Syracuse guard Dominique Darius named USBWA National Player of the Week
Syracuse guard Dominique Darius was named USBWA National Player of the Week, the association announced Wednesday. Tara Deluca | Asst. Photo Editor
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Syracuse guard Dominique Darius was named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Week, the organization announced Wednesday. Darius hit a game-winning 3 over Cal Thursday and dropped a career-high 26 points in SU’s win over Stanford Sunday. The award is Darius’ first national honor of her five-year career.
The Jacksonville, Florida, native started the week similarly to her prior three Atlantic Coast Conference games. Against Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest, Darius combined for 13 points, her lowest mark over a three-game stretch this season.
Darius’ troubles continued early against Cal. In the first half, she scored just two points on 1-of-3 shooting along with two assists. The second half wasn’t much better, with the USC transfer dropping six points of 2-of-6 shooting. As SU’s 20-point lead dwindled, though, Darius was given 15 more minutes to shine. She didn’t let it go to waste.
With Laila Phelia, Darius’ backcourt partner, sidelined with a lower-back injury, Darius turned in 11 points across three overtime periods to finish with 19, one of four Syracuse players in double figures. With the game tied at 87-87 with 3.5 seconds left, Darius drained a deep isolation 3, which head coach Felisha Legette-Jack crowned “her moment.”
Three days later, Darius remained ablaze. Phelia’s injury carried over to the clash with Stanford, leaving Darius to take the reins. She dropped 26 points on 6-of-13 shooting and added four assists. It was Darius’ most efficient outing since Syracuse’s 106-40 win over Mercyhurst on Dec. 19, 2025.
Through 19 games, Darius ranks second on the Orange with 12.7 points per game and first with 3.4 assists. Though Phelia is expected to return for Syracuse’s matchup with North Carolina Sunday, Darius will remain a mainstay in its starting backcourt.
