The Big West Conference is going to look different this season. Long-standing members UC Davis and Hawaii are off to the Mountain West Conference. And UC Santa Barbara and UC San Diego are in their final year with the Big West before joining the West Coast Conference in 2027-28.
But there are also a few programs joining the Big West this season: Sacramento State, Utah Valley and Cal Baptist. These teams are looking to breathe new life into the conference and strengthen the competition.
The 2026-27 season will also see California natives Minyon Moore and Sammy Doucette taking the reins as head coaches in their backyards.
Here is an in-depth look at each team in the Big West as opening night draws near. Read them all or skip to a specific team using the links below:
Cal Baptist | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo | Cal State Bakersfield | Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Northridge | Long Beach State | Sacramento State | UC Irvine | UC Riverside | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | Utah Valley
Cal Baptist
Head coach: Jarrod Olson
2025-26 record: 23-11, 15-3 in conference
Overview: Since joining Division I in 2018, the Lancers have been an incredibly successful program. Jarrod Olson, who has been the head coach since 2012 and helped oversee the transition from Division II, has only one losing year in his 14 seasons at the helm. The Lancers have reached the NCAA Tournament in two of the four seasons they’ve been eligible and were WBI champions in another.
To replace some key departures in the offseason, Cal Baptist added a few transfers and should be among the better teams in the Big West this season.
Backcourt: On the bright side for the Lancers, leading scorer Lauren Olsen is back for her sophomore season. She exploded onto the scene as a freshman, picking up Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and All-WAC first team honors. She’s a pure scorer with a high ceiling and should be among the top players in the Big West.
Senior guard Sofia Alonso was one of Cal Baptist’s main reserves last season. She’s more of a playmaking guard and could be in the running to start alongside Olsen at shooting guard.
After that, the Lancers will rely on transfers and potentially freshmen to bolster the backcourt. One intriguing new player is senior guard Chloe Briggs. Briggs spent the first three years of her college career at Washington, but she could never consistently crack the rotation. She’s an incredibly gifted playmaker with a wealth of experience, and playing in the Big West, she can potentially flourish.
Another interesting option is sophomore guard Sienna Grieger. Grieger came from Santa Clara, where she did not play much as a freshman. But when she did get minutes here and there, she showed the ability to rebound as a guard and to be a solid playmaker. She was a star in high school in Australia, and she could thrive with a larger role.
If the Lancers can also get productive minutes from two of their quartet of freshmen guards in Novelle McQuiston, Josie Agnew, Ella Linder and Bella Klages, they should be in good shape.
Frontcourt: Sophomore forward Reyleigh Hess was an All-WAC freshman team selection last year and is a defensive anchor and a strong presence on the glass. She was a key reserve last year and should be a strong candidate to start.
The rest of Cal Baptist’s frontcourt rotation will be made up of newcomers. One very interesting option is sophomore forward McKinley Willardson. Willardson played in only six games as a freshman at BYU in 2023-24 before redshirting in 2024-25 and going on a mission trip last year. This will essentially be her first full year of college basketball. Most of Willardson’s tape comes from high school, where she was more of a traditional post player. She’ll be in the rotation right away and could seize a starting role.
Sophomore forward Spela Brecelj, a transfer from Virginia Tech, is another intriguing newcomer. She didn’t make much of an impact as a freshman, and perhaps a change of scenery to the mid-major level will benefit her. She’s more of a wing who can alternate between guard and forward, but on this Cal Baptist team, she should see the bulk of her minutes up front.
Possibly rounding out the frontcourt rotation for the Lancers is junior forward Paula Haw. Haw is a returner, but she didn’t play much last season. At 6’5, she’s listed as a forward but should play at center. She has the ability to be one of the better rebounders on the team.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Head coach: Shanele Stires
2025-26 record: 4-26, 2-18 in conference
Overview: In 2025-26, the Mustangs lost their three leading scorers from the previous season, and they took a major step back. They face a similar predicament this season as their leading scorers from 2025-26, Vanessa McManus and Charish Thompson, both entered the transfer portal.
The portal hit the Mustangs hard, as they lost a total of seven players from last season, but they did bring in a few additions to try to improve their fortune.
