By: Cody Wright
SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth women's basketball team opens the 2024-2025 season next weekend with a new look roster and high hopes.
With five players graduated and a handful of players deciding to shift their focus and prioritize other interests, the Pirate's welcome nine new players to the team for the second straight season. Of these nine players, seven are freshmen and none are seniors.
After finishing 9-16 overall and 6-10 in the NWC (6th place), head coach Kenny Love is very excited for the group coming in.
"Although not typical, being without any seniors allows for all players to have the onus of a voice and being a leader at times, as well as knowing everyone will be back next fall as well," Love said.
With a wave of new faces, the team has been working hard this fall to become a cohesive unit and get to know each other.
"A very positive side effect of all the new players has been virtually no ego among anyone in the group, it feels like a fresh start," said Love. The players are "competing every day for playing time, roles, and just working toward getting better.
The Pirates return Mya Bair, Ashlyn Neilsen and Skylar Tuckwood from last season, who have "all been instrumental since the start of the school year in continuing to transform the culture into a program where the players hold each other accountable and have led by example," Love said.
Bair started 24 games last season and was the third-leading scorer (7.5 ppg) for the Pirates. She will likely hold down the forward position (4) in the starting lineup. Newcomer Rylee Darnold looks to provide minutes at forward as well.
The point guard (1) spot for the Pirates looks to be highlighted by two freshmen as Ashlyn Peterson and Bri Talley will each push for a starting spot.
Skylar Tuckwood missed last season due to injury and is primed to make a big impact in her first season of action at the off-guard position (2). Freshman Alex Goetz will also see time in her first season.
Freshman Julianna Jeross is a player to watch at the swing position (3) while returner Ashlyn Neilsen could hold an expanded role after playing in 22 games for the Pirates last season.
Junior transfer Keely Maves hopes to solidify herself at post (5) after averaging 13.3 points per game last season at the Community Colleges of Spokane. Addy Gallatin will also push for time in her first season as a Pirate.
Freshmen Ali Bush and Ella Curry will also provide important depth to the front court.
Love believes that a rise in talent level allows this year's team to tweak its attack to be more aggressive both offensively and defensively. A lack of experience may result in ebbs and flows throughout the season, but Love emphasized that "the group's togetherness, work ethic, and desire to play for one another will allow us to preserve during these times."
Whitworth opens the season with an exhibition at Carroll College this weekend on November 9th, before heading to Wheaton, Illinois for the Beth Baker Classic on November 15th and 16th. The Pirates' first opponent on Friday November 15th will be North Park from Chicago, who finished 4-21 last season.
On Saturday (Nov. 16th), Whitworth takes on Wheaton College. The last meeting between these teams was in 2016, when the Pirates fell 75-53. Wheaton finished last season with a 12-13 overall record. Both North Park and Wheaton compete in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW).
Check the women's basketball schedule for live links to this weekend's game.
The Pirates will host Walla Walla (NAIA) on November 16th in their home opener before traveling to California for a pair of games against Caltech (Nov. 23rd) and Whittier (Nov. 24th). Back in Spokane, the Bucs face off against Mary Hardin-Baylor on December 13th.
Whitworth will make a second trip to California to visit its final three non-conference opponents. The first of which will be La Verne on December 16th followed by Chapman on December 17th and California Lutheran on December 18th.
This season's squad will look to improve on its sixth place Northwest Conference finish last season. The NWC schedule will be a challenge as Whitman holds the top spot in the NWC preseason coaches poll, with Puget Sound and Willamette rounding out the top three. Whitworth was picked eighth in the poll for the second straight season. The top four teams will make the 2025 NWC tournament in February.
