If you haven't been paying attention to the Huntsman Center lately, you’ve missed a total transformation. Honestly, the Utah Utes women's basketball program is unrecognizable from where it sat a decade ago. It used to be this quiet, consistent mid-tier team that occasionally popped into the tournament, but then Lynne Roberts showed up and basically lit the whole thing on fire in the best way possible.
But here is the thing. Success in college sports is never a straight line, especially when you’re dealing with the chaos of conference realignment.
As of January 2026, the Utes are navigating their second year in the Big 12. It’s a different world. The travel is brutal. The style of play is physical in a way that makes the old Pac-12 look like a track meet. People keep asking if the "golden era" ended when Alissa Pili graduated and Lynne Roberts took the head coaching job with the LA Sparks in late 2024.
The short answer? Not even close. But the flavor has definitely changed.
The Post-Roberts Reality of Utah Utes Women's Basketball
When Lynne Roberts left for the WNBA after that historic run, a lot of fans expected a freefall. You can't blame them. She took this team to a Sweet 16 and a Top 3 national ranking.
Gavin Petersen stepped in, and he didn't just inherit a roster; he inherited a massive set of expectations. Currently, the Utes are sitting at 14-5 overall for the 2025-26 season. They just came off a gritty 71-61 road win against Houston on January 17, 2026. They’re 5-2 in Big 12 play, which, if you know this conference, is actually impressive.
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You've got to look at the personnel to understand why they haven't cratered. Lani White is back. After a year at Virginia Tech, she returned to Salt Lake City and is currently leading the team, averaging about 14.3 points per game. She’s the heartbeat of this squad. She knows the system, she knows the campus, and she’s basically the bridge between the old "Pac-12 Champion" era and whatever this new Big 12 chapter is supposed to be.
Why the Big 12 Transition is Harder Than It Looks
A lot of people think basketball is just basketball regardless of the jersey. Wrong.
The Big 12 is a meat grinder. Just a few days ago, the Utes got handled by Baylor, losing 61-45. It was ugly. It was the kind of game where you realize that in this conference, if your shots aren't falling, you’re going to get bullied in the paint.
But then, look at what they did to TCU on January 3rd. An 87-77 overtime thriller. That game showed the "Utah DNA" is still there. They still shoot the three—it’s in their blood—but they’re learning to survive games that feel more like wrestling matches. Maty Wilke and Reese Ross have been huge. Ross is pulling down nearly 8 rebounds a game, which is the kind of dirty work that keeps a team afloat when the perimeter game goes cold.
Key Players Currently Carrying the Load:
- Lani White: The veteran leader. High IQ, better defender than people give her credit for.
- Maty Wilke: Still a threat from deep. If you leave her open, she's shooting 35% or better from three.
- Reese Ross: The interior anchor. She’s the one holding the defense together.
- Evelina Otto: The Latvian freshman who’s been a spark off the bench. She’s 6’3” and plays with a European finesse that’s fun to watch.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Pili Effect"
Everyone wants to talk about Alissa Pili. And look, she was a once-in-a-generation talent. You don't just "replace" the 2023 Pac-12 Player of the Year.
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Pili is currently carving out a name for herself in Australia with the Geelong Venom, recently dropping a pro career-high 28 points. But the misconception is that the Utah Utes women's basketball team was a one-woman show.
If you actually watch the 2025-26 Utes, you’ll see the ball moves more now. It has to. Last year, the offense was "Get the ball to Pili and move out of the way." Now, it’s much more egalitarian. Five different players can lead the team in scoring on any given night. Is it as dominant? Maybe not. Is it harder to scout? Absolutely.
The Road Ahead: Why the BYU Rivalry Just Got Real
We have to talk about the schedule. The move to the Big 12 did one major thing for local fans: it made the BYU game a conference matchup again.
On January 31, 2026, the Utes head down to Provo. That game is going to be a sellout. It’s not just about bragging rights anymore; it’s about Big 12 standings. The Utes have had the upper hand lately, but playing in the Marriott Center with conference stakes is a different beast entirely.
The biggest challenge for this program isn't talent. It’s depth. In the Pac-12, you could sometimes hide a short bench if your stars were hot. In the Big 12, the physical toll is so high that if you aren't playing 9 or 10 deep, you’re going to crumble by February. Petersen has been experimenting with lineups, giving more minutes to freshmen like Kamryn Mafua to see who can handle the pressure.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following the Utes this season, keep an eye on these specific metrics. They'll tell you if this team is a legit contender or just a middle-of-the-pack squad.
- The Three-Point Percentage Gap: Historically, Utah wins when they shoot over 35% from deep. In their losses this year, that number has dipped into the high 20s.
- Rebound Margin: This is the Big 12 litmus test. If Utah is getting out-rebounded by 5 or more, they almost always lose.
- Turnover Points: Because they play a fast-paced style, they tend to cough up the ball. If they can keep turnovers under 14 a game, they can beat anyone in the country.
The identity of Utah Utes women's basketball is evolving. It’s no longer the Lynne Roberts show, and it’s no longer the Alissa Pili show. It’s a team trying to prove that the culture they built can survive the transition into one of the toughest conferences in America.
Check the standings after the BYU game on January 31. That will tell you everything you need to know about where this program is heading.
If you want to support the team, your best bet is showing up to the remaining home games against Texas Tech (Jan 24) or West Virginia (Jan 27). The Huntsman Center needs to stay loud if the Utes want to protect their home court and secure a decent seed for the Big 12 Tournament in March.