Arizona women’s basketball notebook: On meeting the new team, new coaches, NIL possibilities, and more

Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The first chance for fans to meet the team is coming up on Monday The new-look Arizona womens basketball program has had a whirlwind few months.

The staff and roster are in place.

Now, its time to learn who the people who will represent the Wildcats in 2025-26 are and what they have planned.First meet-and-greet with the new CatsThe program has done some social media promotion of the new team members, but fans (and the local media) havent really talked to them face-to-face.

The fans get their first opportunity on Monday, July 28.The team will gather at the Tucson Racquet & Fitness Club located at 4001 N.

Country Club Rd.

The event runs from 5-6:30 p.m.

MST.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arizona Basketball (@arizonawbb)Why did Julie Hairgrove decide to go back to college?Just four years ago, former Wildcat Julie Hairgrove was coaching in the WNBA as the longest-tenured assistant in the league.

While she never completely ruled out coaching the college game, she was pretty clear that she preferred the professional coaching ranks.

The focus there was purely on teaching the game rather than the added responsibilities of recruiting, making sure players got to class, and all the other trappings of college.

What made her change her mind?Right time, right place, Hairgrove said.

The stars aligned, so Im happy to be back.Its about being at her alma mater, but its more than that.This place is so special to me, just playing here from 98 to 2003, she said.

And then this university gave me so much, and now I get to pour it back into this program.

And then also, its personal for me with my grandfather being here and the legacy he built for the mens team.

Its one of those things like just being back here on campus, and seeing the Lute and Bobbi Olson court, walking down the corridor and seeing my grandparents, and the statue out front.

So, theres just so many memories here.

So I mean, just being back here, its about pride, its about family, and carrying on the legacy.What did associate head coach Ashley Odom learn from her time at Texas Tech?New associate head coach Ashley Odom spent 12 years with Texas Tech head coach Krista Gerlich.

Before their five years together in Lubbock, Odom was on Gerlichs staff at UT Arlington for seven years.

Knowledge of the Big 12 to Arizona is probably the most important thing she brings from her time with TTU since shes the only staff member with recent Power 4 coaching experience.Its really important just to be able to have familiarity with league, different teams, coaches, styles of play, as well as there are some new faces, Odom said.

But more so like conveying to our athletes, what it takes to play at this level, to play in this league, and how hard you have to bring in and be consistent on a daily basis in order to be good.That isnt the only thing Odom brings from her time on Gerlichs staff, though.

The interpersonal aspects of combining coaching and motherhood were the biggest lessons.Krista was great, just in terms of watching me grow both on and off the court, Odom said.

So many life things happened.

Got married, I have a daughter, and just for me to be able to learn so many things in terms of basketball, just life.

I think the biggest thing was being able to see her be a mom and be a coach, because theres so many people who have different opinions on that, and if its possible, and I got to live it and see her through it, and see how successful her kids are now.

And thats something that I want to emulate.How did Michelle Marciniak end up at Arizona?Michelle Marciniak wasnt looking to be a college basketball coach.

After some time as a pro athleteincluding as a teammate of former Arizona head coach Adia Barnesand a stint as a college coach, she left the basketball world.

The former national champion at Tennessee has spent almost two decades in the corporate world, becoming co-founder and co-CEO of Sheex, a company that makes sheets out of athletic materials.Burke and Marciniak have known each other since the former Lady Vol was in the college coaching game and recruited Arizonas new head coach.

At the time, Marciniak was on the staff at South Carolina under head coach Susan Walvius.

There was a coaching change before Burke landed on campus, so she opted to go to Louisville.

We went our separate ways, Marciniak said.

They reconnected last year, and when Burke got the top job with the Wildcats, she asked Marciniak if she would be willing to join the staff.

The businesswoman said that it would need to be something like a general managers position.

So, it came to be that Arizona womens basketball has its first GM.What does that mean?Im definitely a liaison between the womens basketball program and the athletic department, Marciniak said.

I handle all things NIL and rev share.

Definitely block and tackle for NIL opportunities for our players, but really just oversee the overall operations of the program.

Im a close confidant with Coach Burke, and work with her really on strategy, and if you call it roster management, staff, the mosaic of the staff and hiring of the staff.

As she brought me on, it was the first thing we had to do was bring a staff in.

But also scheduling and really just the financial and operational aspects of the program.

And so I like to say that Im here to bring the mix of what Ive done as obviously an athlete and as a coach, but also as an entrepreneur, and bring my business acumen into the program and to help you know with all the experiences that Ive had to help navigate this crazy world of collegiate athletics right now.What are the NIL plans for Arizona womens basketball?One of Marciniaks areas of responsibility is outside name, image, and likeness cultivation.

Thats one area where her corporate ties could come in handy.

In fact, her former company may be offering deals to Wildcats.Im the leading shareholder on the board of Sheex, Marciniak said.

Im still involved on a more of an advisory basis as a board member...I actually hope to bring an NIL deal with Sheex.Arizona players on the international sceneIncoming freshman Mireia Jurado had a successful outing with her Spanish team over the summer.

Spain came home from the 2025 FIBA U18 EuroBasket with a gold medal this summer.While they werent expected to win a medaland they didntjunior Sumayah Sugapong and her Philippine teammates also had a fairly successful 2025 FIBA Womens Asia Cup despite going 1-4.

The group came in ranked No.

43 in the world.

They left in sixth place out of eight teams.

The Gilas finished ahead of Lebanon, which was playing without former Arizona standout Trinity Baptiste, and Indonesia.Sugapong averaged 8.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.6 steals in 18.5 minutes per game.

She shot 35.6 percent from the floor, hitting 26.3 percent of her outside shots.

She had 2.2 turnovers and 2.6 personal fouls per game.

Sugapong appeared in all five of the teams contests and scored in double digits in three of them.

Her best overall game came against Japan.

Although her team lost, she scored 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting and went 2-for-4 from 3-point distance.

She also had two assists and grabbed four steals while only turning the ball over once.The teams next task will be qualifying for the FIBA Womens World Cup.Montaya Dews health and her role on the teamMontaya Dew is the only returner from last years team.

With her shy, quiet personality, shes an unlikely person to lead others who are all trying to find their way at Arizona.Shes not kind of quiet, shes really quiet, Marciniak said with a laugh.Dew is finding her way, though.The first part has been us just showing that we have a genuine want to build a genuine relationship with her and her knowing that we care about her as a player, on the court and off the court, Odom said.

So, shes getting to know us.

Its building a relationship, just like anything else.

But the thing that I think she brings more than anything is a familiarity of Arizona, the fans, just all the things that she can tell us about...She has more insights than I think people think to ask.

Shes a quiet soul, but she has a lot of knowledge to give.Shes also on track to recovery, although theres no word on whether she will be ready for the start of the 2025-26 season.Shes working hard every day, Hairgrove said.

Theres things she can do and cant do, obviously, but shes on track.

From what Barts sayingour athletic trainerhes very positive in the direction shes moving, but shes putting in a lot of hard work before and after practice...I think shes excited.

I think she likes what she sees in the energy and how hard the teams working.

So I think she wants to get back on the court, and shes kind of itching to get back with the team.

I think [whether she returns for the start of the season] is just too tough to say right now.

Theres a lot of steps shes got a cross before that can happen..

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