FSU Women's Basketball adds new twists to dynamic attack

There’s not a lot Ta’Niya Latson hasn’t done for the Florida State women’s basketball team over the past two seasons.

She has earned first-team All-ACC honors each year, she tied a school record for the fastest player to score 1,000 points, and she has proven to be one of the most dynamic players in the country.

Yet as the Florida State Seminoles continue preparations for the start of the 2024-25 season, Latson is working on sharpening one skill that could take the ‘Noles to a higher level — that of team leader.

“Just being more of a vocal leader and encouraging my teammates,” Latson said. “Bringing them along and not being so caught up in what I have and what I need to do and focusing on my goals. Just trying to think of the team more. And being that impact player on and off the court.”

It wasn’t that long ago that Latson was a freshman phenom who was just trying to contribute in any way she could. Then even last season, when she averaged 21.4 points per game, Latson still wasn’t necessarily comfortable trying to assume a leadership role on a team with several older players.

But now, as a star junior on a team with only three seniors, Latson knows it’s time to focus on more than just herself. She needs to help make Florida State’s other players better, and that is something she started working on during the offseason.

“She’s a natural leader,” third-year FSU head coach Brooke Wyckoff said. “But she’s hard on herself and always expecting more out of herself, which I love. But she is a natural leader, whether it’s in how she’s playing, the intensity she brings to a practice or a game. But yes, her voice is continuing to grow. And her confidence in leading her teammates vocally has also been very evident, and I’m really proud of that.”

Latson will have plenty of help when it comes to shouldering the load on the court this season.

The Seminoles, who went 23-11 last year but were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the first round, return 75 percent of their scoring and 82 percent of their rebounding.

A large chunk of that production came from 6-foot-2 forward Makayla Timpson. As a junior, she averaged 14.3 points and 10.0 rebounds, and she collected a school-record 18 double-doubles. Timpson actually set single-season Florida State records for rebounds and blocked shots as well.

To help Timpson inside, Florida State picked up 6-4 grad transfer Malea Williams, who played previously at Cincinnati and Louisville. Williams averaged 8.3 points and 5.9 rebounds last season with the Bearcats, and she also is a prolific shot-blocker.

The Seminoles also added a pair of tall guards — 6-1 junior Morelia Chavez and 6-foot junior Sydney Bowles — who are expected to provide major help at both ends of the floor and on the boards.

“They’re big guards that can also just help us rebounding-wise and defensively,” Wyckoff said. “We brought them intentionally to add size, to add some 3-point shooting ability. We’re seeing that.”

While Florida State’s up-tempo, run-and-gun offensive approach will remain the same, Wyckoff said her squad will look a little different on defense this season. Instead of trying to set up a solid half-court defense that can react to different offensive styles, the Seminoles now plan to force the issue at that end of the floor.

Wyckoff said she and her coaches have implemented a more attacking style of defense that will look to force opponents into miscues and rushed shots, which could lead to even more scoring opportunities in transition.

“We’re really trying to match our tempo on the offensive end,” Wyckoff said. “We want to be one of the fastest teams in the country offensively. So, matching that defensively, just in terms of dictating, picking up the pressure and really trying to be a little bit more active defensively so we can get out and run.”

Florida State will host Tampa in an exhibition game on Oct. 23, and West Florida on Oct. 30. The Seminoles’ regular season begins Nov. 4 against visiting North Florida. Single-game tickets will be available on Seminoles.com beginning today.

Basketball Tipoff Event

The FSU Women’s Basketball Tipoff event is scheduled for Oct. 20, from 3-5 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Champions Club inside Doak Campbell Stadium.

Tickets for adults are $30, and they are $10 for children under 12. Fans can meet the team and coaches, participate in a silent auction, and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

***Talk about this story with passionate FSU Basketball fans on the Seminole Hoops***