Team newcomers look to provide dynamic play making abilities along with experience to this roster. Getting better every day is the ultimate goal for the women’s basketball team. 

After talking with some of these newcomers and head coach Randi Richardson-Thornley, excitement and anticipation seem to be the feelings going into the year. Their core values of compete, learn and love drive them to enjoy the game and being on the team, both on and off the court. 

The past year has challenged everyone in different ways. The women’s basketball team has had the conversations that are needed emotionally in a time like this. They also use their time working on their skills as an outlet to get away from the world that, at times, seems to be on fire. 

Junior Forward Kiera Bush said the state of the country right now has challenged her and the team to be there for each other in a new and different way, it has also brought them closer as they’ve become a family in the process. 

Senior Guard Kizzah Maltezo mentioned the coaching staff allows the team to be open and have the conversations needed during these trying times. 

Richardson-Thornley excitedly claimed that Maltezo “can flat out score the basketball at a high rate.” 

Richardson-Thornley preached how after transferring over from Concordia University, Maltezo has stepped in immediately as a great leader. Maltezo’s experience and leadership provide an excellent option for the team on the court. Confidence is valuable for her role. 

“I’d like to say I am a scoring threat,” Maltezo said.

Luckily, this year CWU can look forward to having Maltezo as a scoring option rather than have to game plan against her.

Redshirt Freshman Forward Erika Brumfield is dynamic in the post. Brumfield transferred from Portland State University. 

“She will fit into our system because she has the ability to play with her back to the basket,” Richardson-Thornley said. “But she can also step out and knock down three’s as needed, which makes our 4/5 group really tough to guard.” 

Brumfield’s inside-out game will surely benefit this team once on-the-court play resumes. 

Richardson-Thornley said Bush brings a “physical back to the basket presence in the paint.” She also mentions Bush’s drive, hard work and coachability being a solid plus for this team. 

Bush said she brings a form of physicality to the post that will help the team. Bush likes to keep the energy on the court up and enjoys running the floor. 

Sophomore Guard Cassidy Gardner is an “elite level point guard who can shoot the ball at an extremely elite level,” Richardson-Thornley said. 

As a freshman at Portland State University, Gardner had some big games where she showcased her unique scoring ability. With an expanded role we should see Gardner making a lot of three-pointers for this team like she did at Portland State. 

Whether they play games or not this season, our Women’s Basketball team’s approach will be the same. The group plans on getting better every day and competing to win. If they get a chance to play this year, those games will be a pathway to help compete next year for a GNAC championship. 

“We are going to work as hard as we can today and then we’ll do the same thing tomorrow with what tomorrow brings,” Richardson-Thornley said. 

With new Washington state COVID-19 guidelines being enforced, whether we see the women’s basketball team get some on the court playing time or not, we can expect them to be ready physically and mentally.