Cal Poly San Luis Obispo<\/p>\n
Coach: Shanele Stires<\/a> Overview: The Mustangs are going to have some pretty big shoes to fill this year. Their three leading scorers from last season have either graduated (Annika Shah<\/a>, Sierra Litchie) or have hit the transfer portal (Mary Carter<\/a>). They also lost key senior leadership in Sydney Bourland<\/a> and Sidney Richards<\/a>. Cal Poly might find some relief through a couple of key transfers, but it\u2019s looking like a gap year for the Mustangs.<\/p>\n Backcourt: The Mustangs picked up two key players out of the transfer portal in Vanessa McManus and Arissa Garcia to help bolster the backcourt.<\/p>\n McManus is a transfer from Division II Saint Leo University, and was a double digit scorer<\/a> in her first season of college basketball at 13.1 points per game. She shot 43.7% from the field and 46.2% from three-point range. Garcia arrives from Murray State College in the junior college ranks. She too averaged double figures<\/a> in scoring at 10.5 points while shooting 45.4% from the field and 33.7% from downtown. She also dished out 6.1 assists. If both players can transition quickly to Division I, the Mustangs\u2019 backcourt could be a position of strength.<\/p>\n Aside from the transfers, Cal Poly has a few returners who will be counted on to provide consistent production. The Mustangs will need a big leap from redshirt sophomore guard Alana Goosby<\/a> as well as sophomore guard Ana Mole\u00f3n Hidalgo. Both players appeared sparingly last season, but will have opportunities for bigger roles this year. Sophomore guard Gabby Kay Robinson was a regular in last year\u2019s rotation, and will be counted on for continued production.<\/p>\n Frontcourt: The frontcourt is where things are a little less certain for the Mustangs. The team has three players who could have breakout seasons with increased opportunity.<\/p>\n At 6\u20193, sophomore forward Gillian Bears<\/a> is the player the most size on the team. Bears didn\u2019t play much last season but did manage to shoot efficiently at 52.9%. She will have a major opportunity to lock down a starting role this season. She\u2019s effective in the paint with a soft touch around the basket, but can also step out and shoot the midrange jumper.<\/p>\n Sophomore forward Nora Perez<\/a> will also have an opportunity to crack the starting lineup, but she can also emerge as a key contributor off the bench. She also did not play much in 2024-25, but she is a good rebounder and a solid defensive player. She\u2019s someone who doesn\u2019t need the ball in her hands to be effective.<\/p>\n Lastly, sophomore forward Avery Knapp could help strengthen the Mustangs\u2019 frontcourt rotation. She also was sparingly used last season, but will be counted on to for minutes this year. She runs the floor well and can finish at the basket, and she can be an effective presence on the glass.<\/p>\n \u201cBecoming Caitlin Clark\u201d is out now!<\/p>\n Howard Megdal\u2019s newest book is here! \u201cBecoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar\u201d captures both the historic nature of Clark\u2019s rise and the critical context over the previous century that helped make it possible, including interviews with Clark, Lisa Bluder (who also wrote the foreword), C. Vivian Stringer, Jan Jensen, Molly Kazmer and many others.<\/p>\n Cal State Bakersfield<\/p>\n Coach: Ari Wideman Overview: It was a tough season last year for new head coach Ari Wideman. The Roadrunners won only two games and ended the season on a seven-game losing streak. But Cal State Bakersfield is essentially coming into the 2025-26 season with a clean slate. Only two players from last season\u2019s roster are back in senior wing Marley Langi<\/a> and junior guard Alli Dioli. The rest of the team are all transfers or freshmen, giving Wideman a new roster to work with.<\/p>\n Backcourt: Dioli was a regular in the rotation last season playing a key role off the bench. She averaged 5.5 points<\/a> and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 34.7% from 3-point range. She could have the inside track to lock down a starting spot this year. Langi can also play a role in the backcourt and could also be on track to crack the starting lineup. She too was a key player for the second unit last season averaging 6.1 points and 3.5 rebounds.