LOGAN, Utah – Utah State women’s basketball began its 2024-25 season on Monday as it held its first official practice inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The Aggies, under the direction of first-year head coach Wesley Brooks, are made up of six returners and 10 newcomers.
“We talked to the team about how we had to get the effort right,” Brooks said. “I think the effort was good and it’s where it needed to be. The thing is execution is what wins at a high level. We have to execute what we’re trying to do defensively and we have to execute what we’re trying to do offensively. We still have a lot to clean up and we’ll continue to work on that.
“We want to play fast, we want to play at pace. One of our goals is to be one of the fastest teams in the country. The only way you play at pace is by practicing at pace. That’s what we’re striving to do and I think that can be an advantage for us, especially at elevation.”
Utah State returns six players from the 2023-24 squad including senior guard Ivory Finley, senior guard Cheyenne Stubbs, senior guard/forward Samiana Suguturaga, senior forward Allyzee Verdan, junior guard Isabella Tañedo and sophomore forward Gracie Johnson.
“It’s been fun, it was a good day,” junior Jamisyn Heaton said. “I felt like we really worked hard with the three-hour practice we had. I felt like everyone pushed themselves and everyone got one percent better today. It’s just fun to be out here and get the three-hour practice we’ve been needing.”
The Aggies welcome 10 newcomers to the 2024-25 roster, with three transfers and seven incoming freshmen. Those transferring into the program are a trio of juniors in Heaton (College of Southern Idaho), Sophie Sene (Rhode Island) and Mia Tarver (Salt Lake CC). The incoming freshmen are guard/forward Karlie Banks (Laclede, Idaho / Sandpoint HS), guard Carlie Latta (Paul, Idaho / Minico HS), guard Elise Livingston (Millville, Utah / Ridgeline HS), guard/forward Taliyah Logwood (Richmond, California / Oakland Technical HS), guard Denae Skelton (West Kelowna, B.C., Canada / Champlain College Saint-Lambert), guard Ava Smith (Camas, Washington / Union HS) and guard Riley Ward (Preston, Idaho / Preston HS).
“I think we’ve really gotten better since this summer,” Sene said. “Just like coach Wes (Brooks) always says, we have to pay attention to little details. And I think we’re doing that better and better every day. We just need to keep working on new things. We’re a new team so obviously, it’s going to be hard, but I think we’re getting better.”
Utah State’s 2024-25 season begins with an exhibition against Westminster on Friday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m., at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The Aggies will then officially open the season at home on Monday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. against Kansas City. The team’s full schedule is available on utahstateaggies.com.
Season Tickets
Season tickets for the 2024-25 schedule are available now. Fans can make a deposit to save their seat here or by calling the USU Ticket Office at (435) 797-0305.
Fans can follow USU women’s basketball on Twitter, @USUWBasketball, on Instagram, @USUWBasketball, as well as on Facebook, at /USUWBB. Aggie fans can also follow Utah State Athletics on Twitter, @USUAthletics, on Instagram, @USUAthletics and on Facebook at /USUAthletics.
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“We talked to the team about how we had to get the effort right,” Brooks said. “I think the effort was good and it’s where it needed to be. The thing is execution is what wins at a high level. We have to execute what we’re trying to do defensively and we have to execute what we’re trying to do offensively. We still have a lot to clean up and we’ll continue to work on that.
“We want to play fast, we want to play at pace. One of our goals is to be one of the fastest teams in the country. The only way you play at pace is by practicing at pace. That’s what we’re striving to do and I think that can be an advantage for us, especially at elevation.”
Utah State returns six players from the 2023-24 squad including senior guard Ivory Finley, senior guard Cheyenne Stubbs, senior guard/forward Samiana Suguturaga, senior forward Allyzee Verdan, junior guard Isabella Tañedo and sophomore forward Gracie Johnson.
“It’s been fun, it was a good day,” junior Jamisyn Heaton said. “I felt like we really worked hard with the three-hour practice we had. I felt like everyone pushed themselves and everyone got one percent better today. It’s just fun to be out here and get the three-hour practice we’ve been needing.”
The Aggies welcome 10 newcomers to the 2024-25 roster, with three transfers and seven incoming freshmen. Those transferring into the program are a trio of juniors in Heaton (College of Southern Idaho), Sophie Sene (Rhode Island) and Mia Tarver (Salt Lake CC). The incoming freshmen are guard/forward Karlie Banks (Laclede, Idaho / Sandpoint HS), guard Carlie Latta (Paul, Idaho / Minico HS), guard Elise Livingston (Millville, Utah / Ridgeline HS), guard/forward Taliyah Logwood (Richmond, California / Oakland Technical HS), guard Denae Skelton (West Kelowna, B.C., Canada / Champlain College Saint-Lambert), guard Ava Smith (Camas, Washington / Union HS) and guard Riley Ward (Preston, Idaho / Preston HS).
“I think we’ve really gotten better since this summer,” Sene said. “Just like coach Wes (Brooks) always says, we have to pay attention to little details. And I think we’re doing that better and better every day. We just need to keep working on new things. We’re a new team so obviously, it’s going to be hard, but I think we’re getting better.”
Utah State’s 2024-25 season begins with an exhibition against Westminster on Friday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m., at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The Aggies will then officially open the season at home on Monday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. against Kansas City. The team’s full schedule is available on utahstateaggies.com.
Season Tickets
Season tickets for the 2024-25 schedule are available now. Fans can make a deposit to save their seat here or by calling the USU Ticket Office at (435) 797-0305.
Fans can follow USU women’s basketball on Twitter, @USUWBasketball, on Instagram, @USUWBasketball, as well as on Facebook, at /USUWBB. Aggie fans can also follow Utah State Athletics on Twitter, @USUAthletics, on Instagram, @USUAthletics and on Facebook at /USUAthletics.
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