Liberty Flames

2024-25 Record: 26-7 (16-2)

Head Coach: Alexis Sherard (1st season) takes over after Carey Green's retirement, inheriting a powerhouse that won the 2025 CUSA titles. Maintaining that efficient offense last season, ranking 33rd nationally in three-point shooting at 36.9%, is the one stat to watch. The coaching staff will say it’s holding the line at 60.2 points allowed per game during Media Day though.

Sherard and sophomore guard Avery Mills are scheduled to represent the program at the 2025 CUSA Basketball Tipoff and Media Day. Mills was the only freshman to feature in all 33 games last season, posting a TRUE 50/40/90 season: 51.9% from the field, 46.2% from beyond the arc, 91.3% from the line - including 18 straight to close out the season. She’s not worried about hostile crowds in clutch situations. Just ask her what “Audience of One” means.

Sophomore center Emmy Stout (6-3, San Diego, Calif.) is also on the preseason All-CUSA lists. Stout was Liberty’s leading scorer (7.1 ppg) and rebounder (4.3 rpg) off the bench, shooting an efficient 64.6 percent from the floor. The title-tested duo of Mills and Stouts were teammates at the prep level as well. It’s easy to understand why the chemistry on this team is undeniable.

Claudia Asin helps provide even more on-court evidence of that chemistry; she dished out 46 assists (25 turnovers) last season. Makes sense that Leo Messi is her favorite athlete, though Girona FC is the hometown club (her dad played there!) for the Spanish National Teamer. Junior guard JaKayla Thompson (5-8, Louisville, Ky.) transfers from Boston College, injecting ACC speed and vision to ignite transitions. Liberty will light up the scoreboard quickly.

5wins Crystal Ball Call: Liberty enters as the team to beat in Conference USA, unless you ask the official preseason poll. That second-place slight is merely fuel for the locker room. With the depth and experience to make another NCAA Tournament run, Sherard's continuity plus the Mills-Stout buzzsaw could torch CUSA for 15-plus wins. They were one point away (79-78) from upsetting Kentucky in the first round for a reason.