<\/p>\n But for the Roadrunners\u2019 backcourt to be effective, they\u2019ll need production from the transfers. Sophomore guard Chrishawn Coleman<\/a> arrives from Morehead State where she put 11.3 points<\/a> and shot 32.4% from 3-point range. Fifth-year guard Maria Dias<\/a> was a key player for Idaho State last year averaging 7.3 points and shooting 38.6% from 3-point range. Both players will be counted on to provide consistent minutes.<\/p>\n The Roadrunners could also get strong minutes from Division II transfer Morgan Hawkins. A California native, Hawkins played last season at Hawaii Pacific, where she averaged 10.1 points<\/a>. She\u2019s a capable floor leader and strong defender who can really help bolster Cal State Bakersfield\u2019s second unit.<\/p>\n Frontcourt: Langi can help out in the frontcourt with her ability to play both guard and forward, but this will pretty much be an all-new rotation for the Roadrunners. Junior forward Zalissa Finley made the jump last season from Division III Whitworth University to Division I at Indiana State. She was a double-double threat during her time at Whitworth, and she gives Cal State Bakersfield much-needed size up front.<\/p>\n Fifth-year center Tena Ikidi<\/a> arrives from UNC Charlotte, where she didn\u2019t play all that much. She also played at Northern Colorado the year prior, where she also didn\u2019t factor into the rotation much. But with a Roadrunners team in need of size, she has that. Ikidi has a big frame and is strong in the paint. She can finish through contact and can really strengthen the frontcourt rotation if she can provide consistent production. She also returns to California, where she played at Pasadena City College in the junior college ranks.<\/p>\n Cal State Bakersfield will also look to junior college transfers Dae\u2019Jaidence Kincaid and Adrienne Puletasi to help bolster the frontcourt. Kincaid will automatically be one of the best defensive players on the roster. She can also put the ball on the floor and get to the basket, or step out and shoot consistently. Puletasi is an efficient scoring threat around the basket and brings plenty of size up front.<\/p>\n Cal State Fullerton<\/p>\n Coach: John Bonner Overview: It\u2019s a new era for the Titans. Longtime head coach Jeff Harada is no longer at the helm, and in his place is John Bonner. Bonner joins the Titans after a highly-successful stint as head coach at Division II Cal State Dominguez, where he recently led the Toros to the DII national championship game. The Titans\u2019 roster is also largely new with several incoming freshmen, giving Bonner a clean start.<\/p>\n Backcourt: Sophomore guard Maddy Tauro<\/a> is one of three returners from last season\u2019s team, and she made an impact off the bench as a freshman. Expect her to step into a larger role this season possibly as a starter. Fellow sophomore guard Jana Falsdottir<\/a> also made an impact as a freshman last year and stood out as a 3-point shooter and capable defender. She too can be expected to take on more responsibility.<\/p>\n But for the Titans to be competitive in the Big West this season, they\u2019re going to need a few of their freshmen to be ready to play from the get-go. Cal State Fullerton has a quartet of freshmen guards in Mimi Moon, Dylan Swindle, Maxine Sutisna and Nyemah King, all of whom are local CA recruits. If the team can get at least two of them to be impact freshmen, that will go a long way toward competing in the conference.<\/p>\n Also rounding out the backcourt is graduate transfer Kya Pearson. Pearson followed Bonner from Cal State Dominguez where she was a standout guard known for playmaking and defense. She brings much-needed experience and poise to a young team.<\/p>\n Frontcourt: The Titans\u2019 frontcourt will also be bolstered by newcomers. Freshman forward Nicole Steiner has as much potential as anyone on the roster. She was a highly-decorated high school athlete who also played volleyball. Steiner is an effective interior presence on both ends of the court, scoring efficiently while being able to anchor the defense. She\u2019s a double-double threat as well with her presence on the glass.