WAC WBB2526 Release Week 2

WAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WINS 11 OF 14 OPENING WEEK GAMES
The Western Athletic Conference women’s basketball 2025-26 season is off to a strong start in non-conference as the seven teams combined for 11 wins in 14 contests in week one. Abilene Christian, California Baptist, Southern Utah and Utah Valley each began its season with two straight wins. Utah Tech won its lone match of the week, and Tarleton State captured two wins in three games.
 
SOUTHERN UTAH’S FELY SWEEPS WAC WEEKLY HONORS
The Thunderbirds began the season 2-0 for the first time since the 2022-23 season, capturing wins over Park University (AZ) and the team picked to finish third in the WCC preseason poll, Washington State. Southern Utah’s Brooklyn Fely was named the WAC Player and Newcomer of the Week after posting two 20-point games and two double-doubles. Fely led the WAC last week in scoring, of all players who played multiple games, and tied for the most offensive rebounds (9) in the league.
 
EMMA JOHANSSON: REBOUND AND BLOCKING QUEEN
Following the first week of NCAA women’s basketball, California Baptist’s Emma Johansson leads the country in rebounds per game (16.5), total defensive rebounds (30) and blocks per game (5.5). The Lancer began the year with 20 rebounds in CBU’s season-opening victory over UC Riverside, the third-most rebounds in a game in the nation last week. Johansson was one of two players in the WAC to open the season with two double-doubles in two games: 10 points and 20 boards vs UCR, 14 points and 13 boards vs Pacific.
 
ABILENE CHRISTIAN DEFENDS THE HOME COURT WITH TWO OPENING WINS
The WAC Preseason favorite, Abilene Christian, started its season with a dominant 103-33 victory over Howard Payne where six different Wildcats finished the game with double-digit scoring led by the WAC Preseason Player of the Year, Payton Hull, who recorded 16 points. Emma Troxell then led ACU to a 69-56 win over Incarnate Word where she registered 19 points, one point shy of her career-high. Preseason All-WAC Meredith Mayes recorded a 80.0 field goal percentage over the two games, the ninth-highest in the nation.
 
UTAH VALLEY TAKES TWO ON THE ROAD
Utah Valley traveled to California to kick off its 2025-26 campaign and the Wolverines notched wins from CSU Bakersfield and LMU. Tessa Chaney and Amanda Barcello each scored double-digits in the two wins, combining for 28 against the Roadrunners and 25 versus the Lions. Barcello made 6-of-11 (54.5 percent) shots from beyond the arc last week.
 
UTAH TECH IGNITES FOURTH QUARTER COMEBACK OVER NORTHERN ARIZONA
After the cancellation of its original season-opener, Utah Tech began the season on Saturday, Nov. 8 where the Trailblazers battled hard against Northern Arizona. Utah Tech overcame a six-point deficit with just under two-minutes remaining and finished the game on a 15-4 run to defeat the Lumberjacks 78-73. Kaylee Borden and Chardonnay Hartley combined for 40 of the team’s 78 points and accounted for half of the team’s 10 three-point field goals.
 
TARLETON STATE OPENS NEW ARENA WITH TWO OVERTIME GAMES
Tarleton State debuted its brand new EECU Center with two wins and two overtime games in the season-opening week. The Texans kicked off the year with a strong 90-35 win over Schreiner, an intense overtime battle with Arkansas State, and a double-overtime victory over Houston Christian 75-71. Shadasia Brackens had a stellar first week in a Tarleton State uniform, averaging 14.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and recording a 72.0 field goal percentage (18-of-25). Brackens notched a double-double against Schreiner (14 points, 11 boards) followed by 20 points versus Arkansas State.