Backcourt: One returner who could take on a larger role is redshirt senior guard Madison Butcher. She was a transfer last season from Sacramento State but had her season cut short due to injury. She started 11 of the 15 games she played and was among Cal Poly’s best 3-point snipers at 39.6%, per Sports Reference.
Returning guards Jordan Billing and Katie Peiffer will also be in the mix for backcourt minutes. Billing, a junior, started 16 of the 26 games she played last season. Peiffer is only a sophomore, and she played a little over 11 minutes per game in 21 games as a freshman.
But a bulk of the backcourt minutes for the Mustangs will likely come from their portal additions. Junior guard Maddy Tauro, who joined the program from conference opponent Cal State Fullerton, is also primed for a breakout season. She stepped into a regular starting role with the Titans last season and upped her points per game average to 9.9 from 5.5 as a freshman.
Junior guard Mecca Alexander and sophomore guard Ysabella Von Seipler will also get chances to make an impact and solidify their spots in the rotation. Alexander is a transfer from San Jose State and Von Seipler transferred from San Diego. Neither received consistent playing time at their previous stops. Both are capable of shooting 3-pointers, and Seipler has a little playmaking to her game.
Frontcourt: With all of Cal Poly’s transfers being guards, the Mustangs will need to rely on returners in the frontcourt. Junior forward Nora Perez was one of the team’s top rebounders last season, as well as being the third-leading scorer.
Forward Dulci Vail, an incoming sophomore, equaled Perez last season in scoring at 5.8 points per game. Vail was one of the Mustangs’ best 3-point shooters at 43.8%, showing an ability to space the floor as a big. She also started 13 of the 18 games she played.
Junior forward Avery Knapp was one of Cal Poly’s top reserves last season. She has a knack for rebounding and is in line for increased playing time after averaging just over 12 minutes per game last year.
Rounding out the frontcourt rotation is 6′ junior college transfer Dessi Ulmer. She’s a potential double-double threat and brings additional size to the team.
Cal State Bakersfield
Head coach: Ray Alvarado
2025-26 record: 7-23, 2-18 in conference
Overview: The Roadrunners are coming off a season of disarray. Head coach Ari Wideman was placed on administrative leave and ultimately resigned with a combined record of 9-51 in two seasons at the helm. Ray Alvarado was named interim coach and then named permanent head coach over the summer.
Amid the coaching change, Cal State Bakersfield lost nearly its entire roster to the transfer portal. It’s going to be a challenging season as Alvarado tries to integrate all the new players.
Backcourt: Giving Alvarado some stability in the backcourt is fifth-year guard Nseije Ortiz. Ortiz played for the Roadrunners in 2022-23 and 2023-24 before redshirting in 2024-25 and stepping away from the team last season. She’s back for her final year of eligibility. She showed flashes of her potential in her first two seasons as an all-around guard who can score, rebound, pass and defend. She’s a 3-point shooter as well, having knocked down 38.5% of her attempts from distance as a sophomore.
After Ortiz, the backcourt rotation is anyone’s guess. The Roadrunners have a mix of guards who transferred in from DI, DII, DIII and junior college programs, as well as a few freshmen who might be in the mix.
Among Cal State Bakersfield’s experienced backcourt options is Aloni Oliver. The second-year guard saw action in 20 games as a redshirt freshman at Fresno State, though she played less than five minutes per contest. She’s a combo guard who can score as well as facilitate.
Joining Oliver is her former high school teammate, junior guard Vanna Quintana. Quintana did not play as a freshman at Weber State in 2024-25, and she redshirted last season before transferring. The Roadrunners recruited the local product out of high school, and she gives the team a capable scoring threat at the two-guard spot.
The rest of Cal State Bakersfield’s backcourt will be made up of players who have not played at the DI level before and are hungry for an opportunity. Fifth-year guard Madison Johnson was a productive player at DII MSU Denver. Senior Elyse Mitchell from D3 Azusa Pacific is a scoring point guard with a knack for 3-point shooting. And senior guard Gianna Ghio is a combo guard from Laney College in the juco ranks.
Frontcourt: The Roadrunners added sisters Dresha and Mydrea Moore. Each is 6′, and they bring needed size and interior toughness to the roster. Dresha joins the team from the University of San Diego in the West Coast Conference, and Mydrea played at Cal Poly Pomona, a highly successful DII program.