<\/p>\n Sophomore forward Lilliana Peterson joins the Titans from one year of junior college. She brings additional size in the frontcourt with an ability to step outside and shoot jumpers. Junior forward Talia Maxwell, a transfer from Stanislaus State, was an impact scorer and rebounder at the DII level.<\/p>\n Rounding out the potential impact players in the frontcourt for the Titans is sophomore forward Cristina Jones. Jones also followed Bonner from Cal State Fullerton where she won the CCAA Freshman of the Year Award. Jones is an impact scorer who has a solid all-around game. She can crash the glass, play defense and even do a little playmaking.<\/p>\n Cal State Northridge<\/p>\n Coach: Angie Ned Overview: The second year of the Angie Ned era comes with a strong mix of returners and newcomers. The Matadors used to be a perennial powerhouse in the Big West, but those days are long since gone. But with the group of talent Cal State Northridge has this season, it\u2019s not inconceivable to believe they take steps to become competitive in the conference.<\/p>\n Backcourt: The backcourt for the Matadors begins with senior guard Erika Aspajo<\/a>. Aspajo was the team\u2019s leading scorer last season at 9.2 points<\/a>. She started 13 of the 19 games she appeared in, and is primed to take the reins as the team\u2019s leader. Fellow senior guards Morgan Edwards<\/a> and Kelly Tumlin<\/a> are also back, and they were the second and third-leading scorers for the Matadors, respectively. Both were among the Matadors\u2019 better 3-point shooters last season and they are also in line to take on bigger leadership roles.<\/p>\n Bolstering the backcourt for Cal State Northridge are a few transfers including sophomore guard Rita Nazario. Nazario has extensive experience in international competition playing for Portugal at various levels. She arrives after one season at Saint Louis where she played sparingly. She has another level she can reach and if Ned can unlock that, the backcourt could be a strength for the Matadors.<\/p>\n Junior guard Saray White has the potential to be a major force for the Cal State Northridge in the backcourt. She played two seasons of junior college at Consumes River College where she was an all-around threat as a scorer, rebounder and playmaker. She shot well from 3-point range as well.<\/p>\n Frontcourt: For the frontcourt, look for continued development from junior forward Alondra Lizama<\/a>. Lizama hasn\u2019t quite made a mark yet at Cal State Northridge, but she\u2019s always been a versatile big who can score in the paint and can handle the ball and make plays off the dribble.<\/p>\n The frontcourt will be strengthened by several newcomers. Sophomore forward Maya Contreras gives the Matadors a lot of size in the frontcourt. At 6\u20193, she\u2019s among the tallest players on the team. She arrives from New Mexico Junior College where she didn\u2019t play much. With her mix of size and skill, she can make an impact in the Big West right away if given the opportunity.<\/p>\n Maybe the biggest potential impact player in the frontcourt is junior Nadia Bernard<\/a>. Bernard played two seasons at St. Mary\u2019s in WCC and didn\u2019t figure much into the Gaels\u2019 rotation. Fit and opportunity are everything in basketball, and with a change of scenery and openings on the roster, Bernard has the opportunity to really change the Matadors\u2019 frontcourt.<\/p>\n Hawaii<\/p>\n Coach: Laura Beeman Overview: Hawaii has long been a powerhouse in the Big West. Since Laura Beeman took over the program in 2012-13, the Rainbow Wahine have three NCAA Tournament appearances and ten seasons with a winning record in 13 years. But with most of Beeman\u2019s impact upperclassmen from last season gone, the roster features several incoming freshmen, with a few returners needing to step into larger roles. But with the talent on the roster, don\u2019t be surprised if Hawaii is in the mix again as one of the better teams in the conference.<\/p>\n Backcourt: Hawaii still has some veteran experience in the backcourt this season. Perhaps the biggest potential impact player at guard is senior transfer Izzy Forsyth<\/a>. Forsyth played three seasons at UC San Diego where she was among the top guards in the conference. She was a regular starter by her sophomore year and proved to be a capable scoring threat. She will be a favorite to grab a starting backcourt spot to start the season.