Cougar women hold Media Day

PROVO, Utah— The BYU women’s basketball team held its annual Media/Photo Day on Monday at the Marriott Center.

BYU women’s basketball has scheduled an exhibition game on Thurs., Nov. 2, against Colorado Mesa at 7 p.m., before officially opening up the 2017-18 season with a home game against in-state foe Southern Utah on Fri., Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.

About BYU
The Cougars were picked to finish third in this year’s West Coast Conference race. The team returns reigning WCC Player of the Year, senior Cassie Broadhead Devashrayee. She was the lone BYU player named to the WCC Preseason Team as selected by the league’s coaches. Devashrayee and junior Jasmine Moody are the two returning starters on this year’s team.

BYU compiled a 20-12 record, finishing tied for second place in the WCC with a 13-5 mark. It was the program’s 11th time and eighth straight 20-plus win season for coach Judkins. The team played in the first round of the postseason WNIT.

The Cougars have eight newcomers including Malia Nawahine, who transferred from the University of Utah.  Local high school standouts Malli Valgardson, Sara Hamson and Ashley Beckstrand also join the BYU team this year.

Two other freshmen standouts, Maria Albiero from Londrina, Brazil and Paisley Johnson from Everett, Washington also make up the 2017-18 roster.

Returning letterwinners include senior Amanda Wayment, juniors MaCayla Hanks Longson and Haley Rydalch and sophomores Brenna Chase, Liz Eaton and Shalae Salmon.

Feature story from Media Day

Daily Herald: Utah grad transfer will fill a big role for Cougars
Deseret News: Cougars to rely heavily on Cassie Devashrayee this season

Player Q & A
#1 Brenna Chase

Why BYU
I came on my visit here and it’s just a great environment. All the girls are so nice, the education is really good, the team is beyond and the coaches are awesome. So, it was a no-brainer for me.

Biggest change from HS to college
It’s a lot faster and a lot more physical

What are your goals for the season
As a team, we all want to go to the NCAA tournament

What did you do during the off-season
I worked on getting stronger, tried to get faster and shot a lot

# 43 Haley Rydalch

What did you do during the off-season
I went to Hawaii and worked on my game

What are your personal goals for the season
I want to continue to improve my game and do better. I want to help my team in any way that I can.

Favorite sports memory
Winning the state championship my senior year in high school at Deseret Hills

Why BYU
It’s close to home and they win here

# 20 Cassie Broadhead Devashrayee

Who is your favorite professional athlete
Kobe Bryant, but only for his on-court performances.

Pregame rituals
I take a nap and I usually watch one episode of the show that I am currently watching.

Warm up song 
Let it Go by Brit and Alex

Three things from this off-season
I got married, so that was fun. I was at the beach a lot and played basketball. That was basically my summer. The beach and basketball.

My goals for the season
As a team, win the conference and go to the NCAA tournament, so whatever I have to do to make that happen.

Favorite Basketball Memory
When we went to the Sweet 16 that was awesome. I have never experienced anything like that before

#11Liz Eaton

Who is your favorite professional athlete
That’s a hard one, but Steph Curry

Warm up song
I like to listen to Jack Johnson. I don’t listen to rap or anything, it gets me too amped

What are your goals for the season
Make it to the NCAA tournament and beat Gonzaga on their home court

Nickname
Lizzy

Favorite Basketball Memory
In high school, I dropped 41 points on a team. Almost beat my sister’s record for most points in a game, it was close.

#33 Jasmine Moody

Pregame rituals
The number one thing is I like to take a hot shower. It’s a time to think and just prepare myself. I do that before every game.

Warm up song
I like to listen to a lot of different songs. I have a new song every month that I am listening to, so that is hard to say. Right now, I like to listen to the group Party Next Door.

Three things from this offseason
I was a bridesmaid for one of my teammate's weddings, so that was really cool because I have never done that before. I went to Florida to my new home in St. Augustine. My parents just bought a new house and so that was really exciting to go and discover the new town. I also went ATV riding. I really like ATV riding.

Goals for the season
My goal for the season is to just help contribute to the team as far as rebounding and just being that player that does the extra things. I won’t necessarily by the player that gets as much credit as everyone else, but being a team player that helps everyone else out.”

Nickname
Princess Jasmine

Favorite Basketball Memory
My favorite by far is when Lexi Eaton made the half-court shot two years ago against San Francisco. The game wasn’t even over, the clock still had like five seconds left, but I literally had ran from the bench almost onto the court. My teammates had to hold me back because I was just so excited.

#3 Shalae Salmon

Three things from this offseason
We conditioned a lot with Josh. I also tanned a lot and went to the pool like every day.

What are your goals for the season
I want our team to go to the NCAA tournament and at least have a few double-doubles in some games.

Nickname
Sally. One our coaches called me it went I first got here and so now everyone just calls me it.

