It's cold in Cheney. If you’ve ever stood on the campus of Eastern Washington University in February, you know that biting wind that sweeps across the Palouse. But inside Reese Court, things have been heating up in a way that most casual college hoops fans are completely missing. Eastern Washington women's basketball isn't just a mid-major program anymore; they’ve turned into a legitimate problem for the rest of the Big Sky Conference.
They win. They defend. And honestly, they play a brand of basketball that makes you wonder why the stands aren't packed to the rafters every single night.
Success didn't just fall into their laps, though. For a long time, the Eagles were that team you expected to be "scrappy" but ultimately middle-of-the-pack. That changed. When Joddie Gleason took over the program in 2021, she didn't just bring a new playbook. She brought a standard. You can see it in the way they rotate on defense—it’s violent, intentional, and frankly, exhausting to watch if you're pulling for the opposition.
The Shift from Mediocrity to Big Sky Dominance
How do you build a winner at a school that doesn't have the NIL budget of a Gonzaga or a Washington? You recruit personality. You find the players who were overlooked by the Pac-12 (RIP) or the Mountain West and you give them a chip on their shoulder the size of a Spalding.
Look at the 2023-24 season. That was the year the glass ceiling didn't just crack; it shattered. The Eagles went 29-6. Read that again. Twenty-nine wins. They didn't just limp through the Big Sky Tournament; they kicked the door down, beating Northern Arizona to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1987. That’s a 37-year gap. Most of the players on that roster weren't even a thought in their parents' minds the last time Eastern was in the Big Dance.
Jamie Loera was the engine. If you didn't watch her play, you missed out on one of the highest basketball IQs in the country. She wasn't just the Big Sky Player of the Year; she was the Defensive Player of the Year too. It’s rare to see one person dominate both ends of the floor without being a 6'5" center, but Loera did it with grit and anticipation.
Why the 2023-24 Season Wasn't a Fluke
People love to call these runs "Cinderella stories." It's a lazy narrative.
Eastern Washington women's basketball didn't get lucky. They ranked near the top of the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio. They valued the ball. In a world of "hero ball" and step-back threes, Gleason’s squad played a selfless, extra-pass style of offense that wore teams down mentally. You can't "luck" your way into 29 wins. You earn that by having a bench that produces as much energy as the starters.
The depth was the real story. Players like Aaliyah Alexander and Jacinta Buckley provided the scoring punch and rebounding that kept the pressure on. When you have multiple threats, the defense can’t just "box and one" their way to a victory. It’s basketball by committee, and it’s beautiful.
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The "Cheney Factor" and the Home Court Advantage
Reese Court is weird. I mean that in the best way possible. It’s an older gym, it’s got that classic collegiate feel, and the acoustics make it sound like there are 10,000 people in there when there are only 1,500.
For opposing teams, traveling to Cheney is a nightmare. You fly into Spokane, drive through the wheat fields, and walk into a gym where the fans are right on top of you. It’s intimate. It’s loud. And for Eastern Washington women's basketball, it’s a fortress.
During that historic 2024 run, the Eagles were nearly unbeatable at home. There’s something to be said for the psychology of mid-major sports. When you’re at a school like EWU, you aren't playing for the bright lights of ESPN every night. You’re playing for the community. The town of Cheney shows up. The "Red Sea" is real, and it fuels the defensive intensity that has become the program's calling card.
Defensive Identity Under Joddie Gleason
If you want to know why this team wins, stop looking at the bucket. Look at the feet.
Gleason preaches "active hands" and "clogging lanes." It sounds like coaching cliché 101, right? Except the Eagles actually do it. They consistently hold opponents to sub-40% shooting. In the Big Sky, where games are often high-scoring track meets, Eastern slows you down. They turn the game into a mud fight, and they’re very comfortable getting dirty.
- Turnover Margin: They consistently win the turnover battle.
- Defensive Rebounding: They don't give up second chances.
- Communication: You can hear them talking on defense from the back row of the stands.
Facing the Giants: Life in the Shadows of Gonzaga and WSU
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Eastern Washington is in a crowded neighborhood.
Just 20 minutes away, you have Gonzaga, a perennial powerhouse. An hour south, you have Washington State. It’s easy for the Eagles to get lost in the shuffle. But lately, the gap is closing. When Eastern plays these "Big Brother" programs, they don't look like the little sibling anymore.
The 2024 NCAA Tournament appearance against LSU was a massive moment. Yeah, they lost. LSU is a juggernaut. But for three quarters, the Eagles showed they belonged on the same floor as Kim Mulkey’s squad. They weren't intimidated by the rings or the jerseys. That game was a recruiting commercial that money couldn't buy.
