Womhoops Guru

Mel Greenberg covered college and professional women’s basketball for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he worked for 40 plus years. Greenberg pioneered national coverage of the game, including the original Top 25 women's college poll. His knowledge has earned him nicknames such as "The Guru" and "The Godfather," as well as induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.

Thursday, July 23, 2026

The Guru Philly Summer League Report: 5-Seed Electric Green Rallies From 18 Point Deficit While Top Three Seeds 1-Aquatic, 2-BlackStar, 3-Purple Haze Prevail in Quarterfinals

 Lots of WNBA news in post below here plus UPSHOT announces title format

By Andrew Robinson and Mel Greenberg @womhoopsgurux

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – Poised to become chalk night in the quarterfinals of the Philadelphia/Suburban Women’s Basketball Summer League Wednesday night at Plymouth Whitemarsh High, the top three seeds all producing relatively easy victories, 4-seed Electric Pink, the combo group from D-2 Goldey-Beacon and D3-Scranton (4-5), was well on the way to make it a sweep holding an 18-point lead over 5-seed Electric Green (Gwynedd Mercy) when suddenly Pink went cold and Green (5-4), which had challenged 2-seed BlackStar, losing 45-49 on the eighth and final night of the regular season, began to surge and went on to a 66-58 victory and on to Tuesday’s semifinals.

The two teams had finished tied for fourth, so by seed it’s not much of an upset, the dealmaker or breaker being Pink’s 88-53 lopsided opening night head-to-head win.

Court 1 will be the sole scene of both games Tuesday, which get under way at 6:30 p.m., and the 7 p.m. championship Wednesday.

In the other three contests, top-seed Aquatic (D2-Holy Family) held its perfect record, building to 9-0 in the 15-team league, winning 51-37 over 8-seed Sunburst (D-3-Ursinus), which eliminated 9-seed Royal Crown (D3-Immaculata) in a tightly fought play-in round 24 hours earlier.

BlackStar (D2-Jefferson), whose sole loss was to winter CACC league rival Aquatic, topped 6-seed Citrine Orange (D3-Rowan and D3-Ursinus Alums) 83-61, ending the opposition’s season at 3-6, while third-seed Purple Haze (D2-West Chester) went to 6-3 handling 6-seed Jade (D3-Arcadia) 69-42, to end that opponent’s season at 3-6 including the postseason.

On Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Arcadia on Court 1 plays Electric Green after winning big in the regular season 75-42 last week on July 14.

BlackStar meets Purple at 7:45 p.m. after claiming an 83-68 win on June 30.

Winners meet next Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Court 1 for the championship, which will air on Ari Bluestein’s Sports Fan Based Network channel thru YouTube for the fourth straight season.

Recapping the night, in the big comeback at the outset in the Electric Green contest, Pink blazed away at the outset, Bridget Archbold scoring 11 points in the first 10 minutes by nailing a trio of 3-point attempts and by the half had collected 14 points while teammate Katherine Lange picked up on less at 13 points.

Pink’s lead continued to rise, bringing memories of the opening night win, gaining an 18-point advantage in Wednesday’s quarterfinal.

Afterthe break, however, a different Green squad appeared, closing the gap to 51-48 at the end of the third quarter, with Azzy Crumpton scoring nine points, Layla Verbit hitting a couple of shots and the defense began to string together stops.

Crumpton started the fourth with a steal, then found Rachel Dunn inside to make it a one-point 51-50 lead.

From there, Green blazed away on a 15-0 run to go up by 12 points, paced by Brianna McFadden, who had eight points with several key assists in the final quarter.

The first of those found Holly Gohl on Green on a wing three that made it 53-51.

Crumpton on the next defensive possession got a block and then McFadden kept the motor running finding Dunn for two.

McFadden then nailed one from distance, assisted by Gohl, and then made another defensive stop before connecting on a long 3-pointer to make kit 61-51. She scored one more for the 63-51 lead.

The drought finally came to an end for Pink, scoring on two straight possessions, to cut it to 63-55 and calling time.

Archbold’s three gave Pink it ‘s last hope as Green closed it off to take the win.

Crumpton finished with 11 points for Green, Dunn scored nine, McFadden had eight as did Keara McCaffrey while five others from Green dented the scorebook.

Pink’s Maura Gilroy scored 19, Lange had 13 points, while Za’Mylah Seda-Owens and Brett Foster each scored eight points.

In unbeaten Aquatic’s win, Amy Ngo and Kara Meredith each scored 13 points while Camryn Gregory scored eight points.

Sunburst’s Delaney McCaffrey scored nine points while Anna Chimento and Ruth O’Keefe each scored eight points.

