Arizona women's basketball adds ex-USC forward via portal, assistant coach from Pitt

The 6-foot-3 Raulušaityte is from Lithuania and played one season for the Trojans. She appeared in 32 games, starting 10. She averaged 2.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per contest.

Raulušaityte was listed as a junior this past season after previously playing at LCC International University in Lithuania. She was named MVP of the league in which she played in 2024-25, averaging 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Raulušaityte also has competed multiple times in international competitions with the Lithuanian national team.

Raulušaityte adds size to a UA frontline that will be completely rebuilt. The only returning big is 6-6 Callie Hinder, who redshirted after enrolling at Arizona in January. The Wildcats’ incoming freshmen include 6-2 forward Priyanka Ponnam.

UA coach Becky Burke is likely to add more size as she continues to retool the roster. Arizona’s previous portal addition was a guard, Aliyahna “Puff” Morris, who previously played at Cal.

Newman joins staff

Burke is also remaking her coaching staff this offseason.

Arizona announced the addition of Devan Newman as an assistant coach Monday.

Newman spent the past two seasons at Pittsburgh. She began her coaching career at Louisville in 2008. The Cardinals’ freshman class that year included Burke.

"I am thrilled to welcome Devan to our staff," Burke said in a news release. "She has a wealth of knowledge and experience at every level of college basketball. She comes from a basketball family, and I have a longstanding relationship with her.

“She is going to be an excellent addition to our program and somebody that I am very excited that our players get to be around every single day. She's of great character and about all the right things. Arizona women's basketball just got better!"

Between Louisville and Pitt, Newman served as an assistant coach at Weber State (2011-18) and Binghamton (2018-24). She joins former Kent State head coach Todd Starkey as new additions to Burke’s staff.

"I am overjoyed and grateful to be joining Becky and her staff at the University of Arizona," Newman said. "I have known Becky from her playing days at Louisville, and her passion for the game, fierce competitiveness and relentless work ethic is infectious. She is a winner, and I can't wait to get in the trenches with her and grind every day to help the Wildcats program achieve success."

Valkyries ink Reese

Former UA standout Cate Reese has signed a training-camp contract with the WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries.

Reese, a four-time All-Pac-12 selection at Arizona, has played professionally in Australia and Poland since leaving Tucson in 2023.

Reese averaged 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in 153 games for the Wildcats and was a member of the 2020-21 squad that finished as the national runner-up.