STORRS, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 23: Uche Izoje #44 of the Syracuse Orange is defended by Serah Williams #22 of the Connecticut Huskies during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on March 23, 2026 in Storrs, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThe Syracuse Orange womens basketball team will be entering the 2026-27 season with reigning ACC Rookie of the Year Uche Izoje back on the court, and the promising young center is already garnering national recognition heading into the new season.ESPN recently released its preview for the upcoming womens basketball campaign, which is now less than 100 days away. In the piece, ESPN unveiled a list of 10 players with breakout potential, and Izoje was one of the names mentioned.Izoje and TCU center Clara Silva were the only two centers named on the breakout candidates list. She was also one of only two ACC players with this recognition, the other being Duke guard Riley Nelson.Besides Izoje, the rest of the list includes Silva, Nelson, UCLA forward Sienna Betts, Kansas forward Jaliya Davis, Michigan guard TeYala Delfosse, LSU guard ZaKiyah Johnson, Washington forward Brynn McGaughy, Texas guard Bryanna Preston, and UConn forward Blanca Quionez.The sky's the limit for Uche this season Read More: https://t.co/mRQ9ttjHLypic.twitter.com/3mz4e9KSWD Syracuse Women's Basketball (@CuseWBB) July 28, 2026Much like Kansas Davis, you could say that Izoje already broke out with such a great first season However, we could see even more national acclaim this season for the 6-3 center from Nigeria, ESPN wrote.In her first year with the Orange, Izoje shined across the board. In 33 games (all as a starter), she finished the year averaging 15.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals, and an ACC-high 2.6 blocks per game in 28 minutes a contest. She also broke team records for both total points and rebounds as a freshman.Besides becoming just the second Syracuse player ever to win conference Rookie of the Year (joining Kamilla Cardoso in 2021), Izoje earned a spot on the All-ACC first team. Izoje was also named a WBCA All-America honorable mention, one of nine players in program history to get that recognition.Izoje will look to take that leap her sophomore year and help coach Felisha Legette-Jack and the Orange build off a 24-9 overall record and an NCAA Tournament Second Round finish in the 2025-26 season.