Caleigh Sperling had the night’s sole 20-point performance, scoring 21 in leading BlackStar to its victory while Cassidy Kruesi scored 12 points and Gabrielle Recinto had 10 points.

Catrine Orange got 12 points from Gabrielle Tropea on the strength of a trio of three-pointers, while Jules Tropea had 12 points, helped by 5-for-6 from the line, while Grace McShane scored nine.

In the Purple Haze win Erin Daley had 17 points, while Sa’Ni Savage and Bryanna Hicks each scored 13 points.

Jade’s Jocelyn Goldstein scored 15, while Taylor Koenig had three from deep and a perfect  2-for-2 from the line.

Between Monday and Tuesday, we’ll set up advancing the semifinals, repeating the rosters tied to those games, and Bob Heller returns from his two-week West Coast visit on his birthday Monday.

Thanks to Andrew for helping provide the details on the most exciting game of the night.

Here’s the updated scoreboard and stats.

Standings (Final Thru Monday, July 27)

Team         W   L   Pct. GB    PF   PA

S-Aquatic      8   0  1.000  — 581 367

S-BlackStar       7  1  .875  1.0   613 410

 S-Purple Haze   5 3  .625  3.0   407 374

 Q-Electric Pink  4  4  .500 4.0    423 424

 S-Electric Green 4 4 .500 4.0  366 394

 Q-Jade                     3 5 .375 5.0  485 536

 Q-Citrine Orange 3 5 .375 5.0 403 546

 Q-Sunburst          1  7  .125 7.0 439 536

  Royal Crown     1  7 .125  7.0  430 540

 Q-Quarterfinalist

 

Individual Scoring 20+ Points

36-Taylor Koenig, Jade (W) vs. Citrine Orange, June 17

26-Grace McShane, Citrine Orange (W) vs. Royal Crown, June 30

25-Natalie Mehl, Citrine Orange (L) vs. Aquatic, July 7

25-Grace McShane, Citrine Orange (W) vs. Sunburst, June 23

24-Bridget Malloy, Electric Pink (W) vs. Sunburst, July 14

24-Jocelyn Goldstein, Jade (W) vs. Cintrine Orange, June 17

24-Kara Meredith, Aquatic (W) vs. Sunburst, June 30

23-Emily Spratt, BlackStar (W) vs. Electric Green, July 15

23-Amy Ngo, Aquatic (W) vs. Electric Pink, July 8

23-Lianna Adames, Royal Crown (W) vs. Electric Green, July 7

22-Jocelyn Goldstein, Jade (L) vs. Aquatic, July 15

22-Abby Arnold, Jade (W) vs. Royal Crown, July 14

22-Taylor Koneig, Jade (L) vs. Purple Haze, July 1

21-Caleigh Sperling, BlackStar (W) vs. Citrine Orange, July 22, Q

21-Emily Spratt, BlackStar (W) vs. Purple Haze, June 30

21-Bridget Malloy, Electric Pink (W) vs. Electric Green, June 16

20-Caroline Foley, Sunburst (W) vs. Jade, July 8

20-Taylor Koenig, Jade (L) vs. Electric Green, June 30

20-Emma Wagner, Royal Crown (L) vs. Citrine Orange, June 30

20-Abby Arnold, Jade (L) vs. Electric Pink, June 24

20-Gabrielle Recinto, BlackStar (W) vs. Electric Pink, June 17

 

Results and Schedule

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, July 22

1-Aquatic 51, 8-Sunburst 37

3-Purple Haze 69, 6-Jade 42

2-BlackStar 83, 7-Citrine Orange 61

5-Electric Green 66, 4-Electric Pink 58

 

Semifinals - *

Tuesday, July 28

Court 1

6:30 p.m.

1-Aquatic (9-0) vs. 5-Electric Green (5-4)

7:45 p.m.

2-BlackStar (8-1) vs. Purple Haze (6-3)

*-Records include season and postseason

 

Championship

Wednesday, July 29

Court 1

7 p.m.

1-Aquatic/5-Electric Green vs. 2-BlackStar/3-Purple Haze

 

Tuesday, July 21

Play-in

6:30 p.m.

