Sun Devil WBB Set for Tuesday’s Big 12 WBB Media Day
New Sun Devil head coach Molly Miller and student-athletes McKinna Brackens, Gabby Elliott and Last-Tear Poa will be representing Sun Devil Women’s Basketball at this year’s Big 12 Basketball Media Days presented by New Era, held at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
MOLLY MILLER ERA BEGINS THIS SEASON
• On March 22, 2025, Molly Miller agreed to join ASU as the next head coach its women’s basketball program.
• ASU hired a proven winner in Miller who guided Grand Canyon University to a 32-3 record last season which included a 30-game winning streak and GCU’s first berth in the NCAA Women’s Tournament.
Miller went 117-38 (.760) at GCU, and overall is 297-55 (.845) at the collegiate level that also included 180 wins in six seasons at her alma mater (Drury), where she served as an assistant coach and was a four-year letterwinner.
• Miller oversaw GCU’s most successful stretch in program history. Over the last two seasons GCU won 84 percent of its games (56-11), including a school record 32 wins in 2024-25, a season that culminated with the Lopes earning their first NCAA Tournament berth. In addition to experiencing March Madness for the first time, GCU also captured both the WAC Tournament and regular season championships and set the conference record for consecutive wins (30).
• The 2025 WAC COY, Miller was named the WBCA Division II Coach of the Year in 2019 and again in 2020.
• Under Miller, Drury became the first Great Lakes Valley Conference program to win four consecutive titles and went 105-5 in conference play (55-0 at home) over her six-year tenure. Drury was ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks.
• Upon becoming Drury’s head coach at age 28, Miller led her alma mater to the 2019 Division II Final Four. After a perfect 32-0 record in 2019-20 – when Drury was No. 1 every week in the Division II poll – the Panthers were denied a chance to return to the Final Four after the 2020 postseason was canceled due to Covid-19.
• A native of Springfield, Mo., in June 2025, the Springfield, Missouri, News-Leader ranked Miller No. 4 among Springfield’s 25 most impactful coaches of the last 25 years.
THREE FOR 300
Head coach Molly Miller enters the 2025-26 season needing three wins to reach the 300 mark for career wins as an NCAA head coach.
SUN DEVIL STUDENT-ATHLETES AT BIG 12 MEDIA DAY
McKinna Brackens - Started 35 of 58 games in two seasons at UNLV, including starting assignments in all 34 games last season... Was part of UNLV squad that advanced to second round of 2025 postseason WNIT... Went from averaging 2.5 ppg as a freshman to 9.8 ppg as a sophomore.
Gabby Elliott - Has accumulated 73 starts in 81-game career that includes stints at Clemson, Michigan State and Penn State... Averaged single-season, career-high 13.6 points per game as a freshman at Clemson (2021 ACC All-Freshman Team) and again last season at Penn State... Was coached by ASU assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at both Clemson and Penn State.
Last-Tear Poa - Is the only Sun Devil who has played in more than 100 career games (102/27 starts in three seasons at LSU)... As a freshman, played in 36 games (two starts) on LSU squad that went on to win the national championship... Helped LSU advance to NCAA Elite Eight in each of last two seasons.
NEW FACES BRING LOTS OF EXPERIENCE
• Of the 10 new players on this year’s roster, six players have played 50 or more games at the D1 level, including one student-athlete (Last-Tear Poa), who has played in 102 games.
• Four of this year’s newcomers – Marley Washenitz (78), Acacia Hayes (75), Gabby Elliott (73), Jordan Jones (72) – have started more than 70 games at the D1 level.
• Each of the returning Sun Devils who played last season also have a significant amount of experience. Heavenly Greer has played in 81 games, Makayla Moore (70 games/33 starts) and Jyah LoVett (48 games/38 starts).
2025-26 NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE NOTES
• Eight home games, including a pair of multi-team events, highlight the Sun Devil Women’s Basketball team’s 2025 non-conference schedule.
• The eight home contests the Sun Devils play will take place within their first 10 games of the season. After the season opener vs. Coppin State, ASU will host Eastern Washington on Sat. Nov. 8. The Sun Devils will next play consecutive road games at San Diego (Thurs., Nov. 13) and at Santa Clara (Sun., Nov. 16). ASU’s contest vs. UNLV on Sat., Nov. 22, will be the first of six consecutive games played on its home turf. On Wed., Dec. 10, the Sun Devils will be in University Park, Pa., to face Penn State, the first of three straight road games they will play to close out the non-conference schedule.
• ASU’s six-game homestand that starts vs. UNLV on Nov. 22 will include consecutive weekends in which the Sun Devils will host a pair of events in which they will play two games in as many days.
• Over Thanksgiving weekend, the Sun Devils will take on Little Rock on Fri., Nov 28 and Southeast Missouri State on Sat., Nov. 29. The weekend will also include a pair of non-ASU games: San Diego vs. Little Rock (Nov. 28) and San Diego vs. Southeast Missouri State on Sun., Nov. 30.
• The following weekend, ASU will host the annual Briann January Classic (Dec. 5-6), an event in which McNeese State, Nevada and San Francisco will also be participating.
