BYU women\u2019s basketball held its 2025-2026 media day, introducing the Cougar roster for the new season.<\/p>\n
First-year head coach Lee Cummard addressed the media, showing just how much confidence he has in this year’s group.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to play in the NCAA tournament and make a run in the NCAA tournament,\u201d Cummard said.<\/p>\n
Cummard was announced as the eighth head coach of the BYU women\u2019s basketball program in late March after spending six years as an assistant.<\/p>\n
Cougar Nation, we’re thrilled to announce Lee Cummard as our new head coach! pic.twitter.com\/IsbAldELDu<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 BYU Women’s Hoops (@byuwbb) March 31, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The BYU women\u2019s basketball program is entering its third year in the Big 12 conference with Cummard projecting to produce their first winning season since the 2021-2022 campaign.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of turnover has happened between last year and now,\u201d Cummard said. “It’s a new league, some of the teams at the top lost quite a bit… we feel really fortunate with how much production we have coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n The Cougars went 13-17 last season, going just 4-14 in Big 12 conference play.<\/p>\n The progression of Delaney Gibb\u00a0<\/p>\n One key returner for BYU this season is Delaney Gibb, sophomore from Alberta, Canada. Gibb, having been around the program for a year, already has a relationship with Cummard.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a good relationship already,\u201d said Gibb. \u201cI was excited because he\u2019s a great guy and held me to a great standard \u2026 showed me what my potential can be \u2026 a coach that is going to push me to be the best version of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n “I’m a firm believer in if you think it enough it’s gonna come true…” <\/p>\n BYU Women’s Basketball with the goal of returning to the NCAA Tournament\ud83d\ude24 pic.twitter.com\/du8FeOXMzA<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 BYUtv Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) September 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Gibb had a strong freshman campaign, winning 10 Freshman of the Week awards and winning Big 12 Freshman of the Year.<\/p>\n During the summer, Gibb had the opportunity to play for the senior Canadian national team, winning a bronze medal in the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup.<\/p>\n \u201cShe worked really hard this offseason with us and with team Canada,\u201d said Cummard. \u201cShe\u2019s going to have a great year.\u201d<\/p>\n Cummard\u2019s coaching philosophy<\/p>\n Arielle Mackey-Williams, a redshirt junior on the team, has missed back-to-back seasons with knee injuries and has had the opportunity to get to know Cummard.<\/p>\n \u201cCoach Cummard is someone I can trust,\u201d said Mackey-Williams, \u201cI know that he has a plan for each of us girls.\u201d<\/p>\n Cummard has established himself early in his head coaching tenure as someone who gets the most out of his players.<\/p>\n Freshman Braeden Gunlock, and four-time Montana All-State honoree, has picked up on the dedication from Cummard.<\/p>\n \u201cPractices are intense,\u201d said Gunlock. \u201cI really like how he is approaching practice \u2026 he loves to win and so do we.\u201d<\/p>\n This competitive spirit was evident in Cummard\u2019s BYU playing career, playing 131 consecutive games and averaging a career high 16.8 points per game in the 2008-2009 season.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever met someone who loves BYU as much as Lee Cummard,\u201d said Mackey-Williams. \u201cHe\u2019s very passionate about this school.\u201d<\/p>\n Lee Cummard discusses culture and the ‘BYU way.’ pic.twitter.com\/vMibRTUNwo<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ben Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) April 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Prioritizing relationship-building\u00a0<\/p>\n Cummard has established himself early as a head coach who cares about the relationships between himself and his players.<\/p>\n Heather Hamson, a redshirt senior from Lindon, has been impressed with Cummard\u2019s leadership thus far.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so excited with a.l of the cultural things he\u2019s implemented,\u201d said Hamson. \u201cPractice has been awesome, the vibe of the team this year has been immaculate.\u201d<\/p>\n The theme throughout media day was that even though there has been so much change within the program, Cummard has been up to the challenge and has championed team camaraderie.<\/p>\n Tom Holmoe became BYU’s athletic director in March 2005.<\/p>\n A few weeks later, Lee Cummard arrived on campus as the Cougars’ latest prized basketball recruit.<\/p>\n Fast forward 20 years to today, and the potential final major coaching hire of Tom Holmoe’s tenure at BYU is Lee Cummard. pic.twitter.com\/YnCGz3OtMo<\/a><\/p>\n