<\/p>\n Redshirt junior guard Jovi Lefotu<\/a> is another returner with the potential to make an impact in the backcourt. She was an immediate contributor as a freshman in 2022-23, before redshirting in 2023-24. Last season, she made her return to the court and was one of Hawaii\u2019s most dependable reserves. Her steady hand is what the Rainbow Wahine need on a youthful roster.<\/p>\n Another pair of returners in junior Jade Peacock<\/a> and sophomore Kira-May Filemu<\/a> should get an opportunity to contribute to this team. Peacock was a regular in the rotation last season, but Filemu not so much.<\/p>\n The Rainbow Wahine have five freshman guards on the roster, and while the upperclassmen will get their chance, it\u2019s possible one or more of them might push them for a spot in the rotation.<\/p>\n Frontcourt: While the backcourt is going to rely on players who have to take a leap, Beeman already knows what she has in the frontcourt. Ritorya Tamilo<\/a> and Imani Perez<\/a> were two of the Rainbow Wahine\u2019s top-four scorers last season, and both are back and ready to make an impact.<\/p>\n Tamilo moved into the starting lineup last season right away as a freshman while winning the conference Freshman of the Year Award. She should be considered a player most likely to have a breakout year in the Big West. She\u2019s long and lanky and can be one of the best defensive players in the conference. She can finish strong at the basket and has solid footwork in the post.<\/p>\n Perez is another strong defensive player, and her pairing alongside Tamilo gives the Hawaii one of the best defensive pairings in the Big West. Perez can also space the floor with her 3-point shooting, and she is a strong presence on the boards.<\/p>\n Hawaii will also get help from senior transfer Saniyah Neverson<\/a>. Neverson hails from Northern Colorado in the Big Sky, and she immediately becomes one of the Big West\u2019s best rebounders. A double-double threat, don\u2019t be shocked if she\u2019s in the mix for the conference\u2019s Sixth Player of the Year Award.<\/p>\n The Rainbow Wahine will also get to see what they have in redshirt freshman forward Danijela Kujovic. Kujovic showed flashes of being a capable defender and floor spacer last year before suffering a season-ending injury.<\/p>\n Want more women\u2019s hockey content? Subscribe to The Ice Garden! The staff of The Ice Garden has paved the way for women\u2019s hockey coverage from the college ranks to international competitions. Of course, that includes in-depth coverage of the PWHL too. For a limited time, free signups at The Ice Garden can sample all the work they do. Check it out, sign up now!<\/p>\n Long Beach State<\/p>\n Coach: Amy Wright Overview: The second year of the Amy Wright era saw a vast improvement for Long Beach State. The Beach was among the better teams in the Big West. Three of Long Beach State\u2019s\u00a0 top four scorers in Savanna Tucker, Patricia Chung<\/a> and Rachel Loobie<\/a> used up their eligibility while the fourth, Jada Crawshaw<\/a>, transferred to Georgia Tech. But the Beach still has a good group of talent capable of competing this upcoming season.<\/p>\n Backcourt: With the backcourt from last season gone, Long Beach State has a trio of sophomore guards in Christy Reynoso, Lauren Cummings and JaQuoia Jones-Brown<\/a> who will be counted on to take a leap forward. Neither Reynoso nor Cummings were in the rotation last year, but they will both have the chance to step up and help lead this team. Jones-Brown did make an impact as a freshman, earning a key role off the bench while being one of the team\u2019s better 3-point shooters.<\/p>\n One of the biggest additions to the Beach\u2019s roster this year is senior guard Khylee Pepe<\/a>. Pepe returns home to the Los Angeles area where she starred at both Mater Dei High School and Bishop Montgomery High School. She\u2019s spent the past three seasons at San Diego State. Pepe is a big guard with a knack for rebounding. She\u2019s a capable scorer who can create her own shot, and she is a good defensive player. She\u2019ll be in the mix for a starting role, something she hadn\u2019t accomplished at SDSU.