In modern college basketball, a team making an unexpected postseason run usually ends up with a handful of players seeking opportunities elsewhere. And sometimes most or all of the roster departs.
A year ago, that was Oregon State women’s basketball, making a trip to the Elite Eight before having its roster decimated in the transfer portal.
But after a late-season turnaround and West Coast Conference title in 2025, the Beavers didn’t lose a single player to the portal this offseason. OSU coach Scott Rueck said he is excited about the team’s additions ahead of the 2025-26 season.
“I feel good for a couple of reasons,” Rueck said. “I love who we have returning. Their journey last year developed a lot and recreated a culture they’re proud to be a part of. And these additions we have complement exactly what we needed and add depth. We addressed all of our needs.”
The Beavers finished 19-16 last season, earning a No. 14 seed in the NCAA tournament before a 70-49 loss on the road at No. 3 North Carolina that played much closer than the final score, at least in the first half.
The Beavers lost three senior stalwarts in forward Kelsey Rees, post Sela Heide and guard A.J. Marotte. Rees and Marotte were the Beavers’ top two scorers during the 2024-25 season.
But the Beavers return a backcourt of Tiara Bolden, Catarina Ferreira and Kennedie Shuler, along with several young players Rueck said are ready to take the next step.
“We saw it a year ago with Portland, in our conference. They had so much experience returning,” Rueck said. “When you return experience in your backcourt, that honestly puts you ahead a month or two. If not more.”
In the portal, OSU added 6-5 North Carolina State forward Lizzy Williamson and 6-8 Utah center Néné Sow. Both are able to protect the rim, fitting the mold of OSU centers in terms of size, but with unique games.
“Lizzy and Néné are so on-brand for who we are and the post players we’ve had previously,” Rueck said. “They’re both veterans, and both had injuries in the past but we expect them to be fully healthy by the time we get to the season. Lizzy has a bit more of a perimeter game, and Néné is more of a true five. They are a great complement to this group of perimeter players.”
The Beavers also signed former Washington State guard Jenna Villa, who has two years of eligibility. The three transfers bring a wealth of experience, including Williamson with a trip to the Final Four and Villa with two years as a regular contributor for the Cougars.
“If you have an opportunity to add the experience and skillset that Jenna brings, you do it,” Rueck said. “I’ve known Jenna and watched her since she was a freshman in high school on the circuit. She is such a great fit with what we do and what we’re doing going forward, completely unfazed by high-pressure situations. She’s a very good, complete, big guard.”
The transfers are expected to contribute immediately as the Beavers’ younger players continue to develop.
OSU also signed a pair of incoming freshmen out of Australia, a pipeline for Rueck’s program over the years. Guard Katelyn Field and wing Keira Lindemans shore up the roster and help set it up for the future.
Both hail from the ATC Academy in Australia.
“Kiera is a big guard, physical, an attacking guard is how I’d describe her,” Rueck said. “I love her defense, her rebounding, her ability to get to the rim and finish. She sees the floor extremely well and knock down threes. Such a tough, gritty competitor.
“Katelyn is more of a catch and shoot, plays out of her shot, stretches the floor,” Rueck continued. “Her length and quick release is unbelievably impressive. She just looks like a shooting machine when she catches the ball. It’s so quick and efficient.”
In their final season competing in the WCC before the Pac-12 returns to life, the Beavers expect to be in the mix for a conference title once again. And this time, they can chase that goal with far more stability from the get-go.
“Returning nine that we had, you can’t put a price on that experience,” Rueck said. “We’ve got a group that knows exactly what it takes, went through the highs and lows last year, and came out on top in the end.”
—Ryan Clarke covers college sports for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at RClarke@Oregonian.com or on Twitter/X: @RyanTClarke. Find him on Bluesky: @ryantclarke.bsky.social.
