If you’ve ever stepped foot inside The Pit during a winter night in Albuquerque, you know it’s not just a basketball arena. It’s a subterranean pressure cooker. For the New Mexico Lobos women’s basketball program, that noise isn't just window dressing—it’s a weapon. But honestly, as we sit here in January 2026, the conversation around this team has shifted from just "playing hard" to whether they can actually reclaim the throne of the Mountain West.
People tend to underestimate how hard it is to maintain a winning culture for a decade. Mike Bradbury is currently in his 10th season at the helm. Think about that. In the world of college coaching, ten years is an eternity. He’s racked up over 180 wins with the Lobos, and while the 26-win masterpiece of 2021-22 is the benchmark everyone points to, this year's squad is a different kind of animal.
The 2025-26 Lobos: Gritty, Not Just Fast
Early on, the narrative was all about the "international footprint." You’ve got players from the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal. It’s a cool story, but stories don’t win games in Laramie or Logan. What wins is the fact that this team is currently sitting at 12-6 overall and 4-3 in the conference.
They aren't just chucking threes anymore. Well, they still shoot a lot of them—averaging about 8.5 makes per game—but there's a defensive bite that was sometimes missing in years past.
- Destinee Hooks is the engine. She’s putting up nearly 14 points a night and basically refuses to be guarded one-on-one.
- Emma Najjuma and Jessie Joaquim are doing the dirty work. Najjuma is pulling down over 6 boards a game, providing that 6'4" presence that makes opponents second-guess driving into the lane.
- The freshman, Laila Abdurraqib, has been a massive surprise. Usually, freshmen at this level hit a wall by January. She’s just getting started, leading the team in three-point production.
It hasn't been all sunshine, though. They recently dropped a couple of tough road games to San Diego State and Nevada. It’s frustrating. One night they look like they could beat anyone in the country, and the next, the shots just won't fall. That's the Mountain West for you. It’s a meat grinder.
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Why The Pit Still Matters
Let’s talk about the altitude. 5,100 feet. Visiting teams come in and by the second quarter, they’re gasping. There’s a sign in the tunnel that basically warns you about it. It’s a psychological edge as much as a physical one.
The Lobos are averaging over 4,300 fans per game this season. That might not sound like much if you're comparing it to the Power 4 blue bloods, but in the Mountain West, that’s a massive advantage. When a team like Grand Canyon or Boise State comes in, the "Mile High and Louder Than..." mantra becomes very real.
The Bradbury Factor
Mike Bradbury’s record is 180-103 at UNM for a reason. He’s a tactical chameleon. While he’s known for an up-tempo, high-scoring offense—seven of the last eight years they've been top two in the conference for scoring—this year he’s had to lean into the defense.
They are holding opponents to around 61 points. In the past, UNM games were often track meets where the first team to 80 won. Now, they’re comfortable winning a 62-48 rock fight, like they did against Wyoming on New Year's Eve.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Roster
The biggest misconception is that the Lobos are a "transfer-only" team. While they’ve used the portal effectively, the development of players like Nayli Padilla and Cacia Antonio is the real story.
Antonio is a 5'11" junior who has turned into a legitimate two-way threat. She's averaging double figures but it’s her 5.2 rebounds and defensive versatility that keep her on the floor. She can guard a point guard and then switch onto a forward without blinking. That kind of flexibility is what keeps the Lobos in the hunt when the starters get into foul trouble.
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Looking Ahead: The 2026 Class
Even while grinding through the current season, the staff is looking forward. They’ve already locked in a monster recruiting class for next year.
- Maya Thompson: A scoring wing from Dallas who can apparently "flat-out score it."
- Elizabeth Johnson: A 6'2" center from California who averaged a double-double for three straight years in high school.
- Quintilla Hidalgo: A guard from the Netherlands with national team experience.
This tells you that Bradbury isn't planning on a rebuild. He’s reloading. The "Lobo Identity" is becoming more about length and athleticism than just pure shooting.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Students
If you're following the New Mexico Lobos women's basketball team for the rest of this season, here is what you actually need to watch for:
- The Three-Point Percentage: When this team shoots over 33% from deep, they are nearly impossible to beat at home. If that number dips toward 28%, they struggle to space the floor for Hooks.
- The Glass: Watch the rebounding margin. In their losses, they’ve been out-muscled on the offensive glass. If Najjuma and Joaquim can stay out of foul trouble and keep the rebounding margin at +5 or better, they’ll be in the Mountain West title conversation come March.
- The Saturday Matinees: The Pit is a different beast during afternoon games. Keep an eye on the upcoming home stand—specifically the rematch with UNLV. That game will likely decide if they get a top-three seed in the conference tournament.
Go to a game. Seriously. The tickets are affordable, the beer is cold (if you’re of age), and the basketball is actually high-level. This isn't just a local hobby; it's one of the most consistent winning programs in the state.
Check the remaining home schedule and pick a Saturday game. The atmosphere is consistently better than half the men's programs in the country. If you want to see if the Lobos can actually make a deep run in the WNIT or sneak into the Big Dance, the next three weeks of conference play will tell you everything you need to know.