<\/p>\n Frontcourt: In the frontcourt, sophomore forward Mykelle Richards<\/a> should be a favorite for having a breakout season. As a freshman, Richards led the team in field goal percentage. She can score around the basket with a nice touch, and is great at moving off-ball with well-timed cuts or crashing the offensive glass. She has good defensive instincts as well.<\/p>\n Long Beach State will also need the duo of Haley Wright<\/a> and Brelynn Brice to emerge as legitimate rotation players. Neither one was in the rotation last season. Wright is the only traditional center on the roster and can be a double-double threat. Brice is a good rebounder and defender who can play the rugged\/hustle forward role.<\/p>\n And finally, junior forward Kennan Ka<\/a> will provide frontcourt depth for the Beach. She returned to the court last season after an injury in 2023-24 limited her to only one game. She\u2019s a solid depth piece who provides a spark off the bench.<\/p>\n UC Davis<\/p>\n Coach: Jennifer Gross Overview: Under Jennifer Gross, UC Davis has been a perennial contender in the Big West. In her 14 seasons at the helm, she\u2019s led the Aggies to two of their three NCAA Tournament appearances, including their highest seed ever at No. 12 in 2020-21. The Aggies have also had 11 winning seasons in those 14 years. The Aggies reached the Big West championship game last season, but fell to UC San Diego. With two of UC Davis\u2019 top five scorers gone from last season, expect the Aggies to come back down to the middle of the pack.<\/p>\n Backcourt: UC Davis will have some experience in the backcourt with senior guard Nya Epps<\/a> and sophomore guard Ryann Bennett<\/a>. Bennett in particular is a good bet to have a breakout year with increased responsibility. Last season, Bennett was selected to the conference\u2019s All-Freshman Team while being one the Aggies most efficient scorers. She was the team\u2019s spark plug off the bench, but there is no world in which she doesn\u2019t start this upcoming season.<\/p>\n Epps on the other hand is a do-it-all type guard who fits in around other scoring threats. She can score herself, and she averaged a career-high 8.4 points last season, but she can do all the other things like playing defense and keeping the ball moving on offense.<\/p>\n Providing more experience in the backcourt for the Aggies is graduate transfer Helen Matthews<\/a>. Matthews joins UC Davis from Wofford where she developed into a pass-first unselfish guard who can find the open teammate, as well as score if needed.<\/p>\n The Aggies also get a boost from returning guard Victoria Baker<\/a>. Baker was a regular in the rotation last season, her first at UC Davis, and she should be an impact player off the bench this year especially with her three-point shooting.<\/p>\n Frontcourt: The frontcourt for the Aggies begins with redshirt senior center Megan Norris<\/a>. Norris was the team\u2019s second-leading scorer last season. She was also the team\u2019s top rebounder. She\u2019s an effective scorer in the paint and could be a contender for one of the Big West\u2019s top scorers this season. She should also average close to a double-double.<\/p>\n Senior forward Ally Fitzgerald<\/a> will also be in the mix for the Aggies\u2019 frontcourt. She\u2019s a versatile defensive player who can guard multiple positions, she can score in the paint and she can play the stretch-four and space the court with her outside shooting.<\/p>\n Perhaps the most intriguing player on the Aggies\u2019 roster is redshirt sophomore Theoni Tsami. Hailing from Greece, Tsami redshirted her freshman year in 2023-24, then missed all of last season due to an injury. This year she will finally make her Big West debut. She has extensive overseas experience competing with Greece at various levels on the international stage. She\u2019s a forward with good size who can score inside and out, and she runs the floor well off the ball.<\/p>\n UC Irvine<\/p>\n Coach: Tamara Inoue Overview: UC Irvine took a couple of big losses with starters Deja Lee<\/a> and Nikki Tom<\/a> using up their eligibility. Lee was one of the the best scorers in the Big West while Tom was the Anteaters point guard and floor leader. But head coach Tamara Inoue still has some strong returning talent. She\u2019s one of the best coaches in the conference and should have UC Irvine in the mix once again as a conference contender.