Wisconsin Badgers Forward Serah Williams Dominates in Fourth Straight Win Over Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS – Serah Williams is having, what can modestly be called, a breakout season for the Wisconsin Badgers women’s basketball team.

The sophomore big is averaging 18.6 points per game, 11.3 rebounds per game, and 3.0 blocks per game. As of Feb. 24, all of those marks are top-50 nationally and she is in the top-10 for rebounds and blocks. Just in case you were glossing over the last sentence: THOSE NUMBERS ARE AMONG THE BEST IN THE WHOLE NATION.

Serah Williams Has Developed Into a Special Player for the Wisconsin Badgers

Nov 11, 2022; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Serah Williams (25) listens to head coach Marisa Moseley during the second half of their game against Kansas State Wildcats at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK

Coming off of a productive freshman season, Williams was considered one of the key pieces to Wisconsin’s 2023-24 season but she has proven to be THE key piece for Marisa Moseley’s Badgers. Against Minnesota at The Barn on Tuesday it was clear that the Gophers had Williams at the top of their scouting report. Even with usual starting post Sophia Hart out with an injury, Minnesota came out and was physical with Williams. It caused her to have a bit of a slow start, by her standards, but she didn’t get frustrated…she got inquisitive.

“They’re really physical and I was just trying to figure out all aspects of the game, like when to score and when to seal…it just took me a minute to figure out,” Williams told me after the 11-point Wisconsin win.

Williams ended the first quarter with only two field goal attempts and one rebound but she ended the game with 30 points and 15 rebounds so, uh, yeah…she figured out what Minnesota was trying to do and she beat them in multiple ways.

Serah Williams has been the best big in the Big Ten this season.

Serah’s versatility and ability to defend, shoot from mid-range, shoot beyond the arc (38% 3pt), run the floor, post up, have strong footwork, makes her free-throws, and to add her length and athleticism, is what… pic.twitter.com/oFc0S2HagQ

— Posther Hoops (@postherhoops) February 22, 2024

“This happened in our last game (against Rutgers) too: if you just have [Williams] on the block and she’s battling, battling, battling they are able to really home in on her with the help. But moving her a little bit more? That’s what I was thinking of ‘ok, how are there different ways we can get her on the move’ whether she’s setting ball screens and moving or we’re setting back screens for her or whatever,” Moseley said postgame.

Williams was active on the offensive glass, hauling in eight on the evening, and that helped her get going too. “I think that loosened things up for her and her getting some offensive boards and some put backs helped that as well,” noted Moseley.

Tuesday night’s game was her 12th consecutive double-double, extending her program record, and she added an assist, two blocks, and a steal while shooting an absurdly efficient 11-of-14 (1-of-1 3P, 7-of-10 FT) from the field. In a conference like the Big Ten that is chock full of talented post players, Williams is not waiting her turn and has shoved her way to the top of the heap. While she will surely be on the Big Ten All-Defense team, she is making a strong case to be on the All-B1G First Team too.

Serah Williams just dropped 30 on Minnesota and blew a kiss as she walked off the court. pic.twitter.com/ELw6558GRd

— Badger WBB HQ (@BadgerWBBHQ) February 21, 2024

With the trajectory her career is on currently she is also primed to end her time in Madison as one of the program’s best players. Despite not being a Wisconsin-native she is also primed to deliver win after win (she is currently 4-0) against the Gophers in the Border Battle. “I hold it dear to my heart for all the Wisconsinites…that’s for you guys.”

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