Story by
Lewiston Tribune, Idaho
Washington State women's hoops chases a bounce-back year in the new Pac-12
- Story byLewiston Tribune, Idaho
- Washington State women's hoops chases a bounce-back year in the new Pac-12
Nov. 3—Kamie Ethridge has a winning formula.
Recruit a competitive roster, including players from around the world, coach them up, watch them grow in the game and reap the benefits.
That's what led her Washington State women's basketball team to a Pac-12 Tournament championship in 2023 to cap three straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
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However, even a 1988 Olympic Gold medalist had her culture tested by the tidal waves striking college athletics, which landed WSU squarely in the middle of conference realignment, an expanding name, image and likeness landscape and the transfer portal.
Six Cougars from Ethridge's 2024-25 roster transferred the following offseason.
A team that won 21 games one year won just nine the next.
One year later, the ninth-year WSU coach's Cougars feature six returners and six newcomers.
WSU opened the season with an 80-58 loss to Cal in Berkeley on Monday. The Cougars' legacy Pac-12 reunion tour continues at Oregon at 7 p.m. Friday.
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Will critical continuity and an infusion of young talent be enough to combat the new Pac-12 Conference, in which familiar foes Gonzaga and Oregon State await?
"The pieces that we have on this team, I think we have a chance to be really good in January (and) February. I really do," Ethridge said during her Oct. 15 preseason news conference. "But we gotta grow them fast, and we need everybody on board and believing in what we're doing here. And again, thankfully we have great leadership, and we have players that are following."
A culture of accountability
Back for the Cougs is a majority of their starting lineup, including three senior leaders: guard Eleonora Villa, center Alex Covill and point guard Mackenzie Chatfield.
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Villa and Covill are each in their fourth year in Wazzu's program.
They form a core that Ethridge said has poured into rebuilding WSU's culture.
"We've really gotten a better handle on probably some cracks in our culture: 'Maybe that's not a good fit. Maybe that's just not everybody bought in to being a part of this program and willing to do whatever it takes to succeed in this program,'" Ethridge said. "I just feel like this group has righted us, and they're for each other, and they are for this place, and they love it here and they are just devoted to taking care of the young players and not leaving them in any way stranded, but at the same time, every single day they're challenging them to be better."
Covill said that the way last season went — just nine total wins and a 6-12 record in West Coast Conference play — is something WSU's three seniors do not want to repeat.
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Chatfield, who was new to WSU last season after transferring from Western Kentucky, echoed similar sentiments.
"Losing 30 games probably hit me really hard," Chatfield said. "Knowing that this is my last year and I only have one more shot at it, I'm gonna give it my all no matter what. And I think it's also in terms of doing it for my teammates."
The returners carried most of the load in WSU's first game of the season against a Power Four team.
Villa, who entered her senior season with 1,487 career points, seventh all-time in program history, paced the Cougs with 20 points and sophomore forward Malia Ruud added 13 points in the loss to the Bears.
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WSU will likely roll with a 100% returner starting lineup, at least early in the season, with Villa and Chatfield at the guard spots, Covill at center and Charlotte Abraham and Tanja Valancic as forwards.
It's off the bench, and perhaps eventually in the starting lineup, where newcomers such as SMU transfer Elizaveta Filchagina could make an impact.
Filchagina profiles as a lengthy, 6-foot-2 forward who can fill the 'save the day' role in terms of on-floor spacing that Ethridge sometimes asks of her power forwards or centers.
"Great IQ, I think she can score with her back to the basket, she can shoot the 3," Ethridge said. "I think she's a solid hot-sub coming off the bench, either spelling Alex (Covill) or Tanja (Valancic). So excited about her future."
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Old foes and new places
WSU and Oregon State rebuilt the Pac-12. While football and men's basketball get most of the press, don't overlook the quality of Pac-12 women's basketball.
Gonzaga and Colorado State won their respective conferences en route to NCAA Tournament berths last season. Oregon State has a winning history and made an Elite Eight run in 2024 as part of nine NCAA Tournament appearances since 2014.
Wazzu will meet those schools home and away starting in January.
Before that challenge, WSU plays its home opener against Idaho at 11 a.m. Monday at Bealsley Coliseum.
The Vandals upset WSU 87-85 last year thanks to former Coug Kyra Gardner's career-best 26 points.
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Another Battle of the Palouse victory would be a big get for Idaho in its quest to return to the NCAA Tournament. Even so, if the Cougs are in for a better year, this is a game they have got to get on their home floor.
Wazzu welcomes Washington back to the Palouse at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 — a Tuesday. The Huskies made the NCAA Tournament last season. After facing Cal in its opener, WSU will also play legacy Pac-12 teams Oregon in Eugene and Arizona State in San Diego.
WSU participates in the Cancun Challenge, facing Kansas over Thanksgiving break, and also plays in the Hawk Classic in Philadelphia just before Christmas.
In the new year, WSU welcomes Texas State for its new Pac-12 Conference opener at noon Jan. 9 — a Saturday.
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Pac-12 home games to know? WSU hosts Oregon State at 1 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 7 and hosts Gonzaga at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 17.
WSU's senior day will be at 11 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 28 against Boise State.
"I think there's a real excitement from the programs that came into this league," Ethridge said. "We're one of the old ones, so we want to make sure we're representing the Pac-12 really, really well. But it does feel good. It feels good that we have a home and we know who we have to play and what we have to do in order to be a postseason team."
Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2260, staylor@lmtribune.com , or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.