<\/p>\n Backcourt: Returning in the backcourt for the Anteaters is senior guard Hunter Hernandez<\/a>. Hernandez made a remarkable return to the court last season after an injury sidelined her for all of 2023-24. She led UC Irvine in scoring at 13.1 points<\/a>, and she was their top rebounder grabbing 5.5 boards. She is pretty much a shoe-in for the All-Conference Team again.<\/p>\n But for the Anteaters to have a big season, they\u2019re going to need development from three guards in juniors Shirel Nahum<\/a> and Haley Hernandez, and sophomore Reece Noa. All three didn\u2019t feature much in the rotation last season, which Nahum seeing the most playing time.<\/p>\n Nahum in particular had a big offseason suiting up for the U20 Israeli national team at EuroBasket. She\u2019s a good rebounding guard who possesses a strong all-around game. She can provide strong minutes as a starter or off the bench.<\/p>\n One of the most intriguing options for the Anteaters in the backcourt is senior transfer Jada Wynn<\/a>. Wynn played the past two seasons at Texas Tech after starting her college career at Colorado. She\u2019s a big guard who can play on the wing and she holds a career mark<\/a> of 33% shooting from 3-point range.<\/p>\n Frontcourt: Last season, Summah Hanson<\/a> was one of the Anteaters\u2019 most impactful players off the bench. As a freshman, she averaged 8.6 points<\/a> and 5.4 rebounds in her first season at UC Irvine after transferring from Sacramento State. She was named the Big West Sixth Player of the Year, and should be a shoe-in for a starting spot this season. Look for her to average close to a double-double this season.<\/p>\n The Anteaters are also going to need a big year from sophomore forward Daniela Falc\u00f3n Hernandez. Last season was her NCAA debut after she redshirted her freshman year at Utah in 2023-24. She\u2019s a long forward who can make plays off the dribble and space the floor with her shooting.<\/p>\n With UC Irvine being a guard-heavy team this year, that might mean freshman forward Nohe\u2019alani Stores is called into duty from the get-go. She brings a lot of size to the Anteaters\u2019 frontcourt and is an exceptionally skilled player in the paint. If she sees minutes right away, a conference All-Freshman team finish could be in the cards.<\/p>\n UC Riverside<\/p>\n Coach: Brad Langston Overview: In just two seasons at the helm, Brad Langston has led UC Riverside to a major turnaround. After winning only six games in 2022-23, the Highlanders won 18 and 17 games, respectively, the past two seasons. They\u2019ve been one of the better teams in the Big West, and in Langston\u2019s first year they reached the WNIT. With three of the Highlanders\u2019 top three scorers coming back this season, expect them to once again be one of the best teams in the Big West.<\/p>\n Backcourt: The Highlanders return two of their top scorers last season in backcourt in graduate Seneca Hackley<\/a> and sophomore Hannah Wickstrom<\/a>. Hackely is a scoring threat at guard while Wickstrom is a good defensive player and one of the team\u2019s top three-point threats. One of the two will start in the backcourt at shooting guard while the point guard is likely to be senior guard Zoe Tillery<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tillery is a strong all-around threat who can score the ball, rebound well for a guard her size and is among the team\u2019s best playmakers. She was a fixture in the starting lineup last season and should reprise her starting role and be the Highlanders\u2019 floor leader.<\/p>\n Helping to bolster the backcourt will be junior guard Aaliyah Stanton<\/a> and sophomore guard Kaylani Polk<\/a>. Stanton is an in-conference transfer from Cal State Fullerton coming off a breakout season. Stanton could be in the mix to start unless Langston is set on going with the players who have already been here.<\/p>\n Frontcourt: The top option for the Highlanders this season is senior wing Shelley Duchemin. Duchemin is more of a forward who has guard-like skills. She can play either guard or forward, but with the way the team is set up she will start in the frontcourt, she is a capable of being a team\u2019s top scoring option and she is a force both on the glass and defensively. She should be on the preseason watch list for an All-Conference spot.