As the 2023 school year is underway, women's basketball has several new faces and a refreshed state of mind going into this Winter as the Rustlers take part in media day this past week. "I am very excited for this program and the new season that is underway. Last season, as hard as we coached and as hard as we worked, we just weren't good enough. Big enough. Fast enough. Skilled enough. Many of those things you can work on, but even with that, there is an athleticism and talent cap and we hit it. I was proud of how we fought but knew the class of 2023 was going to give us a competitive edge," says Head Coach, Layton Westmoreland. 

 

When asked about being the lone returner to the program, Sophomore Criselle Mendoza responded, "It was a little scary when I first heard that I was the only one returning, but when I came, it was fun. It was really easy to get to know everybody and I just feel like the program is so different this year in a, in a really good way." 

 

With 12 new faces, the Rustlers bring a lot of diversity to the Rendezvous City, with the current roster representing six states and one foreign nation in Kosovo. Rea Ukaj, a freshman from Peje, Kosovo, brings a lot of experience to the team having spent several seasons playing professionally overseas as well as competing this summer in the FIBA U20 European Championships for her home country. When asked what she will bring to this team, she responds, "Um, I feel like I'm a leader and I can push my team forward. And like, obviously basketball is a team sport, but I think that like, with my individual capacities, I can push the team forward, and we, all of us can do great things together. Like, there is no Rea, it's CWC."

 

There will be plenty of opportunities to meet the Rustlers and hear from the rest of the roster as the program builds towards this new season, with many community activities coming up for the women's basketball program. Be on the lookout for our team at the local elementary schools for High-Five Fridays, and keep an eye out for promotions and flyers around town to see what is in store next for the Rustlers.