Laila Phelia started her Syracuse basketball career off on a high note, and she's positioned to be one of the country's top guards in the 2025-26 season.
The 6-foot Phelia, a graduate student from Cincinnati, helped lead the Orange to a 98-62 home exhibition win over Division II Daemen on Tuesday night. In 17 minutes, Phelia scored 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field, 3-of-6 from long distance and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. She added one rebound, two assists and two steals.
Earlier on Tuesday, Phelia was one of 20 players named to the preseason watch list for the 2026 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, which is given out annually to the best shooting guard in women's college basketball.