Joining them in the frontcourt is fellow Southern California native and Cal Poly Pomona transfer Hunter Hudson. Hudson is another rugged forward who can score in the paint and hit the glass hard. She was a double-double threat at the DII level, and she has experience playing against DI talent during offseason runs.
Another interesting frontcourt option is junior Faith Curry. Curry is a big wing who can play both guard and forward, but for this team, she should see most of her playing time at power forward. She didn’t play much last season at Northern Arizona after redshirting her true freshman year, but she’s a capable scoring threat and can rebound the ball well.
Likely rounding out the frontcourt rotation is junior big Sofia Ahmed. The junior college transfer is an efficient scoring option, having shot 56.8% from the field across two seasons at Dodge City College.
Cal State Fullerton
Head coach: Sammy Doucette
2025-26 record: 18-14, 13-7
Overview: The Titans are one of the programs under new leadership this season with Sammy Doucette moving up from the junior college ranks. Doucette had a highly successful run at Orange Coast College (OCC), and the turnover at the junior college level makes her well-equipped for this new NCAA basketball landscape. And luckily for her, she has some stability with a few returning players.
Backcourt: Sophomore guard Dylan Swindle and junior guard Jana Falsdottir will set the tone in the backcourt. Both were regulars in Cal State Fullerton’s rotation last season, and they give Doucette experienced options to run with. Sophomore guard Maxine Sutisna was a borderline rotation guard last season who brings a strong floor game as a facilitator.
Also vying for backcourt minutes will be sophomore guard Mimi Moon, transfer Ashari Cassell and grad student Juliana Aragon. Moon played sparingly as a freshman, but she brings a lot of energy and is a capable playmaker. Cassell is familiar with Doucette, having played for her at OCC, and she brings size to the backcourt as well as defense and hustle. Aragon joins the roster from DII New Mexico Highlands and brings a solid playmaking game as a true point guard.
Frontcourt: The Titans’ backcourt has strong returning talent, but the frontcourt is mostly new faces. Junior forwards Alyssa Dreessen and Shadel Ffrench both arrive from junior college, with Dreessen also playing for Doucette at OCC. Dreessen gives the Titans a strong rebounding and defensive presence, but she can score the ball efficiently as well. Ffrench is more of a hustle big who can get out in transition, play defense and also be a double-double threat.
Junior center Anasia Wilcox will help hold down the middle. She comes to DI after playing two seasons at Paris Junior College in Texas. She is a good low-post scorer, can hit the glass hard and is a defensive anchor. If she does not start, still expect her to receive quite a bit of playing time this season.
Cal State Fullerton does have one returner in the frontcourt in junior Talia Maxwell. Maxwell was a solid rotation forward last season after transferring from DII Stanislaus State. She shot 48.3% from the field as a big wing/forward. She had a double-double last year in a close loss to UC Davis. She is also a candidate to start this upcoming season.
In addition, freshman forward/center Jennifer Hawkins is potentially in the mix for frontcourt minutes. A local product from Paramount High School, she brings size at 6’3 and a versatile defensive skill set. If she can adjust quickly to the college level, don’t be shocked if she makes a strong impact this season.
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Cal State Northridge
Head coach: Angie Ned
2025-26 record: 10-20, 6-14 in conference
Overview: There was a time when the Matadors were a perennial contender for the Big West championship and the conference’s lone bid for the NCAA Tournament. But those days are long gone since the departure of head coach Jason Flowers. In the aftermath, the athletics department has lacked stability, and women’s basketball has suffered from it. The program showed mild improvement in Year 2 under Angie Ned, but it’s likely that this is another middle-of-the-pack team.
Backcourt: The good news for the Matadors is their two leading scorers, junior guard Rita Nazario and senior guard Saray White, are back.
Nazario can be an explosive scorer and was the best 3-point shooter on the roster last season, taking a team-high 159 attempts and making 37.7%. She had a breakout year after not playing much as a freshman at Saint Louis in 2024-25. She will start at one of the guard spots.
White is coming off an All-Big West honorable mention selection after making a seamless transition from junior college to DI. She’s a tall guard with a solid all-around game, and she’ll be a candidate to make an All-Big West team this season. She will be in the mix for a starting role, but it wouldn’t be shocking if she helps anchor the second unit.
