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Women’s Basketball opens 2026-27 campaign vs. Jackson State on Monday

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Women’s Basketball opens 2026-27 campaign vs. Jackson State on MondayWomen’s Basketball opens 2026-27 campaign vs. Jackson State on Monday
Thomas Fernandez

Let's get it started 

Always leave them wanting more. It’s an adage that is music to the ears of anyone in a show-and-tell medium, and it perfectly captures the sentiment at the conclusion of Molly Miller’s first season as head coach of the Sun Devil women’s basketball team. After a campaign punctuated by the program’s first NCAA appearance since 2019, the much-anticipated second season of the Miller era commences on Monday (5 p.m. MST) when ASU hosts Jackson State. For the Sun Devils, Monday’s season opener will be the first of consecutive home games (vs. NAU on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. MST) to open the new season. 

Watch/Listen

Monday’s season opener can be seen on ESPN+. The game can also be heard on KAZG 1440 AM. Pregame coverage will start at 4:30 p.m. The state of Arizona’s 2010 & 2019 Broadcaster of the Year, Jeff Munn is in his 23rd season as the voice of ASU WBB. He will be joined by former Sun Devil head coach Maura McHugh.

How was that for an opening act?

• In Miller’s first season, the Sun Devils qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Along the way, they set the school record for the best start in school history (15-0), tied the school record for the longest winning streak (15 games) and tied the program’s second-highest total for home wins (15).

• When ASU announced on March 22. 2025 it Miller to be its next head women’s basketball coach, it found a proven winner and extraordinary leader. In addition to the aforementioned accomplishments, in Miller’s first season at ASU was an unequivocal success by any measure. Among Miller’s first-year successes...

• ASU’s plus-14 wins from the 2024-25 season placed it among the top five best turnarounds in the nation.

• Won 24 games, the most games won by a Sun Devil team since the 2015-16 squad that won 26 games.

• The 24 wins set a new program standard by a first-year head coach.

In 2025-26, For the first time since ... The Sun Devils ...

• The 2017-18 season: Won at least two games in a conference tournament... Swept regular season series vs. Arizona ... defeated Arizona in Tucson.

•The 2018-19 season: Qualified for the NCAA Tournament ... Advanced to the quarterfinals of a conference tournament... Swept regular season series vs. Utah ... Did not have a losing record in road games and won its most road games (seven).

• The 2019-20 season: Won more than 20 games ... Won its most conference games (nine / won 10 in 2019-20).

How it happened

The combination of seniors Gabby Elliott (2026 WBCA Honorable Mention All-American who scored in double figures 29 times, led or tied for team lead in scoring 14 times); Marley Washenitz (made 52 percent of her triples in ASU’s four postseason contests) and the tremendous talents of juniors McKinna Brackens (2026 All-Big 12 third team, 2026-27 Cheryl Miller Award preseason watch list, USA 3x3 U23 national team) and Heloisa Carrera (led the team in scoring /14.3 ppg and field goal percentage/64.6 in last seven games of 2025-26).

ASU’s performances in two different types: In games decided by five points or less/OT, ASU was 7-4. The Sun Devils were 7-2 in games coming off a loss.

ASU started 15-0 this year after going 10-22 2024-25. How impressive was that? Since 1999-00 only Nebraska had bounced back from a losing record to post more season opening wins, winning its first 30 in 2009-10 after going 15-16 in 2008-09.

Need to know nuggets on the 2026-27 Sun Devils

#0 - Madison Morson

• Transferred to ASU from Central Michigan where she earned both the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year (2026) and Mid-American Conference Freshman of the year (2025) awards, the first player in program history to accomplish the feat.

• Was also a two-time all-MAC selection (2026 first team, 2025 second team).

• Started 29 of 30 games in 2025-26 and led the team in points per game (20.1), 3-pointers (49) and free throws made (135), was second in 3-point field goal percentage (39.2), free throw percentage (83.3)and steals per game (1.3) and third in field goal percentage (45.3).

#1 - Amaya Williams

• One of six Sun Devils who played in all 35 games and finished fifth on the team in assists per game (1.9 apg).

• Dished out three or more assists 11 times, including a season-high 11 assists in win at San Diego (Nov. 13), the most for a Sun Devil in 2025-26 and the most in a single game since current graduate assistant Reili Richardson had 11 at Colorado State on Dec. 9, 2018. Also had a season-highs in 3-pointers (two) and steals (four) in the win at San Diego.

#2 - Ruby Whitehorn

• A starter in 90 of 100 career games, has already surpassed the 1,000-point mark (1,106 points) in just three seasons.

•  2027 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch List

• Was also named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Preseason Top 20 Watch List, ahead of her junior season (2024-25).

• Has made 46.3 percent of field goal attempts over her last two seasons. During that stretch, she scored in double figures in 44 of her last 65 games.