• ASU will play in the second game of both of the weekend’s doubleheaders which will be taking place at Mullett Arena, Sun Devil Athletics newest on-campus Multi-Purpose Arena. On Fri., Dec. 5, the Sun Devils will host McNeese State (preceded by Nevada vs. San Francisco) and the following day they will face San Francisco (preceded by McNeese State vs. Nevada).
BIG 12 SCHEDULE NOTES
• When ASU hosts Colorado in its first Big 12 contest on Sun., Dec. 21, it will be the squad’s first home game since Sat., Dec. 6. Prior to the contest vs. Colorado will be road games at Penn State (Wed., Dec. 10), at Oregon State (Sun., Dec. 14), and at Gonzaga (Tues., Dec. 16).
• After the conference opener against Colorado, ASU will have its longest gap of the season between games (10 days). The Sun Devils will resume Big 12 play with consecutive road games in the state of Utah (at Utah on Wed., Dec. 31 and at BYU on Sat., Jan. 3). Following a home contest vs. UCF (Wed., Jan. 7), ASU will play at TCU (Sun., Jan. 11), the third time in four games it will be on the road following the holiday break.
• When ASU hosts Arizona on Wed., Jan. 28, it will be the first of three straight home games and four of five overall. Matchups vs. Kansas State (Sun., Feb. 1) and Oklahoma State (Wed., Dec. 4) at Desert Financial Arena will precede ASU’s only road game in the stretch, at Baylor on Sat. Feb. 7). The span will conclude with a rematch vs. Utah in Tempe (Wed., Feb. 11).
• ASU’s game at West Virginia (Wed., Jan. 21) will be the second time the Sun Devils will be playing more than 2,000 miles away from home in 2025-26. The first instance will take place on Tues., Dec. 9 at Penn State, the first of three consecutive road games ASU will play on the road to conclude the non-conference portion of its schedule. After playing at West Virginia, ASU will play a second consecutive road game at Cincinnati (Sat, Jan. 24).
SUN DEVIL ATHLETICS COUNTS DOWN TO NCAA WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR
In October 2020, the NCAA officially named ASU, the city of Phoenix, and the Footprint Center as hosts for the Women’s Final Four Tournament, to be held April 3, 5, 2026.
Two months ago, Sun Devil Basketball’s Head Coach Molly Miller joined several key community members at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport to unveil the official Countdown Clock to the event.
Unveiled alongside Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallaego, 2026 Women’s Final Four Committee Jay Parry, and NCAA Vice President for Women’s Basketball Lynn Holzman, the clock is located at the busiest terminal in the airport, Terminal 4, on the west end of the baggage claim. The placement means it will see significant foot traffic to build maximum excitement.
Arizona State University had a significant presence at the event. ASU Athletic Director Graham Rossini, Sparky, and Senior Associate Athletics Director Christina Wombacher were on hand to help underscore the University’s role as a proud stakeholder in bringing the Women’s Final Four to the Valley for the first time.
THE COACHING STAFF
Sun Devil Women’s Basketball Head Coach Molly Miller’s first staff is filled with a little bit of everything, including one former player – with tons of coaching experience at the highest level – coming back to Tempe.
Sun Devil graduate Stephanie Norman has joined the program after 18 seasons of experience at Louisville, and she is joined on the staff by associate head coach Jason Glover and assistant coaches Daniel Barber, Abi Olajuwon, Daejah Bernard and director of operations Ashleigh Lopez.
A member of the A STEP UP Assistant Coaches Hall of Fame Class of 2024, Norman returns to her alma mater as associate head coach and director of basketball strategy following a storied, 18-season stint at Louisville – as assistant coach (2007-12) and associate head coach (2012-25) – where she helped Cardinals head coach Jeff Walz establish the program as a perennial national powerhouse. During her 18 seasons on the bench, Louisville earned 16 NCAA Tournament invites and advanced to the Sweet 16 or better 12 times, including eight Elite Eights and four Final Fours. On two occasions, Louisville came one win short of a national title with NCAA runner-up finishes in 2009 and 2013.
A veteran coach whose experiences include working with major D1 women’s basketball squads, the WNBA and the NBA, Jason Glover will be joining Miller’s staff as associate head coach. For the past two seasons Glover served in the same capacity on Miller’s GCU coaching staff. Glover’s time working with Miller coincided with the most successful stretch in program annals as GCU won 84 percent of its games (56-11), including a school record 32 wins in 2024-25, a season that culminated with the Lopes earning their first NCAA Tournament berth. In addition to experiencing March Madness for the first time, GCU also captured both the WAC Tournament and regular season championships and set the conference record for consecutive wins (30).
In 2024-25, Glover’s influence once again played a major role in helping GCU end the season among the nation’s best squads in field goal percentage (third), scoring margin (seventh), 3-point field goal percentage (11th) and assists per game (24th). The Lopes also led the WAC in each of the categories.
Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Daniel Barber brings more than 10 years of coaching experience and a proven track record of identifying talent to Tempe.