Sophomore guard Amya Moody saw regular playing time last season and she’ll be in the mix for a rotation spot this year. But the Matadors will also look to a trio of transfers to bolster the backcourt rotation: Kira-May Filemu from Hawaii, Hodaya Kabada from UNLV and Sibelle Zambie from Leigh.
Frontcourt: Up front, the Matadors will look to internal development to give them a boost. Senior forward Nadia Bernard was a regular rotation player last season and an efficient scoring option at 53.3% shooting. She got more playing time in the Big West Tournament and will be an option to start this season.
Behind Bernard, Cal State Northridge’s frontcourt options are still unproven. Junior forward Maya Contreras and sophomore forward Jana Canadell were out of the rotation last season, but they’re going to be counted on this year due to their size and rebounding ability.
One intriguing option up front is junior forward Princess Okafor Nweze. She’s a transfer from South Alabama, and although she did not feature very prominently with the Jaguars, she brings a rebounding and defensive-minded skill set along with extensive overseas experience. She’ll have the opportunity to make a real impact in a defined role.
Long Beach State
Head coach: Minyon Moore
2025-26 record: 5-25, 4-16 in conference
Overview: The Beach come into the season led by a new face, California native Minyon Moore. Moore played the majority of her college career at USC before finishing at Oregon. She’s familiar with the area, which could help with future recruiting, and she’s coming from a successful quick rebuild at TCU.
That’s what this season is going to be about for Long Beach State (also known as Cal State Long Beach): rebuilding on the fly. During the coaching change, the program lost the majority of its roster to the transfer portal.
Backcourt: None of the players who logged minutes in the backcourt last season are back. So it’s going to be a mix of transfers and freshmen replacing them this year.
The Beach have five freshman guards: Ebony Taylor-Smith, Lara Perian, Malia Taulani, Lucia Chico Fernandez and Aryanna Reyes. If just two of those freshmen can adapt quickly, that would bode well for the team’s backcourt rotation.
Helping to stabilize the guard corps are two transfers, senior Amber Furch and junior Ashanti Dias. Furch arrives from DII Saint Michaels, and Dias comes from Laney Junior College. Furch is more of a scoring guard, while Dias is the playmaker. Long Beach State will need both of them to be ready to go in order to have success this year.
Frontcourt: Sophomore forward Rosie Akot is the lone returner from last season’s team and showed plenty of flashes as a freshman. She started half of the 30 games she played in and displayed her knack for rebounding. She has a high ceiling as a big, and if she can scratch the surface this season, that will be a much welcome sign for the Beach.
Aside from Akot, Long Beach State will need quick adjustments and impact from a bevy of transfers. Noemi Arvai, Selene Romero Olvera, Kailyn Berry, Danijela Kujovic and Fia Proctor will all be vying for minutes in the frontcourt.
Romero Olvera is one of the most intriguing players in that group, as the former Florida International big can potentially space the floor with her shooting. At 6’5, her size is unmatched on the roster, but she has yet to receive a consistent role in her college career. Berry is interesting in that she committed before the coaching change but decided to stay. She’s an energetic and tough forward who can play both inside and out.
Meanwhile, Kujovic probably has the most experience, having played on and off for two seasons at Hawaii. She has the potential to be a strong three-and-D player for the Beach.
Sacramento State
Head coach: Aaron Kallhoff
2025-26 record: 15-18, 8-10 in conference
Overview: This is Year 4 of a rebuild for the Hornets under Aaron Kallhoff, who took over the program following Mark Campbell’s departure to TCU. After an initial 6-25 season, Sacramento State has shown marked improvement. And it has a few quality returners who should help ease the transition to the Big West.
Backcourt: Senior guard Natalie Picton was the Hornets’ second-leading scorer last season at 13.4 points per game. She started all 31 games she played in and saw the most playing time at 35.8 minutes per game. She’s a consistent 3-point threat and a good defender. Coming off a Big Sky Conference All-Tournament Team selection, she should be among the best guards in the Big West.
Redshirt sophomore guard Jaety Mandaquit was a regular rotation player last season as a walk-on, and she quickly became one of the team’s best 3-point shooters at 35.2%.
