DECEMBER 2022 17
So does the 5-foot-7 Valladay, who led
the Hoos in assists and steals last season
and, like McLean, is an exceptional athlete.
Valladay was a state champion sprinter in
high school, and she scored a career-high
30 points in UVA's win over Pitt last season.
"She's a bulldog out there," Agugua-Ham-
ilton said of Valladay. "She's so tough on
both sides of the ball, and she just brings
that grit. You need somebody like that.
Everything starts with her on defense and
trickles down. Offensively, she pushes the
tempo, and she's been a great leader."
The 6-foot Dale transferred to UVA last
year after graduating from Brown and aver-
aged only 2.9 points per game in her first
season in the ACC. But she probably was
the Cavaliers' most improved player in the
preseason.
"A lot of people look at her and think
she's a flat-out shooter, but she's getting to
the rim more and doing things outside of
her comfort zone," Agugua-Hamilton said.
"We like to utilize our versatility, so we push
kids outside their comfort zone, and she's
flourished with that."
Dale is not the only Cavalier who has el-
evated her game.
"I honestly think that all 11 players on
our roster can contribute in some capacity
Fourth-year guard Taylor Valladay led the Cavaliers with 95 assists
and 37 steals while averaging 9.5 points per game a year ago.
(Photo courtesy UVA)
