2024–25 Western Athletic Conference women's basketball season explained

2024–25 WAC women's basketball season
Color:
  1. 800020
Color Text:
  1. C0C0C0
League:NCAA Division I
Sport:Basketball
No Of Teams:9
Tv:ESPN, ESPN+
Season:Regular season
Season Champ Name:Regular season champions
Mvp Link:WAC Women's Basketball Player of the Year
Finals:WAC tournament
Finals Link:2025 WAC Women's Basketball Tournament
Finals Mvp Link:Most Outstanding Player
Finals Mvp Name:Tournament MVP
Seasonslistnames:WAC women's basketball
Prevseason Link:2023–24 Western Athletic Conference women's basketball season
Prevseason Year:2023–24
Nextseason Link:2025–26 WAC Conference women's basketball season
Nextseason Year:2025–26

The 2024–25 WAC women's basketball season began with practices in October followed by the start of the 2024–25 NCAA Division I women's basketball season in early November 2024. The conference began play in January 2025. This is the WAC's 63rd season of basketball. The WAC competed with nine teams due to two teams having left the conference since the prior season. UTRGV and Stephen F. Austin both joined the Southland Conference since the prior year.[1] The WAC tournament will be held in March 2025 with all nine teams competing for the automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. The opening round will be held at Burns Arena in St. George, Utah with the remaining rounds at the Orleans Arena in the Las Vegas-area community of Paradise, Nevada.[2] This was the last WAC season for both Grand Canyon and Seattle, which announced that they would join the West Coast Conference the following year.[3]

Pre-season

WAC Media days

The WAC's 2024 women's basketball media day was held on October 16.[4]

Men's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll
PlaceTeamPointsFirst place votes
1. Grand Canyon 594
2. California Baptist584
3. UT Arlington 531
4. Abilene Christian 37--
5. Southern Utah 33--
6. Tarleton 28--
7. Utah Tech 24--
8. Utah Valley 17--
9 Seattle U 15--

WAC Preseason All-Conference

First Team
NameSchoolYr.Pos.
Trinity San Antonio†Grand CanyonSeniorG
Payton HullAbilene ChristianSophomoreG
Tiarra BrownGrand CanyonGraduateG/F
Daylani BallenaSouthern UtahGraduateG
Avery BrittinghamUT ArlingtonFifth yearF
† Denotes Preseason Player of the Year

Regular season

Early season tournaments

TeamTournamentFinish
Abilene ChristianFIU Thanksgiving Classic[5] & Lobo Invitational[6]
California BaptistFGCU Homewood Suites Classic[7]
Grand CanyonTalking Stick Resort Thanksgiving Classic & Have Fayth Christmas Classic[8]
Seattle UTalking Stick Resort Thanksgiving Classic
Southern UtahNugget Classic[9]
TarletonBig Easy Classic[10]
UT ArlingtonN/A---
Utah TechN/A---
Utah ValleyUSD Thanksgiving Classic[11]

Conference USA-Western Athletic Conference Challenge

DateConference USA teamWAC teamScoreLocationLeader
November 4UTEPTarleton52–49Don Haskins Center • El Paso, TXCUSA (1–0)
November 7New Mexico StateUtah Tech85–63Pan American Center • Las Cruces, NMCUSA (2–0)
November 8Florida InternationalAbilene Christian76–73Ocean Bank Convocation Center • Miami, FLCUSA (2–1)
Middle TennesseeGrand Canyon57–47Murphy Center • Murfreesboro, TNCUSA (3–1)
November 9Kennesaw StateUtah Valley64–61Convocation Center • Kennesaw, GACUSA (3–2)
Jacksonville StateSouthern Utah 77–58Pete Mathews Coliseum • Jacksonville, FLCUSA (4–2)
LibertyCalifornia Baptist72–44Liberty Arena • Lynchburg, VACUSA (5–2)
Sam HoustonSeattle 69–57Bernard Johnson Coliseum • Huntsville, TXCUSA (6–2)
November 10Louisiana TechUT Arlington71–60Thomas Assembly Center • Ruston, LACUSA (7–2)
November 21Western KentuckyAbilene Christian68–64Moody Coliseum • Abilene, TXCUSA (8–2)
November 27LibertyGrand Canyon79–50Global Credit Union Arena • Phoenix, AZCUSA (8–3)
December 14UTEPUtah TechBurns Arena • St. George, UT
December 16Sam HoustonSouthern UtahAmerica First Event Center • Cedar City, UT
Kennesaw StateSeattleRedhawk Center • Seattle, WA
Jacksonville StateUtah ValleyUCCU Center • Orem, UT
New Mexico StateTarletonWisdom Gym • Stephenville, TX
Florida InternationalUT ArlingtonCollege Park Center • Arlington, TX
December 17Middle TennesseeCalifornia BaptistFowler Events Center • Riverside, CA
WINNERS ARE IN BOLD. HOME TEAM IN ITALICS.Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game. Did not participate: none

