Michigan State women's basketball roster: Player-by-player analysis

Injuries took their toll last season for the Michigan State women's basketball team and prevented a young core from building on an NCAA tournament appearance from 2021.

With a revamped roster, the Spartans hope to find success and get back to the Big Dance.

Coach Suzy Merchant enters her 16th season in charge of the MSU program with a roster featuring plenty of depth. The Spartans have seven newcomers this season to go along with 10 returners.

Here is a player-by-player look at the MSU roster ahead of Monday's season opener against Delaware State.

POTENTIAL STARTERS

Matilda Ekh

6-0 guard / forward

Ekh carried a heavy load during her debut season after arriving from Sweden and was a fixture in the Spartans' starting lineup. She was named honorable mention All-Big Ten and to the All-Freshman squad. Ekh gives MSU a reliable outside shooting threat after making 69 3-pointers last season. She averaged 11.8 points a game and is the Spartans' leading returning scorer.

DeeDee Hagemann

5-7 guard

The sophomore logged heavy minutes at point guard during her debut season and had plenty of success. The 2021 Michigan Miss Basketball winner was named to the All-freshman and honorable mention All-Big Ten teams. The playmaker averaged 5.3 assists to rank among the Big Ten's leaders and also averaged 7.7 points and 3.7 rebounds.

Gabby Elliott

5-10 guard

The junior is one of three transfers the Spartans added to the roster and is a former Miss Basketball winner after starring at Detroit Edison alongside Hagemann. Elliott was an impact player at Clemson where she was part of the ACC's All-Freshman team. She had started 10 of 12 games before leaving Clemson.

Kamaria McDaniel

5-10 guard

The grad transfer from Baylor via Penn State brings significant experience to the Spartans’ backcourt. The Inkster native is a few years removed from earning All-Big Ten accolades while with the Nittany Lions. She averaged 19.8 points during 2019-20 while ranking second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally in scoring. McDaniel will help fill the scoring void with last year’s leading scorer Nia Clouden now in the WNBA.

Taiyier Parks

6-3 forward

The senior is by far the most experienced post player for the Spartans and has improved her numbers each season. Parks set career highs in scoring and rebounding last winter, averaging 8.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. After primarily coming off the bench during her first three seasons, Parks will likely fill a starting role.

RESERVES

Isaline Alexander

6-3 forward

The sophomore came on in the late stages of her debut season with a few strong performances off the bench. Alexander will likely fill a key role as a post presence off the bench and will look to build on her finish to her freshman season.

Julia Ayrault

6-2 guard

The redshirt junior returns after missing all of the 2021-22 season with a left foot injury. Ayrault started 15 of the 19 games she appeared in during her sophomore season and played a role in the Spartans reaching the NCAA tournament. She gives MSU another experienced player who has been a big contributor in the past.

Theryn Hallock

5-10 guard

The freshman was a Miss Basketball finalist and the Associated Press Division 1 basketball player of the year in Michigan last season while starring at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central. She was also the state's Gatorade girls soccer player of the year. Using her speed and agility, Hallock has made a strong early impression.

More:In sticking to roots, Theryn Hallock making strong impression for MSU women's basketball

Moira Joiner

5-10 guard

The senior and Saginaw native missed a good portion of last season with a concussion and is back. She brings experience and plenty of versatility for the Spartans. Joiner has started 40 of the 65 games she has appeared in over her first three seasons and is a career 38.4% shooter from beyond the 3-point arc.

Abbey Kimball

5-10 guard

Kimball was a top-100 recruit out of Grand Rapids West Catholic and the state's Miss Basketball runner-up last season. She finished her high school career by helping West Catholic to a state runner-up finish in Division 2. Merchant described Kimball as a gritty competitor.

Tory Ozment

6-1 guard / forward

The senior was sidelined all of last season by a left ACL tear. She's dealt with injuries during her career but has been a valuable contributor when healthy. Ozment has made 25 starts during her career and has displayed an ability to play a few different positions.

Stephanie Visscher

6-0 guard

Visscher, a native of Sweden, joined the Spartans as a grad transfer. She was an impact player as a scorer and defender for Stephen F. Austin and is expected to play a role for the Spartans as Merchant gets back to her defensive roots. She was a three-time member of the Western Athletic Conference all-defensive team and also a leading scorer for SFA.

Jayla James

6-1 forward

The senior has appeared in 29 games off the bench over the last two seasons since arriving at MSU as a transfer from Penn State. James provides added depth for the Spartans.

Brooklyn Rewers

6-4 center

The sophomore and Idaho native played limited minutes while appearing in 13 games as a freshman. She gives MSU another interior option outside of Alexander and Parks.

Lauren Walker

6-2 forward

The sophomore made six appearances during her debut season for the Spartans and provides another frontcourt option.

Olivia Porter

5-8 guard

The freshman is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and joined MSU as a walk-on.

Maddy Skorupski

5-8 guard

The Clarkston native is a freshman walk-on who adds depth for the Spartans.

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State women's basketball roster breakdown