Syracuse University was founded in 1870, initially as a private research facility. The institution is now commonly respected as a sporting powerhouse, with multiple programs at the facility scoring the highest grades for education and training delivery. With that in mind, can any Syracuse Orange teams bring home silverware to New York State this season?
Struggling Women’s Basketball Team
There are 18 teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference The Syracuse Orange are ranked 18th, dead last, with an overall record of 6-8 for the season. While plenty of basketball is left to play, the first ten games haven’t gone to plan. Most notably, losing 93-62 to Notre Dame in a poor showing.
One bright spark of the team is Georgia Wooley, the Australian in her fourth year. If Syracuse is to have any success, it’ll be through her on-court skills and 14.9 scoring average.
However, the work off the court and in the classroom is being celebrated – with a very impressive 3.29 grade point average for the team’s last semester.
Holiday Bowl Cheer for the Football
Five-time conference champions, Syracuse football enjoyed a very respectable 2024 campaign, finishing 10-3 for the season. This allowed them to finish fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference and subsequently be invited to the Holiday Bowl.
Playing Washington State in the showpiece event, Syracuse not only won the match but triumphed in some style. Washington State raced to an early lead in the first quarter, 21-14. Yet the Snapdragon Stadium crowd saw an electrified Syracuse come back and win 52-35.
Syracuse QB Kyle McCord had an exceptional game with five touchdowns and no interceptions. Essentially orchestrating a symphony of offensive weapons like Oronde Gadsen II, Trebor Pena, and LeQuint Allen to success. Although in the NFL Draft McCord isn’t seen as a credible choice for first QB off the board by the best sportsbooks located offshore, he’s certain to find a landing spot and could have considerable upside in the pro game.
Middle of the Pack: Syracuse Men’s Basketball
The Syracuse men’s basketball team is supposed to be the flagbearer of the entire institution. Jim Boeheim coached the team for over 45 years, between 1976 and 2023, and ensured its competitiveness in almost every season. Of course, the crowning moment was in 2003 when he coached the NCAA tournament-winning team, which featured a freshman, Carmelo Anthony, who would later become an NBA superstar.
With Boeheim not at the helm, the basketball team is struggling to find its identity or the same success it had under the veteran head coach. Adrian Autry is in his second season in the position but has yet to stamp his authority on the position.
The faithful crowd at the JMA Wireless Dome has witnessed a very below-par performance in the 2024-25 season. Their 6-8 record to date isn’t befitting of the legacy the team expects. This has left them in 17th place in an 18-team division, far from the expectation.
Room for Improvement in the Women’s Soccer
The Syracuse Women’s Soccer team might not be the most decorated university program, but having produced players like Alex Lamontagne, Erin Simon, and Georgia Allen (all now playing at a professional level), it has the potential to be competitive in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
However, in the 2024 season, Syracuse finished dead last in the ACC table, winning zero games! Across other competitions, they did manage to win six games, but it still represented a poor campaign for the team.
Onwards and upwards for the 2025!
Women’s Tennis
The Women’s Tennis program has proven that the system has the capacity to produce players. Serafima Shastova, a Russian-born student at Syracuse, made it to the final of the NCAA Individual Championship. Unfortunately, they lost to the Tennessee player in straight sets. However, Shastova and the other players will have plenty of other chances to win the tournament.
The Women’s Volleyball Team Can’t Do Much Worse in 2025
The Syracuse Orange’s female volleyball team has been particularly below par in 2024. The team won just three games all season, finishing with a dismal 3-17 record. The issue stems from their lack of attacking power and inability to score points on the court reliably. Anastasiia Nikolnikova tried her best to score but wasn’t helped by subpar creative play around her. If the team can reshape its organization, it must do better in the 2025 season.