Records against other conferences

2024–25 records against non-conference foes:

Regular season

Power Conferences & GonzagaRecord
ACC0–1
Big East0–0
Big Ten0–4
Big 121–5
Pac-120–0
SEC0–2
Gonzaga0–0
Power Conference Total1–12
Other NCAA Division I ConferencesRecord
America East0–0
American0–1
A-100–2
ASUN0–1
Big Sky2–2
Big South0–0
Big West3–1
CAA1–0
C-USA4–8
Horizon0–0
Ivy League0–1
MAAC0–0
MAC0–1
MEAC0–0
MVC0–0
Mountain West0–3
NEC0–1
OVC0–0
Patriot League0–0
SoCon0–0
Southland8–3
SWAC1–0
Summit1–1
Sun Belt0–0
WCC (except Gonzaga)0–5
Other Division I Total20–30
Non-Division I Total8–0
NCAA Division I Total21–42

Record against ranked non-conference opponents

This is a list of games against ranked opponents only (rankings from the AP poll/Coaches poll):

Date Visitor Home Score
November 18Grand Canyon
  1. 23 Oregon
L, 54–70
November 20Tarleton
  1. 4 Texas
L, 41–83

Team rankings are reflective of AP poll/Coaches poll when the game was played, not current or final ranking.

Rankings

See also: 2024–25 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings.

  Improvement in ranking
 Drop in ranking
RVReceived votes but were not ranked in Top 25
NVNo votes received
  PreWk
2 		Wk
3 		Wk
4 		Wk
5 		Wk
6 		Wk
7 		Wk
8 		Wk
9 		Wk
10 		Wk
11 		Wk
12 		Wk
13 ! Wk
14 		Wk
15 		Wk
16 		Wk
17 		Wk
18 		Final
Abilene ChristianAPNVNVNVNVNV
CNVNVNVNVNV
California BaptistAPNVNVNVNVNV
CNVNVNVNVNV
Grand CanyonAPNVNVNVNVNV
CNVNVNVNVNV
Seattle UAPNVNVNVNVNV
CNVNVNVNVNV
Southern UtahAPNVNVNVNVNV
CNVNVNVNVNV
TarletonAPNVNVNVNVNV
CNVNVNVNVNV
UT ArlingtonAPNVNVNVNVNV
CNVNVNVNVNV
Utah TechAPNVNVNVNVNV
CNVNVNVNVNV
Utah ValleyAPNVNVNVNVNV
CNVNVNVNVNV

Head coaches

Coaching changes

No coaching changes were made during the offseason.

Coaches

Note: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season. Overall and WAC records are from time at current school.

TeamHead coachPrevious jobSeasons at schoolOverall recordWAC recordWAC titlesNCAA tournamentsNCAA Final FoursNCAA Championships
style= width=75Abilene ChristianJulie GoodenoughCharleston Southern13th228–130 138–752100
style= width=75California BaptistJarrod OlsonFlorida Southern13th133-54 76-26 2100
style= width=75Grand CanyonMolly MillerDrury5th85-35 50-18 0000
style= width=75Seattle USkyler YoungPortland (assistant)2nd6-23 6-14 0000
style= width=75 Southern UtahTracy MasonSt. Mary's (associate HC)7th84-87 22-16 1100
style= width=75TarletonBill BrockMcLennan Community College2nd12-20 7-13 0000
style= width=75 UT ArlingtonShereka WrightVanderbilt (associate HC)5th64-48 41-27 0100
style= width=75 Utah TechJD GustinWeber State (assistant)9th48-47 28-28 0000
style= width=75Utah ValleyDan NielsonBYU (associate HC)6th57-81 37-48 0100
Notes:

Post season

WAC tournament

The WAC tournament will be held in March 2025 with all nine teams competing for the automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The opening round will be held at Burns Arena in St. George, Utah with the remaining rounds at the Orleans Arena in the Las Vegas-area community of Paradise, Nevada.

