March 3, 2024
The nastiest, filthiest, most lethal handles of the 2023-24 college season
By Em Adler
Yes, JuJu Watkins and MiLaysia Fulwiley show up a lot
Handles. Bags. Dribble moves. Whatever you call the skill set by which one player breaks another’s ankles and snatches their soul, there’s nothing more entertaining than someone turning on the and-one mixtape.
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Avid readers of these Sunday columns are likely aware that in these articles, I wield — to use the technical term — a boatload of video clips. Sometimes this comes in handy when I want to quickly see a handful of possessions of, say, Breanna Stewart versus Alyssa Thomas in isolation from the 2023 WNBA season, or the Candace Parker–Nneka Ogwumike two-player game in 2014, or Maggie Lucas movement threes, or Shanna Zolman movement threes from 2007. I like movement threes, okay?
Sometimes I like to use this extensive repertoire for fun instead of hyperfixating on role players from the start of the W’s 24-Second Era. And on the final day of most power conferences’ regular seasons, where every game from here on out is do-or-die, I thought it might be a good idea to take it easy and just enjoy some of the nastiest ankle-breaking handles in the college season this year. From ankle-breaking crossovers to stupefying hesis, here are the filthiest moves I saw this season.
Yes, JuJu Watkins and MiLaysia Fulwiley show up a lot.
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Behind-the-backs
MiLaysia Fulwiley vs. Maddy Westbeld and Kylee Watson
Aziaha James vs. Kymora Johnson
Crossovers
JuJu Watkins vs. Jenna Villa
Harmoni Turner vs. Alyssa Crockett
JJ Quinerly vs. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs
Iyana Moore vs. Bree Hall
Janiah Barker vs. Snudda Collins
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Eurosteps
Jerkaila Jordan vs. Mackenzie Kramer
Flau’jae Johnson vs. Bree Hall
JJ Quinerly vs. Bella Fontleroy
Hang dribbles
MiLaysia Fulwiley vs. Alissa Pili
Kennedy Todd-Williams vs. Tamari Key
Georgia Amoore vs. Kaylene Smikle
Reigan Richardson vs. Saniya Rivers
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Hesis
JuJu Watkins vs. Helena Pueyo, Breya Cunningham
Oluchi Okananwa vs. Matilda Ekh
Taina Mair vs. Saniya Rivers
JJ Quinerly vs. Lexy Keys
Jabs
Jerkaila Jordan vs. Madison Scott
Flau’jae Johnson vs. Darrione Rogers
Aneesah Morrow vs. Chloe Kitts
Kiki Iriafen vs. Bella Murekatete
Kiki Iriafen vs. Alissa Pili
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Shimmys
Abbey Hsu vs. Reigan Richardson
Smittys
KK Arnold vs. Jordan King (I’m aware this is not quite a textbook smitty)
Stepbacks
Rickea Jackson vs. Rhyne Howard (Team USA)
Caitlin Clark vs. Lexus Bargesser
Lucy Olsen vs. Jordan King
Marquesha Davis vs. Leilani Correa
Sydney Taylor vs. Sarah Ashlee Barker
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Step-throughs
Kaety L’Amoreaux vs. Destiny Adams, Chyna Cornwell
Inês Vieira vs. Jaylyn Sherrod
Hailey Van Lith vs. Frida Formann
Spin moves
Janiah Barker vs. Wyvette Mayberry, S’Mya Nichols
Indya Nivar vs. Paige Bueckers
Rickea Jackson vs. Aicha Coulibaly
Maddie Scherr vs. Karly Weathers
Caitlin Clark vs. Lavender Briggs
JuJu Watkins vs. Jaylyn Sherrod
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Miscellaneous ball fakes
Harmoni Turner vs. Lavender Briggs
Whatever the heck Flau’jae Johnson did to Darrione Rogers here
Written by Em Adler
Em Adler (she/they) covers the WNBA at large and college basketball for The Next, with a focus on player development and the game behind the game.
