Molly Miller helped put Arizona State women’s basketball back into national relevance in Year 1. Now, Miller and her team must continue to build on the rising standard she established in her first year.
Under Miller, ASU achieved its best start in program history, made an NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time since 2019, and reached the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament — not bad for a program that won seven of a possible 54 conference games in its previous three seasons prior to Miller’s arrival.
In Year 2 with coach Miller at the helm, coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance, the bar is set higher for her second act. Three of our staff writers, Ashton Sharinn, Jake Iovine and Blake Anger, break down the expectations, frontcourt and backcourt in this season preview.
Contributing writers: Jake Iovine, Blake Anger and Ashton Sharinn
Miller looks to build on momentum heading into Year 2
ASU will look to replicate the success Miller generated in her first year, but she knows it’ll be no easy task.
“What we have is some momentum, but we’ve also set our floor,” Miller said in a media availability in October on continuing to build from last year. “We just want to get better every single year. The home games that we play in conference are extremely competitive.”
Those home games could prove decisive come March. The Maroon and Gold went 7-2 at home in Big 12 play last season. On the road, however, Miller’s squad had the opposite, going 2-7 in conference games away from Tempe.
With eight new faces, Miller will turn toward its veteran players to help integrate the newcomers into her system.
“They finish my sentences,” she said on her returning players. “I’m so happy because I have echoes behind me. Last year it was just me and my coaching staff who had to dictate what was happening and the next play. (The returners will) finish my sentences. They know what to do.”
ASU will also look to string more consecutive wins together in conference play. The Sun Devils struggled for consistency last winter, unable to win three or more games in a row in Big 12 action, which ultimately resulted in their .500 record.
MVP: Brackens – As one of the few returners in this squad, she will have to lead by example and will have to run the show if ASU wants to achieve big things this year. After her experience this past summer at the FIBA 3×3 Nations League Americas Conference, her game will only get better and will contribute to an MVP season for the Sun Devils
Big 12 prediction: 11-7. The team went 9-9 last season in conference, so anything less than that will be seen as a disappointment. I think they’ll be strong at home and secure a few big away wins at Arizona, Oklahoma State, and Utah.
– Iovine
Returners bolster frontcourt
The frontcourt for the Sun Devils adds a new face to the squad. Junior Ayanna-Sarai Darrington is a transfer from Central Michigan. Last season, Darrington averaged 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 1. Alongside returning senior McKinna Brackens and junior Heloisa, Darrington looks to add more scoring to the frontcourt.
The only center on the roster, sophomore Martina Fantini, looks to have a bigger role going into this season. Fantini’s first season in Tempe concluded with 1.6 points and 2 rebounds while shooting 48% from the field.
My team MVP is senior forward McKinna Brackens. Last season, Brackens averaged 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. Going into her senior season, the gold medalist will have a higher production value as a main scorer and a key defender for ASU this season.
The record prediction for the Sun Devils is 26-5. With Madison Morson and Ella Ryan as new scoring pieces, I see ASU inside the top ten again in the Big 12.
– Anger
Revamped backcourt
It’s a revamped backcourt for year two in the Molly Miller era. After beginning last season with an influx of transfers, due to coming over from GCU, Miller yet again dipped into the portal to make a splash.
USA Today ranked the Sun Devils’ portal class top-5 in the nation. Junior guard Madi Morson and sophomore Ella Ryan offer the Sun Devils’ three-point shooting — a department they lacked in a season ago. Morson was the MAC Player of the Year in 2026 and averaged over 20 points per game. Ryan’s 41.1 3-point percentage ranked near the top among those in the portal and was 4% higher than any Sun Devil last season.
Senior Rashunda Jones from Michigan State provides a level of defense that Miller lost with Marley Washenitz. Jones averaged over two steals per game and provided scoring relief, posting double-digit points 19 times last season. Senior Ruby Whitehorn gives ASU more relief on the boards. The Tennessee transfer played in arguably one of the toughest conferences. Despite missing last season, she averaged over four rebounds on average per game her last three seasons — including collecting for during the 2024-25 season with Tennessee.
Sophomore Amaya Williams and senior guard/forward Deborah Davenport mark the only two returning in the backcourt. Davenport did all the little things for the Sun Devils a season ago. Miller often referred to her as a winner.
“I will say something, because she will not toot her own horn,” Miller said. “This child right here, I tell her to talk, and she’s the loudest. I need more, Deb, ‘yes, ma’am, I got you.’ Deb, do all the intangibles. ‘No problem, coach, I love that role.’ This is a winner. This is what we want our program to be built on. This is who we want to continue, the types of kids we want to recruit.”
Williams has looked more poised and confident entering year two of college basketball. Williams provided good defense and good mid-range scoring for ASU last season.
The Maroon and Gold also added three freshmen, two of whom were ranked inside ESPN’s top-100 in the 2026 class — Averie Lower and Londyn Parker. Among them, Quin’nya Gray De Sanders from Florida also joined the team.
– Sharinn
Team MVP:
While there are plenty of options, one in particular stands out to me. Given last season’s poor 3-point shooting, along with how impactful this player is, I’d say Madi Morson emerges as the team MVP. While Brackens, Carrera, Jones, and Whitehorn are all intriguing options, I looked at last season’s games, and a couple of those losses could have turned into wins with better shooting from behind the arc. Morson is coming off her best season in college basketball and scored over 20 points per game on a 45.3% clip and shot the 3-ball at a 39.2% clip. If the Sun Devils can get similar production as a season ago from Morson, they could absolutely be the team’s MVP.
Big 12 prediction: 14-4. There is a reason this portal class generated tons of buzz and excitement. Miller and Co. made the NCAA Tournament a season ago. Not getting back there would be underwhelming, to say the least. With an arguable top-5 recruiting class, good returners and two top-100 freshmen, top-5 in the Big 12 is certainly an easy task. I have ASU dropping games to BYU, West Virginia, and Oklahoma State, and losing to U of A on the road.
ASU and Miller’s squad will tip off its 2026-27 campaign at Desert Financial Arena, taking on Jackson State in its home opener on Monday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. MST.
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