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Weber State's Sydney White, right, reaches to slap hands with Sidney Anderson, left, during a workout in this June 2026 photo at the Dee Events Center in Ogden.

Ethan Herrick, Weber State Athletics

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Weber State's Nicole Willardson, left, drives against Favour Onoh during a workout in this June 2026 photo at the Dee Events Center in Ogden.

Ethan Herrick, Weber State Athletics

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Weber State guard Grace Hintz handles the basketball during a workout in this June 2026 photo at the Dee Events Center in Ogden.

Ethan Herrick, Weber State Athletics

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OGDEN — Following the high-water mark of the 2024-25 season, last year’s campaign was not what Jenteal Jackson had in mind for her Weber State women’s basketball team.

A year after posting the program’s first conference record above .500 in seven seasons, the Wildcats skidded back to a 4-14 Big Sky mark in Jackson’s third season at the helm.

Summer knee injuries to three players, two of which were definitely planned for game rotations, compounded the fact that WSU saw do-it-all forward Taylor Smith leave in the transfer portal. Mata Peaua’s decision to serve a mission was also a surprise departure.

Struggles followed but, Jackson says, the Wildcats are in a good spot for the 2026-27 campaign because returners like Sydney White, Paris Lauro, Hannah Robbins and Nicole Willardson are now better equipped to fill the roles and the minutes expected of them.

“Having that year under their belts helps a lot. Just getting back to playing heavy minutes, being in a big role like they were previously but maybe hadn’t been in a couple years … I think that’s a big piece,” Jackson said. “Because I feel like in February, we started playing much better basketball, it started to click a little better. We finished the year winning four out of six; we were in a better place as far as that fluidity. So if you can keep a good core together, it can go a long ways.”

After two years each in the program, seniors Antoniette Emma-Nnopu and Lanae Billy have graduated. Makenna Shaffer-Lauer, Vanna Quintana, Fui Niumeitolu and Maya Davis all departed via the transfer portal. Additionally, Japrix Stubbs, Arizana Peaua and Aly Coombs (the latter a walk-on) are leaving the program to focus on careers or new plans.

So, counting the availability of previously injured junior college transfer Celestine Segretain, WSU has nine newcomers, bringing in six Division I transfers and two true freshmen.

“We feel really good about our group and feel like we elevated, talent-wise,” Jackson said.

The common thread for her newcomers is hunger and fire, Jackson says. She felt last year’s team needed more of it.

“I definitely think our kids wanted to win, it wasn’t a matter of that. But we could’ve been better at that fire, that chippiness, that willingness to leave it all out on the line,” Jackson said. “Win or lose, you just left it all out there. So just that little bit more feistiness, playing as hard as you can every day.”

Here’s more on the team’s nine additions, ordered from oldest, class-wise, to youngest.

SIENA GUTTADAURO

A 5-foot-6 combo guard with one year of eligibility remaining, Guttadauro spent four years at UTSA.

“She has a really high ceiling with her athleticism, with her skill set. She has an interesting story, not my place to go into it but … for the first time in a little while, she’s going to be able to just fully dive in and devote herself to basketball,” Jackson said. “We’re excited about her. Really high upside, a lot of potential, and we’re going to work to push her there and get her there. But she has some of those pieces you can’t teach, how she moves, her athleticism.”

DRAYA WACKER

A Montana guard transfer, WSU’s coaching staff twice prepped to play against the 5-foot-8 Wacker and really came away impressed as observers courtside at the Big Sky tournament.

“She’s just built a little different. She can move, defend, bounce, rebound. She adds an elite level of dynamicness to our guards. Her motor is really high, too,” Jackson said. “Her and Sydney White, we saw that last year, so the potential to put two guards out there at the same time with that high motor … it gives us more freedom to do stuff on both sides of the ball, crank it up defensively, put the offense in positions to be successful.

“We definitely saw that (feistiness) out of her, getting to watch her in the conference tournament and compete against her.”

Wacker should have two seasons of eligibility remaining, depending on how things lay out for her status against either the four-year framework or the new 5-for-5 framework; WSU and Wacker can choose which to apply.