Sacramento State is also looking forward to the debut of redshirt senior guard Jeniece Harmon. Harmon joined the team last season after transferring from DII Hawai Hilo, but she suffered a season-ending injury before the year began. During her last healthy season in 2023-24, she was a capable scorer and consistent 3-point shooter. The Hornets will need that from her this season.
The Hornets also have a potential impact guard from the transfer portal in redshirt junior Koko Akridge. She arrives from Long Island, where she was a consistent 3-point threat, a facilitator and an overall solid scoring option. Returning senior guard Tali Fa’i and transfer guard Brooklynn Charlo will also be in the mix for minutes.
Frontcourt: In the frontcourt, the Hornets have a strong returning piece in senior forward Elizabeth Abiara. She was a rotation player last season, starting 17 of the 31 games she played in. She is a rebounding and defensive presence who can score efficiently at the basket. Expect her to nab a full-time starting role this year.
The bulk of Sacramento State’s frontcourt minutes will come from the transfer portal. The Hornets added three potentially impactful transfers in junior forward Jenessa Cotton, redshirt sophomore center Alexis Hess and redshirt junior center Achol Magot.
Cotton is a strong post player who saw limited playing time at her previous two stops, Duke and Kansas State. She returns home to California, where she’ll get a chance to play a prominent role. Hess played only four games last season after redshirting her true freshman year due to injury. She has yet to scratch the surface of her ability as a player. Magot is also looking for a bigger role after seeing limited game action at Texas Tech and Arizona. At 6’7, she gives the Hornets the most size up front.
Also competing for minutes at center will be returning junior Ajong Lual. Lual didn’t see much action last year, but she finished with almost as many rebounds (30) as points (33) and played good defense.
UC Irvine
Head coach: Tamara Inoue
2025-26 record: 26-7, 17-3 in conference
Overview: Under Inoue, the Anteaters have consistently been one of the best teams in the Big West. After losing their top two scorers in Hunter Hernandez and Jada Wynn to graduation, Inoue brings in a good mix of returners and newcomers. This will once again be one of the top contenders in the conference.
Backcourt: Of the nine players who averaged double-digit minutes in 2025-26, three are returning guards. Shirel Nahum, Lauryn Madsen and Ameerah Grant give the Anteaters stability in the backcourt.
Nahum was the team’s third-leading scorer last season and had the second-most assists with 95. She will pick up where she left off last season as one of the team’s starting guards. The other starting guard spot could go to Madsen, who was also a starter last year. She is one of UC Irvine’s best guard defenders and a capable 3-point shooter.
Grant made an impact off the bench last season as a freshman, shooting 36.1% from the 3-point line and dishing out 95 assists across 33 games.
Inoue has more potential options at guard in senior Haley Hernandez and junior Reese Noa. Neither one cracked the rotation last season, but both know the system and should compete with transfer guards Makiah Asidanya, Gracie Gallegos, Ahrray Young and Sarah Miller for rotation spots.
Frontcourt: Some of the Anteaters’ wings might slide up and play forward, but UC Irvine can count on a trio of returning froncourt players for production.
Senior forward Summah Hanson was the 2024-25 Big West Sixth Player of the Year before stepping into a full-time starting role last season. She’s a floor-spacing big who can also rebound well and provide an interior defensive presence.
Sophomore big Nohe’alani Stores was one of UC Irvine’s most efficient post players last season and was among the conference’s top freshmen. She carved out a role as an impactful reserve, but she should move into the starting lineup this year.
Junior forward Daniela Falcon Hernandez is a stretch four who was among the Anteaters’ best 3-point shooters at 47.1%, albeit on only 17 attempts. Look for her to take more shots from distance this season.
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UC Riverside
Head coach: Brad Langston
2025-26 record: 11-21, 8-12 in conference
Overview: The Highlanders enter the fourth year of the Brad Langston era, but they took a step back last season after finishing with winning records in his first two years. UC Riverside hit the transfer portal hard this offseason with five new players amid multiple departures.
There are also some key returners who should help steady the team. But it’ll be tough for the Highlanders to compete against the top teams in the Big West unless the newbies make a major impact right away.
