Honestly, if you’ve been following Arizona State University women's basketball lately, you know it's been a bit of a rollercoaster. For decades, this program was the definition of "tempe-tough." You’d walk into Desert Financial Arena—or the "Bank," as the regulars call it—and you just knew the Sun Devils were going to defend like their lives depended on it. But things have changed.
The transition from the legendary Charli Turner Thorne era hasn't been a walk in the park. Not even close.
When Natasha Adair took over in 2022, there was this buzz of "new energy." But after three seasons and a 29-62 record, the university decided it was time to move on in March 2025. It’s tough. You hate to see a coach struggle, but a 7-47 conference mark over three years is hard to ignore, especially when you're moving into the meat grinder that is the Big 12.
The Molly Miller Era Begins
Now, we’re in the middle of the 2025-26 season, and the vibe is... different. The hire of Molly Miller from Drury was, basically, a home run on paper. She’s a winner. Period. People who really know the game were ecstatic because her style is absolute chaos for opponents. We’re talking full-court press, high-octane turnovers, and zero breathing room.
Right now, the Sun Devils are sitting at 16-2 as of mid-January 2026. That’s a massive jump.
It hasn't been all sunshine, though. They just took a tough 77-46 loss at TCU on January 11th. Before that, a 71-62 slip-up at BYU. It shows that while the "chaos" works against a lot of teams, the top-tier Big 12 programs are still a huge hurdle.
Why the Roster is Actually Clicking
Most people assume a new coach means a "rebuilding year" where you just lose a bunch and hope for the best. Not here. Miller went heavy into the portal and brought in some serious talent that fits her "pressure" system.
- McKinna Brackens: This junior transfer from UNLV is essentially the engine right now. She’s scoring in double figures almost every night—15 of 17 games, to be exact. She’s got six double-doubles already.
- Last-Tear Poa: You might remember her from LSU. She’s a graduate student now and brings that "I’ve won a national title" energy. Even with a minor hand surgery earlier this season, she’s leading the team with 4.1 assists per game.
- Marley Washenitz: She came from Pitt and is basically a nightmare for opposing point guards. She’s averaging over 2 steals a game.
It’s a gritty group. They won a double-overtime thriller against Oregon State back in December (55-53). That game was ugly. It was slow. But they won. That’s the sort of thing that was missing the last couple of years.
The $100 Million Face-Lift
Let's talk about the arena for a second. Desert Financial Arena is 51 years old. It shows.
If you’ve ever sat in the lower bowl, you know those seats aren't exactly "luxury." Well, ASU finally pulled the trigger on a $100 million renovation. It’s a multi-year project starting in May 2026.
What’s actually changing? They’re adding "Hollywood" courtside seats—which sounds very Los Angeles for a Tempe school—and finally putting in padded seats with cupholders in the lower bowl. They’re also fixing the ADA issues, which is huge because, surprisingly, the building currently has no elevator.
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The best part? They aren't moving the games. The work happens from April to October each year until 2029. So, Arizona State University women's basketball stays in its home while the house gets rebuilt around it.
Looking Back to Move Forward
You can’t talk about this team without acknowledging the ghosts of the past.
Kym Hampton is still the only player in ASU history (men’s or women’s) to put up 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. That’s legendary. Then you have Ryneldi Becenti, who was basically the Steph Curry of the Pac-10 back in the 90s.
Charli Turner Thorne led this team to 14 NCAA tournaments. That’s the standard Molly Miller is being held to. It’s a high bar. Some fans are impatient, but the 16-2 start suggests the "Sisterhood" (as the alumni call it) is getting back to its roots.
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What’s Next for the Sun Devils?
The schedule is about to get brutal. They’ve got Kansas coming to Tempe on January 17th, and then they head out to West Virginia and Cincinnati.
The real test, though? January 28th. Arizona. The Territorial Cup.
If Miller can sweep the Wildcats this year, the "rebuild" label is officially dead. This team isn't just trying to participate in the Big 12; they’re trying to disrupt it. They lead the league in some of those "hustle" stats—steals and scoring margin are looking way better than they did this time last year.
If you’re planning on catching a game, keep an eye on the defensive rotations. The Sun Devils are forcing over 20 turnovers a game. It’s exhausting to watch, so I can only imagine what it’s like to play against.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve on Sun Devil hoops, here is what you actually need to do:
- Track the NET Rankings: Since the Big 12 is so deep, the Sun Devils' win-loss record matters less than their "strength of schedule" and NET ranking. Check these every Monday to see where they sit for tournament seeding.
- Watch the Rotation: Miller plays a deep bench because of the high-pressure defense. If you see the scoring drop off when the starters sit, that's where the team is vulnerable.
- Secure Tickets Now: With the arena renovations starting in 2026, the capacity is going to fluctuate. If you want those lower-bowl seats before they become "premium" and expensive, this season is the time to go.
- Follow the Transfers: Players like Taliyah Henderson and Ayla McDowell are the future. Keep an eye on the 2025 signing class as they start to integrate into the summer workouts.
The program is finally moving out of the "transition" phase and into something that looks like a contender again. It’s about time.