USD Toreros seek 20-win season after 11-22 debut year for coach Blanche Alverson

The University of San Diego women's basketball team begins its 2026-2027 season with a record of 11-22, a mark that head coach Blanche Alverson hopes to improve as she enters her second year on the job.

Alverson took over the program last season, guiding the Toreros to 11 victories against 22 losses. She views that outcome as a foundation rather than a failure. "Our approach was solid," Alverson said earlier this week. "Our players stayed connected. The chemistry was good. I thought we laid a foundation."

The team's strategy for the new season relies heavily on its guard play. Kylie Ray, a 5-foot-8 junior, led the squad in scoring last year with 15.9 points per game. She also ranked third in rebounding with 5.4 per game and led the West Coast Conference in free-throw shooting at 89.4 percent. Olivia Owens, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, provided secondary support, averaging 11.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. Owens earned All-WCC freshman honors and posted a career-high line of 31 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in a game against Washington State.

Alverson describes the backcourt as the engine of the team. "Ray is an electric scorer," she said. "She has a high basketball IQ and lives in the gym." The coach noted that the return of Lauren McCall, a 5-foot-6 senior who missed the entire 2025-2026 season due to injury, adds depth to a unit that already included junior Lilly Amor, a 5-foot-11 shooter.

The frontcourt presents a different challenge. The team lacks experience in the paint, despite having size. Alverson added three transfers from major programs to address this gap. Kiera Pemberton, a 6-foot-1 senior from Baylor, and Sammie Wagner, a 6-foot-1 graduate transfer from Oregon, are expected to start. They will be joined by 6-foot-1 sophomore Braelynn Barnett, a transfer from Georgetown, and returnee Eva Ruse, a 6-foot-2 junior who averaged 5.5 points and 5.7 rebounds last season.

Alverson acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding these new pieces. "We're unproven," she said. "But we feel we're putting the right pieces on the floor." The coach emphasized that the group is focused on its development rather than past results.

The Toreros open play on Monday against New Mexico State. A notable matchup is scheduled for November 7, when they face UC San Diego in the Bill Walton Classic at Pechanga Arena. The team will also travel to Arizona State on November 17 and host UC Irvine on November 21. A late-season test against Santa Clara is set for February 27.

Key losses from the previous roster include guards Hallie Rhodes, who averaged 10.8 points, and Jayden Rhodes, who contributed 2.8 points per game.