the annual event will take place on October 12th
Two big updates on the Women’s side of the program came forth this week.
In a brief post on the team’s athletics site, Gonzaga formally announced that the Numerica FanFest will take place on October 12th at 1500 PST in the Kennel. Fans will not need tickets to attend this event and doors will open one hour prior to the event start. There wasn’t much additional detail in the announcement, but it did highlight that it will “…include player and coaching staff introductions, along with contests on the court.” If you’ve got the time and are in the area, I hope you get a chance to check it out!
The second comes not in the form of a formal post or article, but from an update on the Gonzaga Women’s team roster, which received an update last week. For those who have not paid much attention since the team’s knockout in the Sweet 16 against Texas, there has been substantial turnover and while I’ve updated you about the departures, I still have to cover the remaining two transfers, McKynnlie Dalan and Vera Gunaydin, with those two articles coming soon.
While this is the roster currently published, there is still time for Gonzaga to fill out this roster. After a NCAA mandated hold on recruiting from August 12-18, Coach Fortier and the gang will have a chance to contact prospects and hit the road to sway their minds to play in the iconic Kennel.
One big inclusion on this roster is Bree Salenbien. After suffering her third ACL tear in her right knee, there was doubt over to whether Bree would continue her basketball journey. While I would be cautious in suggesting that a simple roster update confidently confirms her involvement in the program, I would like to hope so given the junior’s rough journey since enrolling at GU.
Gonzaga Women’s 2024-2025 roster:
#0 – Esther Little — 6’2” Guard
#2 – Vera Gunaydin — 5’9” Guard
#4 – Claire O’Connor — 6’0” Guard
#5 – Maud Hujibens — 6’3” Forward
#8 – Ines Bettencourt — 5’9” Guard
#10 – Tayla Dalton — 5’9” Guard
#11 – Allie Turner — 5’8” Guard
#15 – Yvonne Ejim — 6’1” Forward
#22 – McKynnlie Dalan — 6’0” Forward
#31 – Ella Hopkins — 6’3” Forward
#33 – Laura Whitaker — 6’3” Forward
#35 – Bree Salenbien — 6’2” Guard
Gonzaga Women’s 2024-2025 coaching staff:
Head Coach – Lisa Fortier
Assistant Coach – Jordan Green
Assistant Coach – Stacy Clinesmith
Assistant Coach – Craig Fortier
Assistant Coach – Chantel Osahor
Assistant Coach / Video Coordinator – Jazmine Redmon
Director of Basketball Operations – Shannon Donegan
Director of Performance & Nutrition – Mike Wilson
Administrative Assistant – Shaniqua Niles