Molly was captain clutch for Wisconsin Impact 17U Overland during their double-OT thriller Saturday morning at the PGH Great Lakes Region Finals. Trailing in the closing seconds, Molly attacked down the baseline to score the tying basket to end regulation. She was a leader on both ends of the court throughout the game. Molly slashed and kicked the ball out to open shooters on the perimeter for assists, threw strong passes inside to cutters, chased down breakaways to poke the ball out from behind, and sprinted back in transition to stop fast break points. She rotated from help for a steal, stripped the ball on a drive, crashed the glass to secure rebounds, swished a smoother corner three, and dropped in a soft floater off a crossover dribble before the help could arrive. Molly’s an effective facilitator who can slash and score, shoot from three, and make the tough plays needed from the lead guard spot.

Makinen is an excellent shooter with impressive form, firmly establishing herself as a threat from beyond the arc. She has a knack for carving her way to the basket and does an excellent job protecting the ball on drives. She sets up the offense effectively and uses her sharp crossover, hesitation move, and floater to keep defenders guessing. Her court vision allows her to dish the ball nicely, making her a valuable playmaker. Despite her size, she finishes remarkably well around the basket. I’m excited to see her on the varsity court this season and have no doubt she will excel.