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It told every high school guard in Washington and Oregon: "You don't have to go to a Power 5 school to play on the biggest stage. You can do it right here in Cheney."
The Recruiting Pipeline
Eastern has found a niche in recruiting the Pacific Northwest and hitting the international market. They’ve had success bringing in talent from Australia and across the West Coast. This diversity in the locker room creates a unique chemistry.
It’s not just about finding the best athlete. It’s about finding the player who fits the "Cheney Mold"—someone who is okay with the cold, okay with the work, and hungry for a chance to prove the big schools wrong.
What the Future Holds for the Eagles
So, where do they go from here?
After a historic season, the biggest challenge isn't winning; it’s sustaining. College basketball is in a state of flux with the transfer portal. Losing key pieces like Jamie Loera to graduation is a massive blow to the team's "brain," but the foundation is there.
Aaliyah Alexander has shown she can be the focal point of an offense. The coaching staff has proven they can develop talent rather than just buying it. The goal now is to turn Eastern Washington women's basketball into the "Gonzaga of the Big Sky"—a program that doesn't just have a "good year" every decade but is the preseason favorite every single October.
Navigating the NIL Landscape
Let’s be real. The Eagles aren't handing out million-dollar deals. But they are building a brand. Local businesses in Cheney and Spokane are starting to realize that the women's team is one of the best ROIs in town.
The "Eags Lead" initiative and other collective efforts are small but growing. For a player, the pitch is simple: Be a legend in a town that will remember your name forever, or be another face in the crowd at a massive university.
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Why You Should Actually Care
If you're a basketball fan, you're doing yourself a disservice by only watching the Top 25. There is a purity to Big Sky basketball. The stakes are incredibly high because usually, only one team gets into the NCAA Tournament. Every Tuesday night game in January feels like a Game 7.
Eastern Washington plays with a desperation that is infectious. They dive for loose balls. They celebrate their teammates' blocks like they just won the lottery. It’s a culture that Joddie Gleason has baked into the floorboards of Reese Court.
Honestly, the best way to experience it is to just go. Buy a ticket. It costs less than a burrito, and you’ll see some of the most disciplined basketball in the country.
Common Misconceptions About the Program
- "It's just a stepping stone school." People think coaches just use EWU to get a bigger job. Gleason seems to be building something long-term.
- "The competition is weak." The Big Sky is a gauntlet of different styles. You go from the altitude of Northern Arizona to the pressure of Montana. It's grueling.
- "Mid-major basketball is slow." Tell that to the Eagles when they’re out on the break after a steal.
How to Support the Program Right Now
If you want to see this trajectory continue, it takes more than just "likes" on Instagram. The program relies on attendance and local support.
Follow the team's schedule through the official EWU Athletics site. If you're in the Inland Northwest, make the drive to Cheney. The atmosphere is genuinely better than most neutral-site professional games.
For those outside the area, most Big Sky games are streamed on ESPN+. It’s worth the watch, especially when they play rivals like Montana or Idaho. The "Brawl of the Wild" might get the headlines, but the EWU-Idaho rivalry is just as spicy.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Analysts
- Watch the Tape: If you're a scout or a fan of x's and o's, watch how Eastern handles ball screens. It’s a masterclass in positioning.
- Follow the Recruiting Trail: Keep an eye on their early signings. Gleason has a knack for finding "positionless" players who can switch everything on defense.
- Engage with the Players: These athletes are accessible and represent the university incredibly well. Supporting their individual journeys helps build the program's overall profile.
- Show Up Early: The pre-game energy at Reese Court, especially during conference play, sets the tone. Be there for the intros.
The 2023-24 season was a "proof of concept." It proved that Eastern Washington women's basketball can be a national player. Now, the mission is to make sure that 37-year tournament drought never happens again. With the current leadership and the talent coming through the door, the Eagles aren't just flying; they're hunting.
Keep an eye on the standings. Don't be surprised when you see "EWU" at the top again. It’s not a fluke—it’s the new normal in Cheney.
Next Steps for the Program: The transition into the post-Loera era requires a new vocal leader on the floor. Watch for the development of the sophomore class to see who takes that leadership mantle. Additionally, the program's ability to schedule tough non-conference opponents will be key to boosting their NET ranking and securing potential at-large bids in the future, though the Big Sky typically remains a one-bid league. Strengthening those out-of-conference ties is the next logical step in their evolution.