If you’ve been following Mountain West hoops lately, you know the vibe around Viejas Arena has changed. It's not just the noise; it's the expectation. People keep asking about the SDSU women's basketball roster because, frankly, Stacie Terry-Hutson has been cooking something different over in San Diego.
Forget the mid-table finishes of the past. This group is built on a weird, effective mix of local legends and international wildcards. Honestly, it’s kinda fascinating how they’ve stitched this together. You’ve got girls who grew up playing on San Diego blacktops starting alongside wings from Greece and post players from the Australian bush.
It works. Mostly.
The Core Playmakers You Need to Know
Let’s talk about Naomi Panganiban for a second. If you haven't seen her play yet, you're missing out. The sophomore guard from La Jolla Country Day didn't just stay home; she took over. She’s currently leading the team in scoring, averaging 13.4 points per game. She plays with this specific kind of "San Diego swagger" that’s hard to describe but easy to spot. She isn't just a shooter. She's basically the engine of the entire transition offense.
Then there’s Nala Williams. Senior leadership is a cliché, I know. But Nala is actually the glue. She’s a 5'8" guard out of Long Beach Poly who somehow leads the team in steals (1.5 per game) and sits high in assists too. She’s the one diving for loose balls when the Aztecs are up by ten in the fourth quarter. You need that. Without it, the whole thing falls apart.
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The International Connection
- Maria Konstantinidou: A 6'2" junior forward from Thessaloniki, Greece. She came via Fresno State and has been a massive interior presence.
- Erin Condron: The Aussie. She’s 6'4" and from Victoria. She brings that physical, "no-easy-layups" mentality that the Mountain West usually hates dealing with.
- Sofia Kelemeni: Another Greek standout, a senior guard/forward who provides a lot of versatility off the wing.
Why the SDSU Women's Basketball Roster is Built Different
Most teams in the conference try to recruit one specific "type." The Aztecs? They’re basically playing positionless basketball half the time. Look at someone like Bailey Barnhard. She’s a 6'1" sophomore from Del Norte High (another local kid). Is she a forward? Technically. But she plays like a guard and leads the team in rebounding with 5.5 per game.
It’s frustrating for opposing coaches. How do you game plan for a 6'1" player who can bring the ball up the floor but also out-muscle your center for a board? You don't. You just hope she has an off night.
New Faces and Fresh Blood
The 2025-26 freshman class brought some serious heat. Kendall Mosley, a 5'11" guard from Texas, was a massive get for this program. She was the Offensive MVP in a high-level Texas district, and you can see why. She’s not shy. She stepped onto campus and immediately started hunting her shot.
And don't sleep on Aubrey Cook. She’s a 6'4" freshman center from Colorado. Finding true height is hard in women’s college basketball, but finding 6'4" with mobility? That’s like finding a unicorn. She’s still raw, sure, but her ceiling is ridiculously high.
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The Coaching Factor: Stacie Terry-Hutson’s Vision
Stacie Terry-Hutson is entering her 13th season. That kind of longevity is rare. She’s seen the lean years, and she’s seen the tournament runs. What she’s done with the current SDSU women's basketball roster is a masterclass in using the transfer portal without losing the soul of the program.
She’s brought in kids like CJ Latta from Utah State and Kennedy Lee from Nevada. These aren't just random bodies; they are proven Mountain West players who knew exactly what they were getting into.
"We want players who are tough, versatile, and want to be in San Diego," is the unofficial mantra. It shows.
The Defensive Identity
If you look at the stats, the Aztecs aren't necessarily the highest-scoring team in the country. They’re 122nd in points per game, hovering around 70.7. But they win because they make you miserable. They play a suffocating brand of defense that relies on the length of players like Maria Konstantinidou and the quick hands of Nat Martinez.
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What Most People Get Wrong
People think because SDSU is in a "mid-major" conference, the talent level isn't there. That’s just wrong. Look at their game against Kansas State back in December. They held their own against a Big 12 powerhouse. This isn't a team that's just happy to be there.
They also have a depth problem—but in a good way. Usually, a coach has a rotation of seven, maybe eight players. Coach Terry-Hutson is frequently going ten or eleven deep. When you have players like Ellie Chen and Alyssa Jackson coming off the bench, you don't lose much when the starters need a breather.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're trying to track this team's success, stop looking at the three-point percentage. It's inconsistent. Instead, watch these three things:
- Rebound Margin: When Bailey Barnhard and Maria Konstantinidou win the glass, SDSU wins the game. It's that simple.
- Turnovers Forced: If Nala Williams and Naomi Panganiban are getting deflections, the Aztecs are getting easy buckets.
- The First Five Minutes: This team is a "momentum" team. If they start cold at Viejas, they struggle to climb back. If they start hot, the game is usually over by halftime.
Keep an eye on the injury report, too. In the past, the Aztecs have been bitten by the injury bug at the worst possible times. Keeping the core of Panganiban, Williams, and Barnhard healthy is the only way they make a deep run in the Mountain West Tournament.
To stay updated on the latest shifts in the rotation or any mid-season transfer news, you should check the official GoAztecs site or follow the team's social feeds. Roster spots can be fluid, especially with the way the redshirt rules work these days, but the core of this group is locked in and ready for the stretch run.