The University of Arizona women’s basketball team concluded its 2024-2025 season with a 19-14 record and a 10-8 conference record in the first season of being a part of the Big 12. The transition to a new conference brought both challenges and opportunities as the Wildcats faced unfamiliar opponents and adjusted to a different style of play.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Adia Barnes, the team demonstrated resilience, securing key wins against ranked teams and proving they could compete at a high level in the Big 12.
Here are five takeaways from the 2024-2025 season:
Emergence of young talent
Sophomores like Jada Williams and Skylar Jones, along with freshman like Lauryn Swann, showcased a strong Wildcat core that contributed to the success this season. Williams demonstrated significant growth from the previous season, increasing her scoring average from 9.5 points per game in 2023-2024 to 12.7 this season. This crucial step up in points showcases her enhanced offensive impact. Jones showed her skills on the other side of the court, leading the team with 52 steals. Lastly, Swann displayed her skills from beyond the arc, leading the team with 50 made 3-point field goals.
Efficient offense and defense
Arizona’s offense was efficient, averaging nearly 68 points per game, and they shot 43.6% from the field, outpacing opponents in both areas. They also excelled from beyond the arc, hitting 6.1 three-pointers per game. Defensively, the Wildcats were disruptive, averaging 10.1 steals and 3.4 blocks per game, forcing turnovers and creating easy scoring opportunities. While they were slightly outrebounded, their ability to generate points off turnovers and control the game with their defense made a big impact throughout the season.
Postseason participation
Although they ended the regular season on a strong note, the Wildcats headed to Kansas City, Mo., for the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship with high hopes. The team’s tournament run was cut short in the opening round with a narrow 61-58 loss to Colorado.
Despite the setback, Arizona earned an invitation to the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament, giving the team another opportunity to compete on a national stage. In the WBIT, Arizona hosted Northern Arizona University in the first round, but their season came to an end with a hard-fought 71-69 loss. These games showed where the team needed to improve, giving them a clear focus for the offseason as they work toward a stronger season and a deeper run in 2025-2026.
Help from the bench
Arizona’s bench played a crucial role throughout the season, providing much-needed energy and consistency. The second unit kept the intensity high, allowing the starters to stay fresh without losing momentum. Players like Swann not only contributed with her shooting but also by creating opportunities for others, were also essential in maintaining that flow.
Paulina Paris contributed with her playmaking ability, having 49 steals this season and helping her teammates in crucial moments. Montaya Dew also made her impact felt, especially with her hustle and determination on both ends of the court. Together, the bench players helped Arizona stay competitive, providing depth and versatility that kept the team moving forward throughout the season.
Strong finish in conference play
The Wildcats ended the regular season on a strong note with a four-game win streak against BYU, the University of Houston, Texas Tech University and rivals ASU. These wins helped the Wildcats secure a solid 10-8 conference record and gain momentum heading into the postseason. These conference wins not only exceeded some of the preseason expectations of this young team but also provided a glimpse of how talented the players truly are.
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