Despite being the off-season for women’s college basketball, the summer has been packed with international tournaments showcasing top talent for next season. Here are the highlights of the top 10 female players from this year’s summer circuit in international basketball.
A standout performance could be on the horizon for Syla Swords, who excelled with Canada in consecutive years.
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Syla Swords had an incredible summer in 2024, becoming the youngest Canadian to compete on the Olympic team in Paris. In 2025, she continued to impress, being the only player on this list to compete in both senior and junior events for Canada, earning all-tournament accolades in the Women’s AmeriCup and Women’s U19 World Cup. She played a crucial role in guiding Canada to the semifinals in both tournaments. Her standout moment included scoring the game-winning basket in double overtime for the Bronze Medal at the AmeriCup.
Mikayla Blakes, a 5-foot-8 sophomore guard from Vanderbilt, distinguished herself at this year’s Women’s AmeriCup. She emerged as a star among All-Americans and earned the tournament’s MVP award, averaging 14 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2 steals per game. Blakes’ best performance came in the championship game against Brazil, where she scored 27 points, leading Team USA to a gold medal victory, overcoming their loss to Brazil in the previous year’s final.
Meanwhile, Silva dominated the 2025 U19 Women’s World Cup, leading in points and blocks while finishing third in rebounds. Despite not making the all-tournament team, she took home the top defensive player award. Silva recorded an impressive game against Israel, showcasing her all-around abilities. After a less prominent role in her freshman year at Kentucky, she’s set to make a bigger impact at TCU following her transfer.
Additionally, although Mevius didn’t compete in traditional tournaments, she shone on the half-court, clinching five FIBA 3×3 tournaments including a gold medal at the 2025 World University Games. Mevius has been statistically one of the most valuable players, featuring prominently in highlight reels with impressive views on social media. As she prepares for her final season at Oregon, her contributions have significantly affected the outcome of her games.
Honorable Mentions:
Other notable players include Hannah Hidalgo from Notre Dame, Jazzy Davidson from USC, and Bonnie Deas from Arkansas, among others. These athletes have shown impressive performances that are paving the way for future successes in women’s college basketball. It’s worth noting that this assessment was made prior to the conclusion of crucial tournaments occurring in late July and early August.