NCAA tournament

Teams from the conference that were selected to participate: 0

Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament

Number from the conference that were selected to participate: 0

Women's National Invitation Tournament

Number from the conference that were selected to participate: 0

Index to colors and formatting
WAC member won
WAC member lost
*Denotes overtime period

Awards and honors

Players of the week

Throughout the conference regular season, the WAC offices name a player of the week and a newcomer of the week each Monday.

WeekPlayer of the WeekSchool Newcomer of the WeekSchool
November 11Bella EarleAbilene ChristianDanja Stafford CollinsUtah Valley
November 18Alyssa Durazo-FrescasGrand CanyonAlyssa Durazo-FrescasGrand Canyon
November 25Chardonnay HartleyUtah TechAaliyah IbarraUtah Tech
December 2Payton HullAbilene ChristianTaisiya KozlovaSeattle

Totals per school - Players of the week

School Player of the weekFreshman of the weekTotal
Abilene Christian University22
California Baptist University
Grand Canyon University112
Seattle University11
Southern Utah University
Tarleton State University
University of Texas at Arlington
Utah Tech University112
Utah Valley University11
Total448

All-WAC

First team
Second team

All-Freshman team

† Freshman of the Year

All-Defensive team

Other awards

Sixth Woman of the Year:

Coach of the Year:

2025 WNBA draft

See main article: 2025 WNBA draft.

Home game attendance

TeamStadiumCapacityGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7Game 8Game 9Game 10Game 11Game 12Game 13Game 14Game 15Game 16Game 17Game 18Total Average% of Capacity
style= width=75Abilene ChristianMoody Coliseum3,6006522,2077096244,1921,04829%
style= width=75California BaptistCBU Events Center5,0507407584611,95965313%
style= width=75Grand CanyonGCU Arena7,0005525344823981,9664927%
Seattle URedhawk Center/Climate Pledge Arena999/18,100[12] 53616470035035%
Southern UtahAmerica First Event Center5,3003553693491,0733587%
Tarleton StateWisdom Gymnasium3,0008406771,51775925%
UT ArlingtonCollege Park Center7,0001,1612561,41770910%
Utah TechBurns Arena4,7791,8413276654672603,56071215%
Utah ValleyUCCU Center8,5005396364574743812,4874976%
Total62.32918,8715,57716%

Bold – At or exceed capacity; capacity ratios for Seattle U computed based on smaller home arena; attendance is for regular season only

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: CONFIRMED: SFA returning to the Southland Conference . 2024-10-19 . Dave Campbell's Texas Football.
  2. Web site: 2024-10-15 . Championship Format And Dates For 2025 Hercules Tires WAC Basketball Tournament Set . 2024-10-19 . wacsports.com . en.
  3. Web site: 2024-05-10 . WCC to add Grand Canyon, Seattle in 2025-26 . 2024-10-19 . ESPN.com . en.
  4. Web site: 2024-11-02 . Grand Canyon Tabbed as 2024-25 WAC Women's Basketball Preseason Favorite . 2024-11-08 . wacsports.com . en.
  5. Web site: 2024-11-08 . Women's Basketball Releases Full 2024-25 Slate . 2024-11-10 . FIU Athletics . en.
  6. Web site: 2024-11-01 . ACU hopes to make statement in year four in the WAC . 2024-11-10 . Abilene Christian University Athletics . en.
  7. Web site: 2024-09-12 . Women's basketball unveils non-conference slate for 2024-25 season . 2024-11-10 . FGCU Athletics . en.
  8. Web site: 2024-09-12 . Challenging nonconference schedule unveiled . 2024-11-10 . Grand Canyon University Athletics . en.
  9. Web site: 2024-09-24 . Women's Basketball announces 2024-25 schedule . 2024-11-10 . University of Nevada Athletics . en.
  10. Web site: 2024 Big Easy Classic - NCAA Women's Basketball Tournaments . 2024-11-10 . Alario Center . en.
  11. Web site: 2024-09-26 . USD Women's Basketball Reveals Full 2024-25 Schedule . 2024-11-10 . University of San Diego Athletics . en.
  12. Seattle U uses two home arenas: Redhawk Center, which is located on campus, and the newly renovated Climate Pledge Arena in uptown Seattle.

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