With the departure of key veterans at the close of last season, this season’s women’s basketball team has been faced with a new task — creating cohesion on the court with a roster of fresh faces.
Some arrived at GW as rookies to the world of college basketball while others who joined the Revolutionaries this season are no strangers to the NCAA. Graduate guard Makayla Andrews and true freshman guard Gabby Reynolds have embraced the challenge to rise to the top of the ranks despite a gap in age and experience between the duo.
Between redshirting, COVID-19 years and the emergence of the transfer portal, eligibility rules have altered the world of college hoops. Roster and scholarship management has become increasingly complex for coaches, career transitions are delayed and player development is stifled by minute-snagging elders. Like many other teammates across the country, Andrews and Reynolds have entered the game at very different eras of NCAA basketball.
Consider the story of Howard University forward Seth Towns, who made headlines during last year’s March Madness tournament for competing in his eighth year of college basketball as a 26-year-old. The “Unc” of college basketball averaged 14.2 points per game that season and used his familiarity with the NCAA to lead the Bison to a Big Dance appearance.
On the other hand, look at Duke standout freshman guard Cooper Flagg. At just 17 years old, Flagg leads the Blue Devils, averaging 16.6 points and 8.6 rebounds a game this season.
Regardless of how the court of opinionated fans feels about the current state of NCAA eligibility, youthful and veteran players bring a balance of fresh skill and seasoned experience to their rosters. Andrews and Reynolds have combined their energy and experience to form an offensive bond that is unstoppable.
Reynolds came to Foggy Bottom as the newly crowned recipient of the Michigan Miss Basketball Award. The West Ottawa graduate averaged a lofty 29.9 ppg, 3.9 rebounds per game and 3.9 assists per game over her entire high school career.
Reynolds opened her college debut in the Smith Center with a three-ball against Delaware, netting the Revs’ first points of the 2024-25 season. Her basket sent a message to fans very early on that she would be an impactful playmaker on the court this year.
The Revs went on to win 78–66 against Delaware in their season-opening victory. The freshman newcomer finished the game with 17 points, good for second on the team, behind Andrews’ showstopping 24-point performance. At GW, Reynolds is averaging 10 points and 3.4 rebounds a game — second only to veteran Andrews, who rakes in 13.9 points and 4.1 rebounds on average for the Revs. The teammates both play a rough average of 27 minutes per game.
Andrews transferred to GW after four seasons in the Patriot League at Lafayette, where she earned second-team All-Conference honors last year. Adding GW to her belt of collegiate experience, Andrews closed out her junior and senior campaigns at Lafayette, playing in all 59 games combined and starting in 28 during the 2023-24 season. She averaged 13.2 points and 5.2 boards in her final season with the Leopards.
Andrews joins the Revs from Lafayette College, named after the French military hero the Marquis de Lafayette who served in the American Revolution under George Washington. For history buffs, her arrival to GW can be seen as almost prophetic. It is symbolic of her transition into senior leadership to lead the Revs into battle during her final season in college basketball.
Andrews currently leads the team with 111 points across the eight games GW has played so far. She tabbed her season high in their home opener but has added four more games with double-digit scoring.
Despite their age difference, Reynolds and Andrews have combined their offensive abilities to lead the Revs’ front court.
Andrews still strives for improvement despite her veteran status. “She doesn’t shy away from growth and getting better,” Head Coach Caroline McCombs said of the graduate after GW’s first game.
McCombs commended Reynolds’ adaptability on the college court despite being a freshman. “Gabby’s continuing to emerge as a Division I player here,” McCombs said after Reynolds led the team with 22 points against Howard on Nov. 8. “The ball is in her hands a lot, and we leave her on the floor. She can make plays and shoot the ball, so I think she’s getting used to the pace of the game, the style of play, those kinds of things.”
Last year’s star returners, now-graduated forward Mayowa Taiwo and now-transferred sophomore guard Nya Robertson, led the Revs as familiar faces on the roster. It is refreshing to see successful, young and new talent emerging, regardless of their time in the NCAA. Andrews and Reynolds bring a new dynamic, sharp-shooting style of play to the team.
The range of experience on GW’s roster has benefits. Young players bring fresh athleticism, speed and energy to the team. An eagerness to prove themselves can also create a dynamic and competitive atmosphere. However, veteran players like Andrews have experience navigating high-pressure situations, contributing to better decision-making during critical moments on the court.
While young players might be more adaptable to new systems or roles, older teammates come in with established positions that foster coordination on the court. A fusion of youthful energy and experienced stability is recipe for a cohesive team dynamic. GW’s standout duo has harnessed the strengths of their age difference for the good of the team.
They may not share a birth year, but Reynolds and Andrews do share their first challenge as Atlantic 10 players this season. The women’s team fell a humbling 87-55 to George Mason in their conference opener last week. GW stands 5-3 overall and 0-1 in A-10 play. However, the season is far from over. With 21 games left in this year’s campaign, including a MTE Christmas Classic in Miami over break, the Revs have the opportunity to prove that what the young can do with energy, the old can do with experience. Together, they are unstoppable.