<\/p>\n Incoming transfer wing Bria Shine<\/a> will be another top option in the frontcourt. Shine, like Duchemin, is capable of sliding between guard and forward. She arrives from UC Davis and becomes one of the Highlanders\u2019 best rebounders.<\/p>\n UC Riverside will also look for a larger opportunity for senior forwards TT Hill-Brown Dieynaba Sylla. Neither player was in the rotation last season, but one, or both, could emerge with a bigger role this upcoming year.<\/p>\n Want even more women\u2019s sports in your inbox?<\/p>\n Subscribe now to The IX Sports<\/a> and receive our daily women\u2019s sports newsletter covering soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers. That includes Basketball Wednesday from founder and editor Howard Megdal.<\/p>\n Readers of The IX Basketball now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.<\/p>\n UC San Diego<\/p>\n Coach: Heidi VanDerveer Overview: UC San Diego was the top team in the Big West last season, earning the conference\u2019s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. It was the first season the Tritons were eligible for postseason competition as they completed the requisite wait period as they transitioned from DII to DI. Heidi VanDerveer has established herself as one of the better coaches in the conference. As the Tritons prepare to move to the WCC next season, they will still be one of the better teams in the Big West albeit losing a few key players.<\/p>\n Backcourt: One of the biggest losses the Tritons will have to account for in the backcourt is Sumayah Sugapong<\/a>. An All-Conference guard and the team\u2019s leading scorer, Sugapong transferred to Arizona leaving a hole on the team\u2019s roster. But fortunately for Tritons, that leaves an opportunity for senior guard Sabrina Ma<\/a>. Ma was the team\u2019s second-leading scorer last season and was also the Big West Newcomer of the Year after transferring from San Jose State. She will be a candidate for the All-Conference team.<\/p>\n UC San Diego is also bolstered in the backcourt with redshirt junior Gracie Gallegos<\/a>. Gallegos is a big guard who can play on the wing and was the Tritons\u2019 third-leading scorer from last year. She is one of the better rebounders on the roster and a capable 3-point shooter. Since arriving at UC San Diego, she\u2019s been a perennial candidate for postseason honors.<\/p>\n There is also an opportunity for senior guard Makayla Rose<\/a> to make an impact in her first year on the team. Rose transferred from UC Riverside, where she established herself as one of the best defensive players in the Big West.<\/p>\n Frontcourt: The Tritons\u2019 frontcourt is powered by junior big Erin Condron<\/a>. Condron is able to play both power forward and center and made a strong impact last year after returning from an early-season injury. She\u2019s capable of averaging close to a double-double and could be another candidate for postseason All-Conference honors.<\/p>\n Graduate student Damilola Sule<\/a> is in line for more minutes and perhaps even a starting role. She is a capable scoring threat in around the basket and a strong presence on the glass. She\u2019s playing single digits in minutes since joining the Tritons in 2023-24, but this year the team can\u2019t afford to not play her more than that.<\/p>\n The Tritons have a guard and wing heavy team this season, which is why sophomore wing Nicki Polocheck<\/a> will probably see most of her minutes at small forward. She was able to crack the rotation as a freshman last season and is in line for a bigger role in 2025-26.<\/p>\n UC Santa Barbara<\/p>\n Coach: Renee Jimenez Overview: The first year of the Renee Jimenez era was rather successful. She led the team to one of the better records in the Big West in her first year as head coach, and she returns three of her top-four scorers from last season. Other teams in the conference did get better, but look for the Gauchos to once again be among the top teams in the Big West.<\/p>\n Backcourt: With last year\u2019s leading scorer Alyssa Marin<\/a> off playing professional basketball overseas, senior guard Skylar Burke<\/a> has an opportunity to step up and take the reins on this Gauchos team. Burke was the second-leading scorer last season at 10.4 points, and look for her to get that average up closer to 15-16 points.