#4 - Rashunda Jones

• Has started 48 of 90 career games, most recently starting 28 of 31 games for Michigan State last season, posting per-game averages of 11.7 ppg, 3.4 apg and 2.2 spg.

• As a freshman at Purdue in 2023-24, earned Big Ten All-Freshman honors for a season in which she appeared in 30 games (three starts) and averaged 7.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and nearly 1.0 steal per game.

#5 - Quin’Nya Gray De Sanders

• Was named first-team all-county and Co-Player of the Year in 2026.

• Was instrumental in helping Winter Haven reach the state finals in 2023 and 2026, the state semifinals in 2024 and winning the state title in 2025. In the 2025 state championship game, Gray de Sanders scored seven points, grabbed six boards and had three assists to go with three steals in helping her squad claim the state title, Winter Haven’s 19th straight win to close the 2024-25 campaign.

#7 - Martina Fantini

• Played in 32 games as a freshman and made 48 percent (24-50) of her field goals.

• Had important contributions in ASU’s 68-66 win at Gonzaga (Dec. 16): season-high seven points and six rebounds.

• Helped Italy take home bronze at the FIBA U20 Women’s EuroBasket tournament in August 2025.

#8 - Londyn Parker 

• A four-year starter who has served as team captain for two seasons for her Staley High School team. P

• Was named to the Class 6 Final Four All-Tournament Team by Prep Girls Hoops after helping Staley reach the MSHSAA Class 6 title game. 

Named first-team all-conference three times and was a member of the first-team all-district team in 2025, Parker was rated the top point guard in the state of Missouri by Prep Hoops. She was also ranked No. 86 in the nation, graded as a three-star player by 247 Sports.

#10 - Averie Lower

• Was named 2026 area player for a senior season in which she averaged 24.0 points and 9.9 rebounds per game as CCA (20-3) advanced to the 4A state quarterfinals.

• Lower finished her high school career with 335 3-pointers (third all-time in Iowa), shooting 44 percent from downtown.

#14 - Heloisa Carrera

• One of three Sun Devils who started every game and led the team in field goal percentage (53.5) and offensive rebounds per game (2.1/14th in the Big 12), was second in free throw percentage (78.1), double-doubles (3) and rebounds per game (5.3), third in scoring (10.4 ppg) and fourth in minutes per game (26.6).

• Scored in double figures 21 times (nine times in season’s last 10 games and 13 times in last 17 games) and scored 20 or more points 4 times.

#21 - McKinna Brackens

• 2026 All-Big 12 third team, 2026-27 Cheryl Miller Award preseason watch list, USA 3x3 U23 national team.

• Played in 34 games (33 starts) and led the team in double-doubles (eight/tied for sixth in the Big 12), rebounds per game (6.4/15th in the Big 12) and defensive rebounds per game (4.9/ninth in the Big 12), was second in scoring (14.4 ppg/14th in the Big 12), field goal percentage (44.7/eighth in the Big 12), offensive rebounds per game (1.5) and minutes per game (32:18/seventh in the Big 12) and fourth in free throw percentage (72.1), assists (2.0 apg) and steals (1.2 spg).

• Scored in double figures 27 times and led or tied for the team lead in scoring 13 times and rebounding 12 times.

#22 - Ella Ryan

• As a freshman at Quinnipiac, played in 34 games (33 starts) and earned MAAC All-Rookie honors for a 2025-26 season in which she led the team in 3-point field goal percentage (41.2), was second in 3-pointers per game (2.0), third in scoring (10.4 ppg) and fourth in rebounds (4.1 rpg).

• Was named MAAC Rookie of the Week three times.

#24 - Deborah Davenport

• Was one of six Sun Devils who played in every game last season and started consecutive games at Gonzaga (Dec. 16) and vs. Colorado (Dec. 21).

• Tied for the team lead in blocks per game (0.6), was tied for third in offensive rebounds per game (1.0) and fifth in rebounds per game (3.6).

• Transferred to ASU from Northwest Florida where she played a key role in leading her squad to consecutive NJCAA national championship.

#25 - Ayanna-Sarai Darrington

• Started 42 of 57 games in her two seasons at Central Michigan where she averaged double figures in scoring (10.6 ppg) and connected on 57 percent of her shots.

• In 2025-26, played in 28 games (26 starts) and earned All-MAC Second Team honors for a season in which she averaged 14.9 ppg and led the MAC in shooting (56.7 pct/21st in NCAA), good for seventh all-time in CMU single-season annals.

Did you know, head coach Molly Miller....?

• Enters the 2026-27 season third among active D1 coaches in career winning percentage. The NCAA makes the baseline -- in this case a minimum of five years as a Division I head coach and career record from four-year colleges only -- and CMM’s .829 mark through a dozen seasons ranks only behind two pretty legendary coaches. 

• Including the 2025-26 season in which she led ASU to a record of 24-11, Miller has won 20 or more games 11 times in her 12 seasons as a head coach.

