Syracuse Women’s Basketball Finds Its Identity Behind Darius, Izoje, and a Culture Shift
There’s a different energy around Syracuse women’s basketball this season - and it’s not just about the wins. Sure, the Orange are off to a scorching 10-1 start, but the real story is how they got here.
It’s been a total overhaul, not just in personnel, but in mindset. And it’s working.
Sophie Burrows, one of the few holdovers from the program’s NCAA Tournament run in 2024, put it plainly: “We came into this year knowing there needed to be change,” she said. “But it’s one thing to know that there needs to be change, and it’s another to actually change things.”
That change has been both sweeping and strategic. Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack didn’t just tweak the roster - she flipped it.
Eight new players joined the program this offseason, split evenly between transfers and freshmen. And already, two names are emerging as centerpieces: Dominique Darius and Uche Izoje.
Darius, a USC transfer with Syracuse bloodlines (she’s the daughter of former Orange football standout Donovin Darius), is finally getting the keys to run the show - and she’s making the most of it. After being underutilized during her time in the Pac-12, she’s found her rhythm in Central New York. She dropped a game-high 17 points to go with five rebounds and four assists in a 72-54 win over Binghamton, pushing Syracuse to double-digit wins before the calendar flips to January.
That performance isn’t an outlier - it’s the new norm. Through 11 games, Darius is averaging 12.5 points, 3.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds. She’s not just filling a role; she’s redefining it.
“I’m in awe of the fact that she’s on our team,” Legette-Jack said. “I’m amazed that the other team’s coaches didn’t understand what they had on their team.”
Then there’s Izoje. At 6-foot-3, the freshman forward is a force inside - physically gifted, emotionally driven, and growing by the day.
Her latest stat line? A 12-point, 14-rebound double-double - her third of the season.
On the year, she’s averaging 12.3 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game. She also leads the team - by a wide margin - in blocks with 31, more than the rest of the roster combined.
“She’s just a special, special young lady,” Legette-Jack said.
But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Izoje. Adjusting to life in the U.S., and to the demands of high-level college basketball, brought its share of growing pains.
Teammate Aurora Almón noted how early on, Izoje would get frustrated when she heard the same feedback repeatedly. Now, she’s embracing the process - listening, learning, and leveling up.
That growth is just as important as the box score numbers. It’s the kind of development that signals not just talent, but staying power.
Of course, this isn’t a two-player show. Burrows, now in her third season, remains a steady presence.
She averaged 12.2 points last year and continues to be a glue player - someone who understands the program’s past and is helping shape its future. And then there’s Laila Phelia, a transfer from Texas, who’s quietly leading the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game.
Legette-Jack made it clear: this isn’t about one star or a single breakout. It’s about a collective shift - a new standard, a new culture.
All eight newcomers are part of that. Each one has brought something different, but together, they’ve brought hope.
Last season, Syracuse won just 12 games. This year, they’re already knocking on that door - and it’s only December.
The Orange haven’t just added talent; they’ve found their identity. And with Darius and Izoje leading the charge, that championship vision Legette-Jack keeps talking about doesn’t feel so far-fetched anymore.