Syracuse, NY – Felisha Legette-Jack did all she could. She’s been begging fans to show up before, she’s been active in the community and her team is winning.
Now, in her eyes, it’s up to everyone else to notice.
“I did my job and now it’s up to them to decide if they want to enjoy a women’s basketball game because we’re going to play no matter what,” Legette-Jack said after the game when asked why the community should get behind the Syracuse women’s basketball team.
“If they don’t come here, we’re going to go play at UConn and play in front of those fans, or play in front of Ole Miss fans, or wherever.
“Because at the end of the day, Syracuse has to decide if they’re really going to enjoy watching women’s sports in general and women’s basketball as well. And if they continue to choose not to show up, that’s what we’re going to do. We’re still going to let them shine.”
Syracuse is enjoying a resurgent season in Legette-Jack’s fourth year at the helm. Sunday’s 69-58 victory over Stanford was arguably the most convincing demonstration that the Orange — now 16-3, 6-2 in the ACC — are preparing for a March Madness return.
1/35
Syracuse Orange Womens Basketball 2025-26: Syracuse vs. Stanford
SU was projected as the No. 9 seed for the NCAA Tournament in ESPN’s the latest bracketologywhile the Cardinal slotted in as the No. 7 seed heading into the match. Now in his fourth year, Legette-Jack is letting his team’s performance do the talking.
After becoming Syracuse’s head coach in 2023, Legette-Jack admitted she came in and asked people to get behind her program — best exemplified after she reached out to her team and fan base after an upset loss to Albany in November 2024. Off the court, Legette-Jack noted Sunday that she is “all over this community” and has spoken at 800 CenterState businesses.
On the court, she secured the Orange’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament from 2021-24 and is on the verge of a comeback this year after winning just 12 games last season.
In front of 3,225 fans at the JMA Wireless Dome on Sunday, Syracuse beat Stanford by double digits despite the Orange’s leading scorer Laila Phelia being sidelined with an injury.
“We can all get better and help each other out and do what needs to be done when a teammate is down,” said Dominique Darius, who had a game-high 26 points.
Sophie Burrows took a similar view, saying that anyone on Orange could drop out at any time.
It’s a big difference from the team that went to the NCAA Tournament when Burrows was a freshman. He is the last player left from this group led by Dyaisha Fair.
Fair was an All-American whose 22.2 points per game made her the eighth-leading scorer in the nation. This year, depending on the game, any of Phelia, Darius, Burrows and freshman Uche Izoja — who are averaging double figures in points per game — could emerge as Syracuse’s star.
“We have all the pieces we need, and when we put them together, it’s something really special,” Burrows said after scoring 11 points in the win over Stanford.
Almost everything is clicking for SU right now. As ACC play continues, the stakes will continue to rise.
And whether anyone’s paying attention or not, one thing is clear: The Orange are chasing Legette-Jack’s championship aspirations.
Leave a Reply