• To say Miller’s first season at ASU was successful beyond the expectations of most, might be underplaying what she, her staff and the team accomplished. In the season’s second month, ASU eclipsed the 9-0 record set by the 1991-92 squad for the best start in program history. ASU went on to surpass that mark by six wins. On Dec. 31, 2025, ASU tied the longest winning streak (15) in program history following its 69-68 win at Utah. Following its 71-61 win over the Utes on Feb. 11, Sun Devil Women’s Basketball moved back into the neighborhood of 20-win programs for the first time since 2019-20. Miller went on to set the program record for most wins by a first-year head coach (24).

• During the offseason, Miller’s signed a contract extension that ensures she’ll be walking the sidelines in Tempe through 2031. “Molly’s impact has been immediate, creating real momentum and putting Sun Devil Women’s Basketball in the national spotlight,” says Athletics Director Graham Rossini. “This extension reflects our confidence in her leadership, her vision and the elite program she is building at ASU, one capable of competing for championships. As the season begins Nov. 2, we need Sun Devil fans to pack Desert Financial Arena and support this exciting roster.”

ASU’s transfer portal signings ranked among nation's best

• Coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2019-20 season, the Sun Devil women’s basketball team figures to be a part of the national conversation early, often and throughout the 2026-27 season.

• Not only did ESPN.com have the Sun Devils ranked No. 23 in its Way-too-early Top 25, the website also recognized the transfer portal class Molly Miller and her staff brought to ASU – Ayanna-Sarai Darrington, Rashunda Jones, Averie Lower, Ella Ryan and Ruby Whitehorn – as one of the best in the nation.

• USAToday.com was in lockstep with ESPN’s high assessment, ranking ASU’s transfer portal class No. 4 in the nation.  It also put its high school signing class in the top 25 as well.

Notes on ASU's televised games

• This season, ASU will have games on FS1, ESPN, ESPNU and CBS Sports Network against 2026 NCAA Tournament teams, including three of them at home.

• Arizona State will host Utah on Monday, Dec. 21, to start a Big 12 home schedule that includes Big 12 regular-season champion TCU and tournament champion West Virginia.

• Baylor will visit Tempe on Tuesday, Feb. 16, for an 8 p.m. tip on FS1.

• ASU will visit preseason Big 12 favorite Oklahoma State for an ESPN game on Sunday, Feb. 7, at 4 p.m. MST. This marks the sixth straight season a different team has been selected first in the annual preseason poll.

• Two-time defending Big 12 regular season champion TCU, voted second in the preseason poll, visits Tempe for a CBS Sports Network tilt on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 5 p.m.

• ASU will host the 2026 Big 12 Tournament champion West Virginia on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 8 p.m. MST on ESPNU.

Notes on ASU's schedule

• In addition to Arizona, Utah and Colorado, ASU will host Iowa State, Texas Tech, Big 12 champion TCU, Baylor, Cincinnati and Big 12 Tournament champion West Virginia at home.  ASU’s nine home games include six teams that made the 2026 NCAA Tournament: Colorado, Iowa State, Texas Tech, TCU, Baylor and West Virginia.

• The Sun Devils will have 10 non-conference home games this year, including two at Mullett Arena as it will play WCC Santa Clara (Nov. 20) and Gonzaga (Dec. 6) there. Other opponents include Jackson State (Nov. 2), Northern Arizona (Nov. 5), Penn State (Nov. 15), San Diego (Nov. 17), San Jose State (Nov. 24), Cal Sate Bakersfield (Nov. 28), Wake Forest (Nov. 29),  UTRGV (Dec. 8). Last season, ASU went 15-2 at home, tying the second-most home wins in program annals.

• ASU will face former Pac-12 foes Washington State (Dec. 12 in San Diego) and Stanford (Dec. 17 at Maples Pavilion).

• The Sun Devils will also face Colorado State (Dec. 13) while they are in San Diego, ASU’s second game in as many days.

• The first road game of the season will be on Nov. 10 when ASU travels to Las Vegas to face UNLV.

• ASU will face Cal State Bakersfield (Nov. 28) and Wake Forest (Nov. 29) in the annual Briann January Classic.

• The Sun Devils will open Big 12 play at home vs.Utah on Dec. 21, ASU’s last contest before the holiday break.

• ASU will resume play with consecutive road games at Colorado (Dec. 30) and at UCF (Jan. 2). After returning to DFA to host Iowa State on Jan. 6, ASU will pack its bags once again to take on BYU (Jan. 9) in Provo, Utah, concluding a stretch in which it will be on the road three times in four games.

• Last season, the Sun Devils went 13-0 in non-conference action, which led to the best start in school history (15-0). The slate had top-100 road wins over Gonzaga, Santa Clara, Oregon State and Penn State, another win over McNeese State, which posted 26 regular-season wins, along with always good UNLV.