At Penn State, Barber helped in the development of new Sun Devil guard Gabby Elliott, who in conference games led the team in scoring (17.2 ppg) and 3-point FG pct. (45.8) while also having a strong presence on the boards (4.2 rpg).
Before joining Penn State’s coaching staff, Barber was an assistant coach for six seasons at Clemson. While at the ACC school, Barber eventually added the position of recruiting coordinator to his job title. Barber assisted with the coaching of six players who earned All-ACC honors throughout his time with the Tigers, including Delicia Washington (first-team honors), two ACC All-Freshman Team selections and two All-Defensive Team members. During his time as recruiting coordinator, Barber was instrumental in helping Clemson sign multiple players who were ranked among the nation’s Top 50, including Ruby Whitehorn – Clemson’s first McDonald’s All-American – who was named to the ACC’s All-Freshman Team.
In addition to Penn State and Clemson, Barber enjoyed a short stint at UNC Asheville for the 2013-14 season before heading to Stetson where he served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for four seasons.
Barber is a graduate of Florida, where he earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees. During his graduate studies he served as the graduate assistant for the women’s basketball team at his alma mater.
Abi Olajuwon comes to the Valley of the Sun from the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun where she was part of a staff that helped lead the Sun to the WNBA semifinals in both of her seasons on the bench.
During her time in Connecticut, Olajuwon coached several of the league’s top players, all of whom accumulated numerous accolades in 2023 and 2024. The most decorated player during Olajuwon’s two seasons was Alyssa Thomas, who was named a WNBA All-Star, All-Defensive First Team and All-WNBA First Team both seasons. Thomas was also named to the AP All-WNBA First Team in 2024.In addition to Thomas, Olajuwon also coach WNBA All-Stars DeWanna Bonner (2023 and 2024) and Brionna Jones (2024). Olajuwon’s coaching was also instrumental in the development of DiJonai Carrington, who was named the WNBA’s Most Improved Player and All-Defensive First Team in 2024.
Olajuwon arrived in Connecticut after a four-season stint at TCU where she served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. In addition to her role as recruiting coordinator, Olajuwon also worked with the TCU’s post players.Prior to her appointment at TCU, Olajuwon was assistant coach at Eastern Michigan for two seasons. Olajuwon also added the title of recruiting coordinator the second of her two years. In both of her seasons, the Eagles signed the MAC’s top recruiting class.
During her career, Olajuwon has worked with two of the most prominent Sun Devils who both contributed to the remarkable success of the program. While with the Connecticut Sun, Olajuwon shared the bench with fellow assistant coach and Sun Devil Hall of Famer Briann January. As an assistant coach for the Nigeria women’s national team at the Paris Olympics in 2024, Olajuwon coached another of ASU’s all-time standouts, Promise Amukamara. The team made history not only by capturing the country’s first win in the Olympics, but also advanced to the quarterfinal round to become the first African basketball team, male or female, to qualify for the quarterfinals of the basketball competition at the Olympics.
A 2010 graduate of Oklahoma, Olajuwon played in the 2009 and 2010 Women’s Final Four and won Big 12 Championships in 2007 and 2009.
Olajuwon, the daughter of hall of fame center Hakeem Olajuwon, was a third-round pick by the Chicago Sky in the 2010 WNBA Draft. After playing one season with the Sky, Olajuwon signed with the Tulsa Shock in 2011. In addition to the two WNBA stops, Olajuwon played overseas for clubs in Hungary, Romania, Isreal, Croatia, France, Brazil, China and Spain in a three-year professional playing career. Daejah Bernard followed Miller to ASU after she was reunited with her college coach – first as director of basketball operations and later as assistant coach – when she joined Miller’s staff at Grand Canyon University. At ASU, Bernard will be serving as assistant coach and basketball operations coordinator.
In 2024-25, Bernard was part of a Lopes coaching staff that led GCU to a school record 32 wins and the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth. In addition, GCU also captured both the WAC Tournament and regular season championships. The 30-game winning streak going into the NCAA Tournament set the conference record for consecutive wins (30).
Bernard, who first arrived at GCU in August 2022, was a standout player for four seasons at Drury (2016-20). Under Miller’s tutelage, Bernard went on to become an American Basketball Coaches Association All-American honorable mention when the team went 67-1. As a senior, Drury was 32-0 and ranked first nationally in Division II, but the season was halted before the NCAA tournament by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bernard holds Drury’s single-season records for assists (211) and steals (137) and the career mark for assists (607), a total that broke the previous record by 133. She was also third on Drury’s career steals list (402).
Also joining Miller from GCU where she served first as a graduate assistant before being elevated to assistant coach is Ashleigh Lopez. In her new role, Lopez will be the director of player development and recruiting operations for the program.
In 2024-25, Lopez was part of a Lopes coaching staff that led GCU to a school record 32 wins and the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth. In addition, GCU also captured both the WAC Tournament and regular season championships. The 30-game winning streak going into the NCAA Tournament set the conference record for consecutive wins (30). In April 2025, Lopez was named one of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s Thirty Under 30, a program created to recognize 30 up-and-coming women’s basketball coaches aged 30 and under at all levels of the game.