<\/p>\n Senior guard Jessica Grant<\/a>, who was the Gauchos\u2019 top reserve last year, is a candidate for a starting spot. She is among the best 3-point shooters in the conference and will have an opportunity to get her points per game average in double figures.<\/p>\n One of the more intriguing players on UC Santa Barbara\u2019s roster is sophomore guard Bojana Radnjic. Radnjic redshirted last season so this season will be her NCAA debut. She has experience playing in FIBA competitions with the U20 Montenegro national team, and she is one of the better playmakers on the roster. She too could be in competition for a starting spot as a natural point guard.<\/p>\n The Gauchos\u2019 backcourt also got a boost from the transfer portal in junior guard Maddie Naro. Naro arrives from Santa Clara where she showed she can be a capable scorer and playmaker. Senior guard Martha Pietsch<\/a> will provide depth to the backcourt as well.<\/p>\n Frontcourt: Junior forward Zoe Borter<\/a> mans the frontcourt for UC Santa Barbara. Last season, Borter was one of the team\u2019s top scoring options and one of their better rebounders. She has the potential to average double figures in points, and with an increased role this upcoming year, she could reach that mark.<\/p>\n UC Santa Barbara is another guard\/wing heavy team in the conference, so one of the players it\u2019ll rely on this season is newcomer Julia Puente-Valverde. The redshirt junior transferred from McNeese State, where she was an efficient scorer during nonconference play before redshirting the rest of the season.<\/p>\n The Gauchos will also rely on redshirt sophomore Olivia Bradley<\/a> who is in for a bigger role. Bradley was named to the Big West\u2019s All-Freshman Team last year, making her return to the court after a season-ending injury early in the 2023-24 season. She\u2019s an efficient scorer, having shot 45.2%<\/a> from the field, and a good rebounder. She was one of the Gauchos\u2019 best players off the bench and will contend for a starting role in 2025-26.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Beginning with the 2026-27 season, the Big West will lose three member schools in UC San Diego (West…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":209305,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[68],"tags":[117809,402,64799,119846,46756,119847,119848,11639,119849,398,400,401,60642,99,72332,51182,55401,4611,119850],"class_list":["post-209304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ncaa-basketball","tag-2025-26-ncaa-season-preview","tag-basketball","tag-big-west-conference","tag-cal-poly-san-luis-obispo","tag-cal-state-bakersfield","tag-cal-state-fullerton","tag-cal-state-northridge","tag-hawaii","tag-long-beach-state","tag-ncaa","tag-ncaa-basketball","tag-ncaabasketball","tag-ncaaw","tag-sports","tag-uc-davis","tag-uc-irvine","tag-uc-riverside","tag-uc-san-diego","tag-uc-santa-barbara"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209304","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=209304"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209304\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/209305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=209304"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=209304"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=209304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
2024-25 record: 14-18, 8-12 in conference<\/p>\n![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759934649_291_Untitled-design-13.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
2024-25 record: 2-28, 2-18 in conference<\/p>\n
2024-25 record: 7-23, 5-15 in conference<\/p>\n
2024-25 record: 4-25, 2-18 in conference<\/p>\n
2024-25 record: 22-10, 16-4 in conference<\/p>\n
In case you missed it, The Ice Garden<\/a> is now part of The IX Sports family!<\/p>\n
2024-25 record: 16-14, 12-8 in conference<\/p>\n
2024-25 record: 21-12, 13-7 in conference<\/p>\n
2024-25 record: 21-10, 15-5 in conference<\/p>\n
2024-25 record: 17-15, 12-8 in conference<\/p>\n
2024-25 record: 20-16, 13-7 in conference<\/p>\n
2024-25 record: 18-13, 12-8 in conference<\/p>\n