Backcourt: Langston has three of his top guards from last season back in the fold in junior Kaylani Polk, senior Aaliyah Stanton and sophomore Taylor Swanson. All three are experienced and know the system, which makes a difference in terms of continuity.
Sophomore guard Maria Mejia was on the outside looking in last season, but she’ll compete for a rotation spot this season. Transfers London Gamble, Morgan Mack, Amy Pateman and Dylan Tse will also be in the mix.
Gamble returns to her home state after playing at Siena and Northern Colorado over the past four years. She can be instant offense off the bench. Her most impactful season was her junior year at Northern Colorado, when she averaged 10.5 points in a part-time starter role.
Mack joins the team from conference opponent Long Beach State, where she earned a consistent bench role as a freshman. She’ll get an opportunity with the Highlanders to do the same. Pateman has the least experience of the transfer guards after not seeing much action as a freshman at San Francisco.
Tse is returning to the DI level after playing last season at Mt. San Antonio College. She played at Cal State Bakersfield as a freshman in 2024-25 but didn’t make much of an impact. She was one of Mt. San Antonio’s top scoring options last year, shooting the ball efficiently overall and from three. Sometimes players need a little more seasoning before being ready for the DI level, and Tse is potentially a breakout candidate.
Frontcourt: Up front, the Highlanders will need a couple of their transfers to click right away. Harisa Mehmedovic is perhaps the most intriguing option after making the leap to DI last year at San Jose State. She didn’t play much, but she showed flashes of being a capable rim protector and shot blocker, and UC Riverside needs someone in the middle.
Kyori Lloyd is a versatile wing-forward who can handle the ball, score inside and shoot from distance. She joins the roster from DII Cal Poly Humboldt.
UC Riverside will likely need production from freshman Celeste Mack as well. Mack can play both forward and center, can score effectively in the paint, and can bring defenders out with her midrange shooting. She was a top high school player, and it wouldn’t be surprising if she makes a run at the conference’s All-Freshman team.
UC San Diego
Head coach: Heidi VanDerveer
2025-26 record: 24-9, 17-3 in conference
Overview: Since joining the Big West, Heidi VanDerveer has turned the Tritons into a perennial contender. This is UC San Diego’s final season in the Big West before it moves to the WCC. The Tritons are looking to continue their streak of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, and with a strong group of returners, that is a real possibility.
Backcourt: UC San Diego’s backcourt depth took a hit with Sabrina Ma and Makayla Rose exhausting their eligibility. But the team still has a solid group of veteran guards. Three of the Tritons’ top four returning scorers last season are in the backcourt.
Dymonique Maxie played the second-most minutes on the team last season at 34.3 per game, and she’s poised to take the reins as the team’s main floor leader. Lev Feinman was the Tritons’ best 3-point shooter at 39.5% and should be in the running to start. Rosa Smith was a double-digit scorer at 10.9 points per game and will have the ball in her hands more often this year.
UC San Diego will also find a boost from two transfer guards, junior Coryn Watts and senior Alexandra Cummins. Watts was an All-Summit League selection last year at Denver after a breakout season. Cummins provided valuable bench production for San Jose State and will reprise that role with the Tritons.
Frontcourt: The frontcourt for UC San Diego begins with Erin Condron. The versatile senior can alternate between forward and center, and she will be in the running for Big West Player of the Year. She’s coming off a breakout season in which she led the Big West in field goal percentage at 53.1%, and she has the potential to lead the conference in scoring this season.
Opposite Condron will be one of the best transfer portal pickups in the Big West. Jite Gbemuotor enjoyed a breakout season of her own with Cal State Northridge before entering the portal. She can play center alongside Condron, taking on bigger post matchups defensively and giving the Tritons a consistent interior scoring option.
After that, sophomore forward Tatum Jones, who only appeared in three games as a freshman, will be given the opportunity to take on a larger role. Freshman forward Noelle Mulvanny will also compete for a regular rotation spot.
UC Santa Barbara
Head coach: Renee Jimenez
2025-26 record: 20-10, 12-8 in conference
Overview: In Year 2 with Renee Jimenez at the helm, UC Santa Barbara won two more games and maintained a winning conference record. The Gauchos lost a couple of key players from last season, but they still have a solid group of returners. This team will be among the contenders in the Big West again.