ADRIA LINCOLN

Another Montana transfer, the 6-foot-1 Lincoln will rehab an injury and sit out the upcoming season. She’s a wing/forward who should have two seasons left after rehab.

“Dynamic player. Her movements and abilities remind me of Taylor Smith and it’s our job to get her there, where Taylor was able to develop into a force,” Jackson said.

CELESTINE SEGRETAIN

Jackson hopes Segretain is another strong piece toward elevating the team’s skill and versatility. The 6-foot-1 forward has the skill to play the wing, Jackson says. Segretain signed to WSU out of Eastern Arizona College last year but tore her ACL playing in a national 3-on-3 tournament in her native France during the summer.

“Hard worker. Always tough to say how someone will come back from injury … but she seems pretty fearless in that regard, and her recovery has been exceptional, so I think she’ll come back strong,” Jackson said. “Can shoot it, good handle. She’s versatile, strong, 6-foot, good skill set, good package.

“Nice to have her. I think she could’ve helped us last year.”

FAVOUR ONOH

Onoh may be the most intriguing player in the Big Sky. The 6-foot-5 center transfers from Oklahoma State with two seasons remaining, having appeared in just five games in two years there. Before that, she averaged 10.7 points, 13.9 rebounds and 3.2 blocks at University of the Philippines.

“I think it will be a good league for her,” Jackson said. “Her length is incredible. She’s a true 6-foot-5, her wingspan is at least 6-9. Her length will be an absolute presence in the paint on both sides of the ball.”

Jackson said she could potentially play the five alongside Nicole Willardson at the four, in some lineups.

“Really good touch, finesse around the rim, especially for her size. Just somebody who I think is going to cause problems for opponents. Defensively, she’s long and lengthy, and we’re going to try to put her in positions to be a constant presence down low. And offensively, I don’t know everyone who was signed in our league, but I doubt there’s anyone with her length. … Feel like she has the potential for a breakout year and be a strong presence on both ends. Her ceiling is high.”

GRACE HINTZ

Hintz is a 5-foot-8 shooting guard/wing from Montana State with up to four years remaining. She reached the 1,000-point scoring mark by her junior season at her Washington high school.

“Got some minutes as a true freshman but it feels like, their style of play they transitioned to, it didn’t seem to be the best fit for her game,” Jackson said. “She’s a scorer, definitely. She had some high-output games in high school, like some 40-point games.

“She can score at three levels, and she’s hungry, really wants to contribute and help a team win. … I like that she’s been in this conference and knows what it takes to win in this league. … Great kid who I think will do well under our system, it fits her game and her skill set. Excited to get her on the court.”

SIDNEY ANDERSON

The final of the transfer group, Anderson is a 5-foot-10 shooting guard who has four years left after redshirting last year at Grand Canyon.

“We recruited her out of high school, did not win that battle then but did now. Glad we got her this time,” Jackson said. “Pure shooter, really deadly from 3. I feel like she has other pieces to her game and things we’ll add, but just a sharpshooter we feel she can really spread the floor for us, come out and make things tough for the defense.”

IZABELLA JUAREZ

A wing player at 6-feet tall, Juarez is a true freshman from Phoenix, Arizona. She was on Arizona’s 6A state title team in 2023 and was most recently the state’s 3A offensive player of the year.

“Really good shooter, great motor. She’s going to be everywhere on defense. Good kid, hard worker,” Jackson said. “Pumped to get her on the court with us. Freshmen can be a journey … but I think she’s a kid who can come in and get a shot at some court time because she plays hard and does a lot of things really well. Her motor is definitely ready for the college level.”

BERKLEY HART

Hart, a true freshman from San Antonio, is a 6-foot-2 post player.

“Great kid who could also be student body president, just a go-getter. I give her something to do, and she has it done in 10 minutes,” Jackson said. “She’s a little different than Nicole and Favour in that four-five spot. She’s going to get up and down the court, good motor, moves really well, can shoot it and stretch the floor. Extremely hard worker who is going to fly on the boards and try to get every rebound.

“Excited to add her length and mobility, she’s got some special potential there, and love that she can pop out and shoot it, stretch the floor.”