Writers' Roundtable: Auburn women's basketball set for 2024-25 season - The Auburn Plainsman

Coming off the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2019, Johnnie Harris will look to continue her rebuild of Auburn's women's basketball program in her fourth season. However, the Tigers will have to fill the void of key contributors Honesty Scott-Grayson and JaMya Mingo-Young in order to make it back to the big dance.

Our sports staff provided their thoughts on a few questions surrounding Auburn's women's basketball team just under a month out from the start of the season.

Patrick Bingham, Sports Editor: "The Tigers have improved each season under Johnnie Harris in her efforts to rebuild Auburn's program. While there are a few key pieces that have to be replaced, I expect Auburn to make it back to the NCAA Tournament this season."

Grace Heim, Assistant Sports Editor: "The outlook for the 2024-25 Auburn women’s basketball season is promising, as coach Johnnie Harris continues to build momentum for the program. With a mix of returning talent and new additions, the team looks to be in a good position to take significant strides forward. The key will be in maintaining consistency and building on last season's progress, especially in those tight SEC matchups."

Logan Fowler, Sports Reporter: "Auburn has seen steady improvement with head coach Johnnie Harris at the helm, as the Tigers are coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance and a 20-win season. With a roster that is now built to hang with the best teams in the conference, I believe this season will be another sign of improvement for the Tigers and think you can expect another tournament appearance and possibly a deep run at that."

Craig Noyes, Sports Writer: "I believe this season will provide the biggest test for head coach Johnnie Harris in her tenure at Auburn. With the program on an upward trajectory for the first time in a long time, we will see how Harris deals with a retooling rather than a rebuild. The NCAA tournament should still be in sight for Auburn, and fans will have something exciting to cheer for this season."

Patrick Bingham, Sports Editor: "I expect Mar'shaun Bostic to be a big part of the Tigers offense after a few breakout games last season."

Grace Heim, Assistant Sports Editor: "Filling the void left by Honesty Scott-Grayson won't be an easy task for Auburn women's basketball, as she was a pivotal player and leader for the team. Harris has enough talent in her returners and newcomers to fill the void left by Scott-Grayson, but the key will be filling the leadership role she took on. I expect returner Taylen Collins to step into a larger role as a leader this season, filling the shoes that Scott-Grayson left behind."

Logan Fowler, Sports Reporter: "Johnnie Harris brought in a pair of electric in-conference transfers in Taliah Scott from Arkansas and DeYona Gatson from Texas this offseason. Scott scored in double figures in every game as a Razorback last season and Gatson was a member of the All-Big 12 First Team at Texas. Those two, along with returning players Taylen Green, Mar’shaun Bostic and Kaitlyn Duhon, gives Harris plenty of options to help fill the void that the First-Team All SEC guard in Scott-Grayson left behind."

Craig Noyes, Sports Writer: "Auburn will have to fill that gap with a collective of players assembled on the roster. At the same time, some might believe that Arkansas transfer Taliah Scott will jump into that role after scoring 22.1 points per game as a Razorback. With Scott being a true sophomore, it will take her and a surprise breakout player as an aggregate to recreate the production of Scott-Grayson."

Patrick Bingham, Sports Editor: "The Tigers were able to benefit from many big home wins over key SEC opponents. Now that the schedule has flipped home and road games, Auburn will have to be able to pull off a few road upsets in order to take the next step in the SEC standings and postseason play."

Grace Heim, Assistant Sports Editor: "For Auburn women’s basketball to take the next step and make a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament, it will take a blend of consistency and continued growth. Offensively, developing a more balanced attack will be key, with multiple players stepping up to share the scoring load that Scott-Grayson dominated last season. Experience in high-pressure situations will also be crucial, and the Tigers will need the ability to execute late in close games."

Logan Fowler, Sports Reporter: "Auburn made a huge strides a year ago with upsets over the defending national champions in LSU and another win over Alabama at home. Both of those games saw record breaking attendance among fans, and the Auburn faithful are excited about what they're seeing on the hardwood from Harris' led teams. Continuing to build off of those types of wins and giving Auburn fans something to continue to want to show up and support will be big for Harris this season."

Craig Noyes, Sports Writer: "Auburn will need to continue to ride the upward trajectory that Harris has them on and not let the changing of the guard get in the way. Auburn has leaned on its star players heavily throughout the rebuild, but to show that they are a program opponents should be worried about they must show that they can win no matter who is on the roster. That will ultimately look like securing a single-digit seed in the NCAA Tournament, something they haven't done since 2016."

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