Backcourt: Skylar Burke, one of the Gauchos’ top guards from last season, exhausted her eligibility. But a good mix of returning players and transfer additions look to keep UC Santa Barbara’s guard corps strong. Zoe Shaw was the Gauchos’ top backcourt scoring option after transferring from St. Bonaventure, and she should be a lock to start.
Senior Maddie Naro and sophomore Chauncey Anderson were valuable contributors last year, with Naro stepping right in as a starter after transferring from Santa Clara and Anderson serving as a lead guard off the bench.
Adding depth in the backcourt are transfers Mauriana Hashemian-Orr and Naomy Zonzon-Huyghe. Sophomore Ava Rawlins played in only six games last season, but she too will be an option. Freshman guards Karisma Flores, Sarah Heyn and Charlotte Lipkin could challenge for playing time as well.
Frontcourt: The main option up front for UC Santa Barbara will be Zoe Borter, an early contender for Big West Player of the Year. The senior is a versatile inside-outside big who led the conference in 3-point percentage, knocking down 40.9% of her attempts. She was an All-Big West second team selection as a junior and is a near-lock for the first team this year.
The Gauchos lost Borter’s main frontcourt partner, forward Olivia Bradley, who transferred to Utah. But they replaced her with Nicole Steiner from conference opponent Cal State Fullerton. Steiner will take over at center, allowing Borter to play her natural power forward. She is a true low-post presence who averaged 10.1 points per game as a freshman. She is in line for a big leap in her second season of college basketball.
For depth, senior Olivia Anderson, a transfer from Washington, will get her first opportunity for a major role. She averaged just under six minutes per game in three seasons with the Huskies, but her size and scoring ability in the paint make her a prime candidate for the first big off the bench. She can rebound and defend as well.
While the Gauchos may slide some of their wings up to the forward position, 6’2 freshman Ava Albanese will get to make her case for rotation minutes. She’s a hybrid wing-forward, but with her size and the makeup of the roster, she should spend most of her time at forward. She can space the floor well with her 3-point shooting.
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Utah Valley
Head coach: Dan Nielson
2025-26 record: 16-15, 9-9 in conference
Overview: Another newcomer in the Big West, the Wolverines are entering their eighth season under Dan Nielson. Utah Valley has only had two coaches in program history since joining the NCAA in 2003, and Nielson was more successful. He led the team to its only NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021 and the program’s second-best winning percentage at 65.0% (13-7).
The Wolverines are coming off an WNIT appearance last season, but they have a relatively new team after losing last season’s senior-heavy group.
Backcourt: Junior guard Cambree Blackham is the only returning player from last year who got double-digit minutes. She can score, playmake and defend. She’s on pace for a big jump in production as one of the top guards in the Big West.
Aside from Blackham, the Wolverines are going to bank on internal development and newcomers to steady their backcourt. Junior guard Naia Tanuvasa and sophomore guard Anna Shreeve saw fluctuating playing time last year, but both will be given the chance to seize a larger role.
One player Utah Valley should be excited about is redshirt freshman guard Heather Stedman. She was a Cal State Northridge commit, but she did not appear in any games as a freshman and transferred midseason. She wasn’t able to play immediately, so she took a redshirt year. She’ll be an immediate impact player for the Wolverines as a big guard who can shoot the ball.
Rounding out the potential backcourt rotation is Maren McKenna, a transfer from Wyoming. She didn’t make much of an impact as a freshman, but she’s going to get her opportunity with the Wolverines.
Frontcourt: Utah Valley has sophomore center Evie Leeson back this year. She was used sparingly as a freshman, appearing in only 10 games and getting five minutes per game. She knows the system, but she’ll have competition from the transfers for playing time.
The Wolverines added three bigs in juniors Elizabeth Gentry and Gracie Johnson and senior Lauren Johnson. All three are taller than 6’3, with Gentry topping out at 6’6. Lauren has the most amount of experience, having been a strong shot blocker and rebounder for Utah Tech. Gentry saw playing time on and off and made 13 starts for Creighton. Gracie last played in 2024-25 for Utah State before going on a mission trip this past year.
Together, they give Utah Valley one of the biggest front lines in the Big West. Depending on how quickly they gel, they could make all the difference for this group.
