Injuries and roster size may no longer impede Arizona women’s basketball success

Arizona women’s basketball is prepared to begin the regular season on the road against Toledo on Saturday with the goal of surpassing previous years’ results.

Arizona women’s head coach Niya Butts stated, “We have new bodies from freshmen, but we also have people coming back from last year’s squad.” “We have players from last year who were sidelined for whatever reason or who were injured and didn’t participate. Both our squad and our roster appeal to me. Although I don’t always like them, I do like them more days than not.

During his seven years as Arizona’s coach, Butts, who played four seasons under Pat Summit from 1996 to 2000 after graduating from Tennessee, has amassed a pitiful 79-108 career record.

The squad’s overall record from the previous season was 10-20, with a 3-15 record in the Pac-12 Conference. But the Wildcats of this year are more experienced and have a stronger team.

Considering its 2-11 away record, Arizona did rather well last season in keeping above.500 at home (8-7 record). Therefore, in an effort to increase their road competitiveness and capacity to win outside of McKale Center, the Wildcats will rely more on their ability to play consistently at home.

LaBrittney Jones, Malena Washington, and Keyandra Cannon are the three starters that the Wildcats have returned; nevertheless, they lost two important players in Candice Warthen and Alli Gloyd. Four new players have joined the team: Michal Miller, A’Shanti Coleman, Eugenie Simonet-Keller, and Destiny Graham.

Sitting at six feet eight inches, Simonet-Keller is the second tallest player in the Pac-12, having come from Le Biot, France.

To lead the path back to relevance, this revamped Wildcats club will still rely on its veterans.

LaBrittney Jones, Malena Washington, and Keyandra Cannon are the three starters that the Wildcats have returned; nevertheless, they lost two important players in Candice Warthen and Alli Gloyd. Four new players have joined the team: Michal Miller, A’Shanti Coleman, Eugenie Simonet-Keller, and Destiny Graham.

Sitting at six feet eight inches, Simonet-Keller is the second tallest player in the Pac-12, having come from Le Biot, France.

To lead the path back to relevance, this revamped Wildcats club will still rely on its veterans.