WBB: Offseason News and Notes
As always the offseason is quite busy with realignment news, portal movement, and coach movement to look at...
It’s May 14 and as Indy 500 practice begins it’s time to take a look at this offseason’s action from realignment news to portal and coach movement. Opening day for the 2025-2026 season is just under six months away.
Lancers Big West Bound in 2026:
Not quite two months ago it was announced that CBU will be departing the WAC on July 1, 2026 and joining the Big West.
CBU joined the WAC as a transition program in 2018 and immediately made an impact, finishing second in the regular season standings…earning a WNIT home game.
The Lancers won their first regular season and tournament titles during the COVID season of 2020-2021, going 26-1 (undefeated in regular season play) with a pair of wins in the WNIT before falling to Rice in a regional third round game.
After a semifinal WAC tournament loss to GCU in 2022 the Lancers made consecutive tournament finals, losing to Southern Utah in 2023 and defeating Stephen F. Austin a year later.
They also won the 2024 regular season title with an 18-2 mark, losing both games on the road and in overtime at Abilene Christian and Utah Valley.
Last season CBU battled injuries en route to a 12-19 overall record and 9-7 in WAC play, falling to UT Arlington in a tournament quarterfinal game.
Lancers coach Jarrod Olson has won three Coach of the Year awards (2018, 2021 and 2024) during CBU’s WAC era with Caitlyn Harper, Ane Oleata, and Chloe Webb winning Player of the Year honors.
With the impending departures of GCU and Seattle U on July 1, 2025 the WAC will be down to six teams in 2026-2027 (as of now), starting a two year clock to get more teams or lose their automatic bid.
Erikstrup twins sign professional contracts to play in Australia:
GCU’s Laura and Sydney Erikstrup found their way to Phoenix prior to the 2023 season, spending the last two years of their collegiate careers together. It was recently announced that the twins will also begin their professional careers together in Australia.
Laura Erikstrup, 2024 WAC Sixth Woman of the Year and 2025 Second Team All-WAC selection along with earning all-tournament honors, signed a deal to play with the Woodville Warriors who compete in Australia’s NBL1 Central league.
Twin sister Sydney also signed a deal to play in Australia, joining the Rockingham Flames who are an NBL1 West team. She averaged 5.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while making seven 3-pointers during a two-week stretch in mid-January. In the 2023-2024 season she averaged just over 16 points per game over a six game stretch from December 14-January 13.
Thune takes over at Alaska-Anchorage:
Former Utah Tech and Seattle U associate head coach Matt Thune was named the new head coach at Alaska-Anchorage, a Division II member of the GNAC (Great Northwest Athletic Conference) on May 9.
Thune replaces Ryan McCarty, who moved over to Fresno State after the retirement of Jamie White.
He spent two years on JD Gustin’s staff at Utah Tech, earning a promotion to associate head coach in 2023-2024 before moving to Skyler Young’s bench at Seattle U last year.
ACU’s Goodenough Signs Extension:
It was announced on Monday, May 12 that ACU women’s basketball coach Julie Goodenough has signed a contract extension through the 2028-2029 school year.
Goodenough led the Wildcats to a 22-13 season with a pair of wins in the WNIT. Those wins marked the program’s first national tournament appearance since a WBI appearance in 2021.
She is 250-143 overall since taking over the program in 2012 and ushering it through their transition from Division II to Division I.
Trio of WAC assistants in new places for 2025-2026:
A trio of WAC assistants will have new homes in 2025-2026…
Former CBU assistant Maiya Michel joined the staff at Tulsa, an American Athletic Conference program, recently after one year on the Lancer bench.
Former Utah Tech assistant Candace Thornton accepted an assistant coaching position at Wyoming, a Mountain West program.
Rounding out the movement is former Utah Tech associate head coach Nicole Yazzie accepting a similar position at Weber State.