8-Sunburst 64, 9-Royal Crown 59

 

Regular Season

 

Wednesday, July 15

Purple Haze 69, Sunburst 42

Citrine Orange 2, Electric Pink 0, forfeit

Aquatic 75, Jade 46

BlackStar 49, vs. Electric Green 45

Bye: Royal Crown (1-7)

 

Tuesday, July 14

Jade 67, Royal Crown 59

Aquatic 75, Electric Green 42

Electric Pink 63, Sunburst 59

BlackStar 81, Citrine Orange 32

Bye: Purple Haze (4-3)

 

Wednesday, July 8

Electric Green 55, Citrine Orange 55

Jade 64, Sunburst 63

Aquatic 70, Electric Pink 47

Purple Haze 76, Royal Crown 55

Bye: BlackStar

 

Tuesday, July 7

Purple Haze 53, Electric Pink 47

BlackStar 81, Sunburst 56

Royal Crown 56, Electric Green 47

Aquatic 85, Citrine Orange 66

Bye: Jade (1-4)

 

Wednesday, July 1

Aquatic 68, BlackStar 50

Electric Pink 59, Royal Crown 58

Electric Green 58, Sunburst 54

Purple Haze 72, Jade 63

Bye: Citrine Orange

 

Tuesday, June 30

Electric Green 60, Jade 57

Citrine Orange 80, Royal Crown 71

BlackStar 83, Purple Haze 68

Aquatic 75, Sunburst 44

Bye: Electric Pink

 

Wednesday, June 24 (Games J23 & J24 Rear Bldg)

Electric Green 2, Purple Haze 0, forfeit

Electric Pink 72, Jade 49

Bye: Aquatic (2-0)

 

Tuesday, June 23

Citrine Orange 81, Sunburst 72

BlackStar 84, Royal Crown 47

 

Wednesday, June 17

BlackStar 80, Electric Pink 47

Aquatic 55, Purple Haze 33

Jade 92, Citrine Orange 60

Sunburst 49, Royal Crown 45

Bye: Electric Green

 

Tuesday, June 16

Aquatic 88, Royal Crown 53

Purple Haze 86, Citrine Orange 27

BlackStar 75, Jade 47

Electric Pink 88, Electric Green 53

Bye:  Sunburst

 

Team by Team Schedules and Results

 

1-Aquatic (D2-Holy Family +) 9-0

June 16 (W) 78-39 vs. Royal Crown (D3-Immaculata)

June 17 (W) 55-33 vs. Purple Haze (D2-West Chester)

June 23 Bye

June 30 (W) 75-44 vs. Sunburst (D3-Ursinus)

July 1 (W) 68-50 vs. BlackStar (D2-Jefferson)

July 7 (W) 85-66 vs. Citrine Orange (D3 Rowan + Ursinus Alums)

July 8 (W) 70-47 vs. Electric Pink (D2-Goldey-Beacom)

July 14 (W) 75-42 vs. Electric Green (D3-Gwynedd Mercy)

July 15 (W) 75-46 vs. Jade (D3-Arcadia)

July 23 (W) 51-37 vs. Sunburst, Q

July 28 vs. 5-Electric Green, 6:30 p.m., Court 1, S

 

2-BlackStar (D2-Jefferson+), 8-1

June 16 (W) 75-47 vs. Jade

June 17 (W) 80-47 vs. Electric Pink

June 23 (W) 84-47 vs. Royal Crown

June 30 (W) 83-68 vs. Purple Haze

July 1 (L) 50-68 vs. Aquatic

July 7 (W) 81-56

July 8 Bye

July 14 (W) 81-32 Citrine Orange

July 15 (W) 49-45 Electric Green

July 23 (W) 83-61 vs. 7-Citrine Orange, Q

July 28 vs. 3-Purple Haze, 7:45 p.m., Court 1, S

 

7-Citrine Orange (D3-Rowan Undergrads + Ursinus Alums), 2-6

June 16 (L) 27-86 vs. Purple Haze

June 17 (L) 60-92 vs. Jade

June 23 (W) 81-72 vs. Sunburst

June 30 (W) 80-71 vs. Royal Crown

July 1 Bye

July 7 (L) 66-85 vs. Aquatic

July 8 (L) 55-59 vs. Electric Green

July 14 (L) 32-81 vs. BlackStar

July 15 (W) 2-0 vs. Electric Pink, forfeit

July 23 (L) 61-83 vs. BlackStar, Q

 

5-Electric Green (D3-Gwynedd Mercy +) 5-4

June 16 (L) 53-88 vs. Electric Pink

June 17 Bye

June 24 (W) 2-0 vs. Purple Haze, forfeit

June 30 (W) 60-57 vs. Jade

July 1 (W) 58-54 vs. Sunburst

July 7 (L) 47-56 vs. Royal Crown

July 8 (W) 59-55 vs. Citrine Orange

July 14 (L) 42-75 vs. Aquatic

July 15 (L) 45-49 vs. BlackStar

July 23 (W) 66-58 vs. Electric Pink, Q

July 28 vs. 1-Aquatic, 6:30 p.m., Court 1, S

 