Favorite Basketball Memory
Probably making the finals in high school for the first time in so many years. Junior year we made the national final, we lost, but just that feeling of being in the final was cool.”

Why did you choose to come and play at BYU
Mainly because of the education and the values here. Also, the basketball team and the coaches here, and how close the relationship is. I think that is so important. The chemistry not only between the players but also with the coaches.

#15 Malli Valgardson

Who is your favorite professional athlete
Kevin Durant

Pregame rituals
I always just listen to music

Warm up song
Country music. I know that is so weird, but it just calms me down. I love Carrie Underwood.

Three things from this offseason
I spent a lot of time in California with my family, so that was a lot of fun. I worked for my Dad and learned a bunch of new skills doing that. He’s a construction worker, so I learned how to draw up plans and do sheetrock, little handyman stuff. And then I just trained a lot.

What are your goals for the season
Just to get a little bit of time and learn a lot.  Also to try and figure out my role in the program and just figure out what the coaches want from me

Nickname
Barbie

Why did you choose to come and play at BYU
The opportunity to play on scholarship was huge. I just loved the coaches and it’s a great academic school. So just to have good coaches and academics, and then be surrounded by good girls, you can’t ask for something better.

#24 Ashley Beckstrand

Warm-up song
It honestly depends on what mood I’m in but I think that you can never go wrong with The Champ by Nelly

3 things that you did in the off-season
I tried to get 500 shots every day. I went to Disneyland with my family and I went back to California again where I am from to meet up with my friends.

What are your goals for the year
I hope to get some playing time but I’m a freshman so I don’t know how that will go.  I just want to help support the team in any way that I can whether that’s defensively, talking on the bench, or helping yell out things.

Favorite professional athlete
Kyrie Irving

#22 Sara Hamson
 

Favorite professional athlete
My sister, Jennifer Hamson

Warm-up song
Basketball by Kurtis Blow

Why BYU
I love the team and the atmosphere here. I grew up watching them play and I knew what I was getting into. I really wanted to play and be a part of something special.

What are your goals for the season
To do my best and take advantage of what playing time I get, as well as be a good teammate. I’d like to get a bunch of blocks too.

#13 Paisley Johnson

Warm-up song
Wings by Macklemore

What did you do during the off-season
I ate, I shopped and Josh (strength & conditioning coach) killed my body with workouts

What are your goals for the year
Be a great teammate and do my role the best I can

What’s your nickname
Pais

Why BYU
Both of my parents went to school here but most importantly the coaching staff just welcomed me in here. It seemed like a family atmosphere and I wanted to be around that

#23 Abby Mangum

Favorite professional athlete
For basketball James Harden

What’s your pre-game ritual
I listen to music, go in my own little corner and stretch

Warm-up song
There are so many good ones. But let’s go with Run this town by Jay Z, Kanye West and Rihanna

What are your goals for the year
I just want to be the best teammate that I can be and improve my game

Why BYU
I just loved the program and the coaches. It has always been a dream of mine to play here since I was really little.

#50 MaCayla Hanks Longson

Pre-game rituals
I take a game-day nap and listen to one or two of my favorite country artists

Warm-up song
House Party by Sam Hunt

Three things you did during the off-season
I got married, went to Mexico and moved out of the apartment I shared with the girls on the team.
 

What are your goals for the year
To heal from my injury and help the team as much as possible

Nickname
Hanks, Hansky Panksy

Favorite basketball memory
When Lexi Rydalch hit a half-court shot in our home game vs. USF with three second left and Jasmine and I ran on to the court

#10 Malia Nawahine

Favorite professional athlete
Kevin Walsh

Pre-game ritual
Eat, take a nap for as long as possible

Warm-up song
Music from Justin Bieber and Boyz II Men

What are your goals for the season
Win the conference title and play in the NCAA tournament

What’s your nickname
Lee Lee (that’s what the NZ girls call me)

#21 Khaedin Taito

Favorite professional athlete
Russell Westbrook

What are your goals for the season
I hope to get healthy again so I can play and contribute to the team

What are your pre-game rituals
Go to the bathroom, wash my face and recite scriptures

What’s your nickname
Khadez

#4 Amanda Wayment

Favorite professional athlete
Klay Thompson

What’s your pre-game ritual
Take a nap and watch an episode on Netflix

Three things you did in the off-season
Went to lots of concerts, got a tan, running and competing in 5K’s

What’s your nickname
Manders

Favorite basketball memory
When we con the conference title my sophomore year in college

#10 Maria Albiero

Favorite professional athlete
Steve Nash

Pre-game ritual
I pray

Warm-up song
Hall of Fame

Three things I did during the off-season
I went to Brazil to visit and spend time with my family and played some basketball

What are your goals for the season
To become a better player and be a smarter and influential freshman

Why BYU
I chose BYU because of the atmosphere here, the great coaches and awesome players