“Women’s college basketball just found a new sweetheart”: Fans react to Michigan freshman Syla Swords's impressive debut vs South Carolina
Michigan Wolverines guard Syla Swords made an excellent start to this season despite her team's tough 62-68 loss against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Monday night.
The 18-year-old talent managed to bag a double-double after finishing the game with an impressive stat line of 27 points and 12 rebounds. It was a brilliant debut for the Michigan freshman, with the performance giving her the confidence to have a great season in NCAA women's basketball.
Swords's dazzling display garnered praise from college hoops fans across social media platforms.
One fan didn't wait long before declaring Syla Swords as college basketball's "new sweetheart."
Women’s College Basketball just found a new sweetheart last night and it isn’t Paige Bueckers or JuJu Watkins…..it’s Syla Swords!!" the comment read.
Another college basketball aficionado saw the funnier side and said,
She looks like a great player! The WNBA players will hate her," the comment said.
Others on X, formerly Twitter, shared similar sentiments:
"On pace to tie Caitlin Clark’s all time scoring record"
"SS12 gonna be a problem, for every team she face! She can flat out play!!!"
What's next for Syla Swords and the Michigan Wolverines?
Swords showcased what she is capable of on her debut against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the season opener. The Michigan Wolverines will lock horns with the Lehigh Mountain Hawks and the Central Michigan Chippewas over the next few games as they bounce back in the NCAA.
All eyes will be on the French-born Canadian guard as she looks to shine for the Wolverines this month so that they can create an ideal platform to go on and have a successful season in NCAA basketball.
However, Swords is still relatively inexperienced and would need time to develop and mature in her game on the floor. Thus, Michigan Wolverines head coach Kim Barnes Arico should consider managing her minutes better if she wants Swords to stay healthy this season.
Syla Swords has a promising future ahead of her and could be destined for success at the college level if she can improve her numbers throughout this campaign. Her debut performance has undoubtedly raised the expectations of Michigan fans, but only time will tell whether she can live up to them.