4-Electric Pink (D2-Goldey-Beacom +) 4-5

June 16 (W) 88-53 vs. Electric Green

June 17 (L) 47-80 vs. BlackStar

June 24 (W) 72-49 vs. Jade

June 30 Bye

July 1 (W) 59-58 Royal Crown

July 7 (L) 47-53 vs. Purple Haze

July 8 (L) 47-70 vs. Aquatic

July 14 (W) 63-59 vs. Sunburst

July 15 (L) 0-2 Citrine Orange, forfeit

July 23 (L) 58-66 vs. 5-Electric Green, Q

 

6-Jade (D3-Arcadia +) 3-6

June 16 (L) 47-75 vs. BlackStar

June 17 (W) 92-60 vs. Citrine Orange

June 24 (L) 49-72 vs. Electric Pink

June 30 (L) 57-60 vs. Electric Green

July 1 (L) 63-72 vs. Purple Haze

July 7 Bye

July 8 (W) 64-63 vs. Sunburst

July 14 (W) 67-59 vs. Royal Crown

July 15 (L) 46-75 vs. Aquatic

July 23 (L) 42-69 vs. 3-Purple Haze, Q

 

3-Purple Haze (D2-West Chester +) 6-3

June 16 (W) 86-27 vs. Citrine Orange

June 17 (L) 33-55 vs. Aquatic

June 24 (L) 0-2, forfeit vs. Electric Green

June 30 (L) 68-83 vs. BlackStar

July 1 (W) 72-63 vs. Jade

July 7 (W) 53-47 vs. Electric Pink

July 8 (W) 76-55 vs. Royal Crown

July 14 Bye

July 15 (W) 69-42 vs. Sunburst

July 23 (W) 69-42 vs. 6-Jade, Q

July 28 vs. 2-BlackStar, 7:45 p.m., Court 1, S

 

9-Royal Crown (D3-Immaculata +) 1-7

June 16 (L) 39-78 vs. Aquatic

June 17 (L) 45-49 va. Sunburst

June 23 (L) 47-84 vs. BlackStar

June 30 (L) 71-80 vs. Citrine Orange

July 1 (L) 58-59 vs. Electric Pink

July 7 (W) 56-47 vs. Electric Green

July 8 (L) 55-76 vs. Purple Haze

July 14 (L) 59-67 vs Jade

July 15 Bye

July 22 (L) 59-64 8-Sunburst, play-in

 

8-Sunburst (D3-Ursinus +) 1-7

June 16 Bye

June 17 (W) 49-45 vs. Royal Crown

June 23 (L) 72-81 vs. Citrine Orange

June 30 (L) 44-75 vs. Aquatic

July 1 (L) 54-58 vs. Electric Green, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

July 7 (L) 56-81 vs. BlackStar

July 8 (L) 63-64 vs. Jade

July 14 (L) 59-63 vs. Electric Pink

July 15 (L) 42-69 Purple Haze

July 22 (W) 64-59 vs. 9-Royal Crown, play-in

July 23 (L) 37-51 vs.1-Aquatic, Q

 

Seed Tracker

 

Codes – AQ-Aquatic; BS-BlackStar; CO-Citrine Orange; EG-Electric Green; EP-Electric Pink; JA-Jade; PH-Purple Haze; RC-Royal Crown; SU-Sunburst

F-Outcome Thru Forfeit

 

AQ 8-0 W-RC; W-PU; Bye; W-SU; W-BS; W-CO; W-EP; W-EG; W-JA

BS 7-1 W-JA; W-EP; W-RC; W-PH; L-AQ; W-SU; Bye; W-CO; W-EG

PH 5-3 W-CO; L-AQ; vs. LF-EG; L-BS; W-JA; W-EP; 4- RC; Bye; W-SU

EP 4-4 W-EG; L-BS; W-JA; Bye; W-RC; L-PH; L-AQ; W-SU; LF-CO

EG 4-4 L-EP; Bye; WF- PH; W-JA; W-SU; L-RC; W- CO; L-AQ; L-BS

JA 3-5 L-BS; W-CO; vs. L-EP; L-EG; L-PH; Bye; W-SU; W-RC; L-AQ

CO 3-5 L-PH; L-JA; W-SU; W-RC; Bye; L-AQ; L-EG; L-BS; WF-EP

SU 1-7 Bye; W-RC; L-CO; L- AQ; L-EG; L-BS; L-JA; L-EP; L-PH

RC 1-7 L-AQ; L-SU; L-BS; L-CO; L-EP; W-EG; L-PH; L-JA; Bye

  

 

 


Pink started out hot - bridget