Wake Forest Athletics
Williams Stepping into Larger Role as an Upperclassman
9/29/2023 10:49:00 AM | Women's Basketball
“This year, I’m trying to set the tone for myself and my teammates.” - Elise Williams
The motion offense installed by second-year Wake Forest Women's Basketball coach Megan Gebbia ensures everyone will get opportunities to get open and balanced scoring should reign supreme this season for the Demon Deacons.
Even so, there are times in certain games when you need a bucket and you have one player who you count on to produce in those high-pressure situations. This upcoming season, that player very well could be returning junior guard Elise Williams, who scored 10.3 points a game last season while leading the team by connecting on 37.7 percent of her 3-point shots.
"Coach has been on me about creating and scoring more," Williams said. "I need to come out for every game with the same mentality and consistency. Last year, I had some ups and downs. We can't afford for me to not show up consistently, and that starts with practice. This year, I'm trying to set the tone for myself and my teammates.
"We have places to go, and it starts with practice. I want to enter the gym every day with the same mentality."
Although there were more high-volume long-range shooters last season, nobody connected behind the arc with the accuracy of Williams.
"I'm a well-rounded player," she said. "I'm good with a little bit of everything. That's just what I do. I want to bring more scoring. I'm going to have to score. There's always things I can improve upon. In terms of assists, steals and rebounding? Those are things I do naturally.
"I know I can shoot the ball pretty well, but I have to focus on finishing around the basket."
Gebbia added a top-25 nationally ranked recruiting class to a talented group of returning players, looking to rise up the ACC rankings in her second year leading the program. Williams is the leading returning scorer from a season ago, but is joined by the likes of Demeara Hinds, Kaia Harrison, Alyssa Andrews, Malaya Cowles, Kate Deeble, Raegyn Conley and Alexandria Scruggs.
"We have a lot of the same team from last year, but the freshmen are the new additions," Williams said. "I'm excited to get to play with them. They're doing a great job coming to practice, learning and taking everything in. I'm excited to see how they develop and to play with them.
"Our offense and defense is very complex. They came in completely locked in and trying to learn. They look pretty good."
The Freshmen, Madisyn Jordan, Makaela Quimby and Rylie Theuerkauf, arrived on campus in July and started learning the team culture and vernacular quickly.
"Our coaches harp on communication," Williams said. "Our basketball play is pretty solid right now. When we're communicating well, it just all fits together well just like a puzzle. The offense is designed so that not just one person is carrying the load. That's why we're trying to help the freshmen as best we can.
"We only have 12 players, so everyone is going to get to play — even the freshmen. We'll need them to understand how everything works. Everyone gets touches. With the ball moving around, we see what the defense does and can make reads off those actions."
A Raleigh (Wakefield High School) native, Williams arrived at Wake Forest in the middle of the 2020-21 season, and has now played 66 games as a Demon Deacon.
"I didn't have any other ACC offers at the time," Williams said of her recruiting process. "We're still the best conference in the country for intercollegiate athletics, and I didn't want to play anywhere else. I wanted to challenge myself. I could have gone to a mid-major and maybe score 30 points a game.
"I wanted to prove to myself that I could play in one of the top leagues in the country. I've had a pretty good career here so far. I love the campus and the coaching staff."
Gebbia believes Williams is doing all the right things to have a standout season for the Demon Deacons.
"Elise Williams looks great," Gebbia said. "She has taken on the role of the best player. She knows she's going to have to do a little bit of everything, and it's fun to watch. She's in shape, showing mental toughness and becoming more of a leader.
"Her teammates are listening and love playing with her. She will get you the ball in the right spot, on time. It's not all about her scoring herself."
Even so, there are times in certain games when you need a bucket and you have one player who you count on to produce in those high-pressure situations. This upcoming season, that player very well could be returning junior guard Elise Williams, who scored 10.3 points a game last season while leading the team by connecting on 37.7 percent of her 3-point shots.
"Coach has been on me about creating and scoring more," Williams said. "I need to come out for every game with the same mentality and consistency. Last year, I had some ups and downs. We can't afford for me to not show up consistently, and that starts with practice. This year, I'm trying to set the tone for myself and my teammates.
"We have places to go, and it starts with practice. I want to enter the gym every day with the same mentality."
Although there were more high-volume long-range shooters last season, nobody connected behind the arc with the accuracy of Williams.
"I'm a well-rounded player," she said. "I'm good with a little bit of everything. That's just what I do. I want to bring more scoring. I'm going to have to score. There's always things I can improve upon. In terms of assists, steals and rebounding? Those are things I do naturally.
"I know I can shoot the ball pretty well, but I have to focus on finishing around the basket."
Gebbia added a top-25 nationally ranked recruiting class to a talented group of returning players, looking to rise up the ACC rankings in her second year leading the program. Williams is the leading returning scorer from a season ago, but is joined by the likes of Demeara Hinds, Kaia Harrison, Alyssa Andrews, Malaya Cowles, Kate Deeble, Raegyn Conley and Alexandria Scruggs.
"We have a lot of the same team from last year, but the freshmen are the new additions," Williams said. "I'm excited to get to play with them. They're doing a great job coming to practice, learning and taking everything in. I'm excited to see how they develop and to play with them.
"Our offense and defense is very complex. They came in completely locked in and trying to learn. They look pretty good."
The Freshmen, Madisyn Jordan, Makaela Quimby and Rylie Theuerkauf, arrived on campus in July and started learning the team culture and vernacular quickly.
"Our coaches harp on communication," Williams said. "Our basketball play is pretty solid right now. When we're communicating well, it just all fits together well just like a puzzle. The offense is designed so that not just one person is carrying the load. That's why we're trying to help the freshmen as best we can.
"We only have 12 players, so everyone is going to get to play — even the freshmen. We'll need them to understand how everything works. Everyone gets touches. With the ball moving around, we see what the defense does and can make reads off those actions."
A Raleigh (Wakefield High School) native, Williams arrived at Wake Forest in the middle of the 2020-21 season, and has now played 66 games as a Demon Deacon.
"I didn't have any other ACC offers at the time," Williams said of her recruiting process. "We're still the best conference in the country for intercollegiate athletics, and I didn't want to play anywhere else. I wanted to challenge myself. I could have gone to a mid-major and maybe score 30 points a game.
"I wanted to prove to myself that I could play in one of the top leagues in the country. I've had a pretty good career here so far. I love the campus and the coaching staff."
Gebbia believes Williams is doing all the right things to have a standout season for the Demon Deacons.
"Elise Williams looks great," Gebbia said. "She has taken on the role of the best player. She knows she's going to have to do a little bit of everything, and it's fun to watch. She's in shape, showing mental toughness and becoming more of a leader.
"Her teammates are listening and love playing with her. She will get you the ball in the right spot, on time. It's not all about her scoring herself."
Players Mentioned
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