Eastern Washington women’s basketball enters the 2024-25 season with a clear mandate: convert the cultural foundation laid by the 2023-24 NCAA Tournament team into a winning record. Head coach Joddie Gleason, in his sixth year at the helm, retains four starting players from the squad that finished 15-18 overall and 7-11 in Big Sky Conference play. While last season ended in disappointment, the program’s media and coaches polls consensus now projects the Eagles to finish fourth in the 11-team Big Sky, signaling a significant shift in expectations for the Spokane-based program.
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The continuity at the core of the roster is the primary driver behind this optimism. Kourtney Grossman, now in her third year under Gleason, emphasizes that the “culture of accountability” established by the previous tournament team remains intact. Although the roster composition has changed, the system and mindset have persisted, allowing returning starters to build upon the momentum of a program that finally cracked the NCAA bracket in 2024. This stability provides a rare advantage in a conference where parity is high and consistency is often elusive.
Grossman describes the team’s approach as one fueled by “quite a bit of fire,” noting that the collective focus is on leveraging the returning talent to outwork opponents. Unlike teams that must rebuild from scratch, Eastern Washington can focus on refining execution and maximizing the potential of its experienced core. As the season progresses, the Eagles will be measured not just by their win-loss record, but by their ability to sustain the high-level performance required to challenge for a Big Sky title and secure a return to the national stage.
Source: Yahoo Sports