Portal Movement:
Here is a current list of WAC women’s basketball players who have entered the portal as reported by Talia Goodman of On3 sports with new destinations on the right in bold…
Carlota Gomez, 5-11, F, Jr. (0.8 ppg)
Paula Pique, 6-1, G, Fr. (1.6 ppg)
Cal Baptist
Hailey Long, 5-10, F, Jr. (2.1 ppg – 9 games)
Nia Anderson, 5-6, G, So. (2.4 ppg)
Sydney White, 5-9, G, Soph. (2.5 ppg)
Claudia Fiel, 5-6, G, Soph. (5.7 ppg, 2.8 apg) → Iona
Grand Canyon
Naomi White, 5-9, G, Fr. (DNP)
Asha Sra, 5-7, G, Soph. (0.8 ppg) → Charleston Southern
Lucy Ghaifan, 5-11, F, Soph. (2.4 ppg)
Nneka Obiazor, 5-10, G, Sr. (9.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg) → Youngstown State
Nicole Benini, 6-0, G, Fr. (0.5 ppg)
Sheridan Liggett, 5-9, G, Soph. (5 ppg)
Sophie Benharouga, 6-2, C, Sr. (8.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg — 10 games) → Wichita State
Olivia Moore, 5-9, G, Soph. (8.7 ppg, 2.5 apg)
Candy Edokpaigbe, 5-11, G, Fr. (11.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.8 spg) → San Francisco
Southern Utah
Zoey Davis, 6-2, F, Fr. (DNP)
Maria Garcia, 5-8, G, Soph. (0.4 ppg – 7 games)
Tarleton State
Anya McKenzie, 6-3, F, Soph. (0.9 ppg)
Mylasia Smith, 5-6, G, Fr. (1.1 ppg)
Grace Booth, 5-10, G, Fr. (1.9 ppg) → Houston Christian
Andjela Bigovic, 6-5, F, Jr. (3.1 ppg) → Seattle
Karyn Sanford, 6-0, G, Jr. (4.2 ppg) → Utah State
Elise Turrubiates, 6-0, F, Sr. (5.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg) → South Dakota
Faith Acker, 6-2, C, Soph. (9.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg) → Oklahoma State
Utah Valley
Abby Hendricks, 5-6, G, Soph. (0 ppg – 2 games)
Aspen Caldwell, 5-7, G, So. (1.3 ppg)
Jamaya Perry, 6-1, F, Fr. (0.4 ppg – 7 games)
Utah Tech
Ellie Clawson, 6-0, G, Fr. (DNP)
Makeili Ika, 5-4, G, Soph. (1.3 ppg) → Westminster
Nicole Willardson, 6-4, F, Soph. (2.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg) → Weber State
Kastyn Young, 5-11, G, Fr. (2.7 ppg)
Aaliyah Ibarra, 5-8, G, Jr. (7.8 ppg) → Seattle
Incoming Portal Signings:
Note: As reported to On3 Sports and various sources or from team social media pages. Previous school is listed in bold on the right.
ACU:
Jazmyn Stone, 5-6, G, Soph. (7.3 ppg) →From College of Charleston
CBU:
Sofia Alonso, G, Fr. (7.7 ppg, 3.3 apg, 1.7 spg) → From Sacramento State
Paula Haw, 6-5, C, Fr. (0 ppg – 4 games) → From Sacramento State
Tarleton State:
Gia Adams, 5-7, G, Jr. (14.5 ppg, 3.3 apg, 1.5 spg – 2023-24 at UTA) → From North Texas
Shadasia Brackens, 5-11, G, Soph. (3.1 ppg) → From North Texas
UT Arlington:
Amiyah Reynolds, 6-0, G, Fr. (1.9 ppg) → From Purdue
Mila Reynolds, 6-3, F, Jr. (2.4 ppg) → From Purdue
Jadyn Atchison, 6-1, G, Soph. (1.6 ppg) → From Old Dominion
Utah Tech:
Kaylee Borden, 5-6, G, Sr. (4.3 ppg) → From Nevada
Utah Valley:
Kaylee Headrick, 5-10, F, Jr. (2 ppg) → From Colorado State