offensive boards. Udueze’s fierce playing style also saw her get to the free throw line 37 times, of which she converted 16 attempts. According to Wits ladies captain Thandiwe Nqanda, Udueze “Makes the game make sense” and her efficiency rating of 74.0 attests to this asserion. Udueze has a lot to build from her USSA 2021 performance, but its safe to say, Wits has a player who will always keep in the race as one of South Africa’s best ladies basketball squads.
4. Maria Mutango ((Vaal University of Technology/Zimbabwe): Maria Mutango was another important piece, who contributed to VUT’s USSA 2021 victory. Despite not playing big minutes, Mutango was an extremely impactful player who ended the tournament averaging 8.3 ppg, while shooting 58.9% from two points and knocked down 7 three pointers, finishing with an average of 43.8% from behind the arc. Mutango also added 2.2 apg and had a 185.7 assist to turnover ratio, demonstrating how well she can control the game. Mutango would likely be the best or second best player on most female varsity squads, however, at VUT, she plays her
5. Corinne Moussi (Stellenbosch University/Cameroon): This selection might raise a few eyebrows since Maties did not participate at USSA 2021, due to health concerns regarding the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. However, the Belgium-born Moussi, who was an USSA All-Star at the 2018 and 2019 editions is without a doubt, the best currently active female player in the Western Cape and would have likely had another stellar tournament if Maties participated at the recently ended competition. A testament to this assertion was Moussi’s 33 point effort for the Western Cape Mountaineers, two weeks ago, while playing against the KwaZulu Marlins in a Women’s Basketball National League (WBNL) fixture. Moussi, who can score around the basket and is reliable three point shooter, is also great on the defensive end as a quality perimeter and transition defender. Hopefully Moussi will get the chance at the next edition of USSA to remind the South African basketball community that she’s still got game.