Western Washington University's women’s basketball team is ready to defend their back-to-back Great Northwest Athletic Conference titles in the 2024-2025 season. The Vikings lost three senior starters from last season's team, which was eliminated in the NCAA II Championships West Regional Semifinal.
This year's team features a fresh set of players with two freshmen and three transfers joining the eight returning Vikings. Mason Oberg, a third-year guard, is the only returning starter because senior forward Aspen Garrison is redshirting this year due to a shoulder injury.
“We’re just young and more new and fresh and learning so much stuff,” said Stacey Turrell, assistant coach of WWU women’s basketball.
Head coach Carmen Dolfo is surrounded by an all-alumni coaching staff that includes Turrell, who is in her 13th season as the Viking's lead assistant coach and Katrina Gimmaka who is joining the team for her first season as an assistant coach after playing under Dolfo from 2018-2023.
“Being an all-alumni coaching staff means everything,” Gimmaka said. “Everyone brings different perspectives in a good way because we bounce ideas off each other.”
The Vikings had their alumni game on Saturday, Oct. 26, where some of the top scorers from that game included second-year guard Demi Dykstra, third-year forward Alyson Deaver and fourth-year guard Olivia Wikstrom.
The Vikings conference schedule begins Dec. 5 against MSU Billings at Sam Carver Gymnasium in Bellingham, Wash.
“I know every time we play against them [MSUB] it's a 2-point game,” Turrell said. “That game is just a battle, mentally a battle and physically a battle.”
Currently, Western has Aspen Garrison, Ellie Croco, Libby Stump, CC Size and Jaylyn Arosemena all dealing with various levels of injuries.
“I think this team is really hungry and especially with how many injuries we have had,” said Arosemena, a freshman forward.
Arosemena is preparing to make an impact in her first season.
“I bring a good versatility because I'm a post…but I'm a smaller post,” Arosemena said. “I have a pretty good handle for a post and a good shot. I bring a good versatility where if they need me on the outside or to play inside, I can do those things”
First-year forward Jaylyn Arosemena attempts a layup in the Vikings alumni game at Sam Carver Gymnasium in Bellingham, Wash. on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. The Vikings began the 2024-2025 season on Nov. 8 at the West Region Crossover in Carson, Calif. // Photo by Ubayy Elnogoumi, courtesy of WWU Athletics
The Vikings are going to need good post-play after the departure of Brooke Walling who averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game in 2023. Other missing pieces from last season’s team include Riley Dykstra and Stephanie Peterson who made substantial impacts on the Viking's past championship runs. The Vikings are also without KK Bass, who transferred to UT Tyler over the offseason.
Last year's backups, the new freshmen and transfers will all have to step up if the Vikings want another conference title run. The team hopes to find similar success to 2023 where they finished 24-7. The Vikings will have to lean on their youth to make an impact, even the freshmen on the team.
“Olivia Wikstrom coming off the bench has been a really good leader,” Turrell said. “She is just blossoming right now and I think they are really filling the roles of the missing girls from last year.”
Fourth-year guard, Olivia Wikstrom, takes a free throw at Sam Carver Gymnasium in Bellingham, Wash. in the alumni game on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Wikstrom had a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double in the game. // Photo by Ubayy Elnogoumi, courtesy of WWU Athletics
The Vikings went 0-2 at the West Region Crossover in Carson, Calif., this past weekend and grabbed their first win of the season at home on Tuesday, Nov. 12, over Cal State East Bay, 84-59.
“We just want to be the best that we can be,” said Turrell.
Alex Couckuyt (they/them) is a Sports and Recreation reporter for The Front. They are a senior studying multidisciplinary studies with a minor in psychology and public relations. In their free time, they enjoy painting star wars miniatures and playing Magic the Gathering. You can reach them at alexcouckuyt.thefront@gmail.com.
