Stakes were high for Team USA when they began their Olympic campaign against Japan in Paris. A’ja Wilson & Co. improved their performance with every game and won 60 straight Olympic contests, finally making their way to the Finals. Though they are the favorites to win the gold and create history by bagging their eighth consecutive gold medal, one person who can play spoilsport to their ambitions is the French baller, Gabby Williams.
Averaging 18.5 points with 5.4 rebounds per game, Williams has been the chief decimator for France, and when she next plays the Finals against Team USA on Sunday, it will be interesting to see how she uses her knowledge of the American hooping culture to try to dismantle the USA. For starters, Williams was born in Nevada USA, and plied her trade for the University of Connecticut Huskies. Today, EssentiallySports takes a look at her college stats to understand how Williams was groomed as a player.
Gabby Williams’s humble UConn beginnings
It would come as a surprise but Williams has more than 1582 points and 1007 rebounds, making her one of the eight Huskies to have more than 1000 points and 1000 rebounds. To top that, Williams is an exceptional assist maker and is only joined by four more UConn players to have a triple-double in the program’s history.
When Williams joined UConn in 2014, she didn’t know that she would get lucky enough to accomplish a major milestone in her first year. Groomed by Geno Auriemma and supported by her seniors such as Breanna Stewart, Williams won the Championship title during her freshman year. Well, to say that it was only luck would be doing a disservice to her capabilities.
via Getty
Though she did not start in any of the games, Williams averaged 8.3 points with 5.7 rebounds per game, proving that she too could stand up for her team if given a chance. However, she would have to wait for her junior year to become a mainstay for the squad.
During her sophomore year, UConn again started their campaign on a high note which culminated in the Huskies winning their second consecutive title. Williams played 38 games but only started in 12 of them, averaging a decent 8.8 points with 5.6 rebounds per game.
Thus, till her sophomore year, Williams was seen as more of a defensive player who could also score if the main offensive stars were screened. Hence, it was in her junior year that Williams finally became a chief player for her team, something she had wanted for quite some time.
Gabby Williams comes into her own
By the beginning of the third year, many players of UConn’s championship-winning team had left. And it was then that Williams was entrusted with the responsibility of carrying the onus of the team. The Nevaada-born averaged 14.3 points with 8.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. Thus, she proves her talent to be an all-round player. Another interesting fact to note is that Williams played in 37 games that year, starting in all of them.
During her final year with the Huskies, Williams started in all the 36 games she played. Her efforts helped the team reach the Final Four albeit they couldn’t proceed after that. Williams scored 11.2 points with 7.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Due to her exceptional scoring skills, she finished her time at UConn as the 22nd player on their all-time scoring list and the seventh place in the all-time rebounds tally. For her exemplary gameplay, Williams was also honored with the 2018 Lowe’s Senior Class Award.
And hence, when Team USA steps against Williams on Sunday, they would have plans to stop the French from having an offensive treat. Plus, when it comes to the defense, Wilson & Co. will make sure to not give her many winning opportunities. Hopefully, for fans, Team USA will be able to grab their 61st win on the trot and clinch their eighth consecutive gold medal.
Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.
