The word regarding the Nebraska women\u2019s basketball involves many lingering questions. Alexis Markowski\u2019s departure leaves the current Huskers with a heavy workload, as they prepare to start their 2025-2026 campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nebraska finished last season with a 21-12 overall record and 10-8 in conference play, which was expected throughout the regular season, despite the unfortunate ending in March.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Huskers fell short to Louisville in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 63-58. Their last-minute efforts weren\u2019t enough, even though Markowski and freshman point guard Britt Prince combined for 26 points. Nebraska finished that game 23-of-52 from the field, 8-of-20 from behind the arc and 4-of-8 from the free throw line.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI play it back every day,\u201d sophomore forward Amiah Hargrove said. \u201cWe\u2019re very hungry, based on last year. It\u2019s major fuel to our fire, we got a lot of new pieces, a lot of special things can be done.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Markowski was truly a staple of the women\u2019s basketball program, leaving a legacy that will be remembered forever. The Lincoln Pius X grad was the first four-time all-conference player in school history. After starting her collegiate career by capturing the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award in 2021, Markowski rounded off her career averaging 14.2 points and 9.1 rebounds, with a 46.7 field goal percentage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHer ability to get other people to believe and that leadership with the energy that she came with every day is something that is irreplaceable,\u201d head coach Amy Williams said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Nebraska history books will now have the name \u2018Markowski\u2019 in lots of places. Luckily, the Huskers have some returners on their roster who have the necessary tools to make the extra step.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Homegrown star Prince had quite the freshman year. She gained respect across the country for her prestigious play style that helped propel Nebraska to its second consecutive NCAA tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has such a huge role on our team that comes with bright lights and big pressure,\u201d junior guard Logan Nissley said. \u201cI don\u2019t think that she let that get to her ever.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A year later, Prince is continuing to work on her leadership and communication skills within the locker room and on the court. She has high hopes for the season and believes her team is ready for the challenge.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Coach Williams mentioned how the team\u2019s new graduate assistant, Marissa Kastanek, has been substantial to Prince\u2019s growth as a player, challenging each other to a game of one-on-one, almost daily.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kastanek is a former collegiate basketball player. She played at North Carolina State and professionally for over a decade in multiple countries, including Poland, Puerto Rico and the Czech Republic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI love being pushed, so it\u2019s cool to be able to have that opportunity,\u201d Prince said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
An All-Big Ten honorable mention doesn\u2019t go without notice. It requires lots of commitment and drive to improve day in and day out. In addition to that tremendous accolade, Prince was also named the Nebraska Female Freshman Athlete of the Year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBritt\u2019s IQ is one of her superpowers,\u201d senior guard Callin Hake said. \u201cThe way she sees the game, and the pace that she can play with. It\u2019s going to be awesome to see her, already with the strides she has taken, leading into her sophomore year.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Markowski and Prince spent a year together on the court in Lincoln, asserting their dominance in the sport concurrently. Prince was able to take away lots of valuable lessons from one of her biggest mentors, which she believes will help her lead the Huskers to a promising season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I can be as half as good as she was [leadership-wise], then we\u2019ll be in a good spot,\u201d Prince said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luckily, for the sophomore, she won\u2019t have to do it alone. Hake is stepping into her final season with Nebraska and is receiving high praise early on from her teammates and her coach, due to the way she\u2019s been able to steer the ship thus far.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been really blessed that we have players like Callin Hake, whose leadership qualities are immense,\u201d Williams said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hake wants to leave a positive legacy by the time her final game comes, wearing the scarlet and cream. She is grateful for all of the opportunities the lord has opened for her during her tenure.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to leave a legacy of saying ‘yes,\u2019 playing with joy and being okay with the uncomfortable,\u201d Hake said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She finished with the second-highest number of 3-point attempted shots last season at the time, only behind Nissley, with 109 total.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the confidence we want to have, just to let it fly. We take so many shots in practice. We want to develop the understanding that if one doesn\u2019t go in, the next one will,\u201d Hake said.<\/p>\n
Currently, above the .500 mark, with an overall Nebraska coaching record of 158-123, Williams looks to stay in the positive, entering her 10th season at the helm of the Husker program.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of excitement right now,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n
The Huskers added five players to their roster in the offseason, including four transfers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAll four of those transfers, at any given time, have caught our eye,\u201d Williams said. \u201cWe are still making determinations about rotations. It is one of the fun things about having a little more depth in the program.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The season opener against Mount Marty in an exhibition game that will tip off on Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. CT from Pinnacle Bank Arena.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want it to be the best home court advantage in the country,\u201d Hake said. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to soak in every moment. It is an exhibition game, but this is day one of our journey to March.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n