The Arizona women’s basketball season is almost upon us.
The signs are clear: The weather is (slowly) getting cooler, the Wildcats held their open practice last week and Big 12 media day is being held in Kansas City on Tuesday.
Media day will be broadcast on ESPNU and ESPN+ and run from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Tucson time.
Jada Williams, Breya Cunningham and Skylar Jones are joining coach Adia Barnes for the all-day introduction to UA’s new conference.
Last Thursday, the Wildcats held their second consecutive open practice at McKale Center. Fans viewed the last portion of the day’s work — a five-on-five matchup — seeing the returners and new players in action for the first time ahead of the 2024-25 season. Afterward, Barnes introduced the entire team and her staff — including the managers, practice players and grad assistants —- and took questions from fans.
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One of the Wildcats who stood out was freshman Lauryn Swann, who was getting after it on defense and scoring baskets. She seemed to be involved in most of the action.
“I feel like my IQ has grown a lot, just adjusting to the physicality of playing at the college level (and on defense) just being in the right spots at the right time,” said Arizona freshman guard Lauryn Swann.
Swann, who like the rest of her teammates, has been in Tucson training all summer and into the fall, said that her improvement has come across the board.
“I feel like my IQ has grown a lot, just adjusting to the physicality of playing at the college level (and on defense) just being in the right spots at the right time,” Swann said.
Besides her coaches, the 5-foot-7-inch guard said that the teammate who has guided her on the court is Williams. This makes sense as they are in the same position group.
“From point guard to point guard, Jada helps me a lot,” Swann said. “Just the ins and outs, how to use my body, how to be in the right places, and all that. She helps me a lot like throughout the whole practice.”
The first test comes on Friday when the Wildcats play their first exhibition game against West Texas A&M at 6 p.m. in McKale.
So far, Barnes has been impressed with Swann.
“Lauryn has been in and out with a lot of different small injuries, but she’s competing; she was great at the open practice,” Barnes said.
Little wins
Ajea Yoakum tore her left ACL in practice in July. She was cutting, pivoted the wrong way and heard a pop. And she was in pain. Physically and mentally. She knew the injury meant she wouldn’t be playing this season after transferring to Arizona from FIU for her fifth year. Arizona has petitioned the NCAA to give her another year of eligibility.
It was hard emotionally because the 6-foot forward was excited to be a Wildcat and play for Barnes, who she knew would help her grow her game. After all, that’s why she came to Tucson.
“She’s a really good coach; really good person all around. I like how she cares for her girls, outside the court, as well. Because it’s not all just about basketball,” Yoakum said. “We go through things in life as well, and just having a coach you can count on.”
For now, she is focused on the little milestones to get heathy and back to herself.
Yoakum
“I would say little wins for me is progressing from everything,” Yoakum said.
“Honestly, from when I first had my surgery, I was down; I was sad, and then just seeing my muscle flexion, like a flex my muscle in my leg, that was a little milestone for me, because it was hard. I lost all the muscle in my legs, so just seeing that. Then jogging again, well, even walking, just all the baby steps that got me to where I am today, were really good milestones for me. I think I was just always worried about those things, like ‘Will I ever be the same again?’ I’ve been doing really good. I think that’s what’s keeping me going, keeping me happy.”
Around 10 days after surgery, Yoakum was walking without crutches, which is standard for an athlete, according to UA’s athletic trainer, Bart Jameson, who has been working with Yoakum on her recovery.
“I would say the weirdest thing Bart had me do was the hydro works because I had never done that before,” Yoakum said. “It was new to me. It was a weird. I’m like, ‘OK, I’m running underwater.’”
Three months later Yoakum is jogging — close to running fully — and lifting light weights.
Yoakum leans on two Wildcat teammates, Montaya Dew and Erin Tack, who understand where she’s at because they just endured what she is facing now. She said they remind her that all the ups and downs of recovery is normal and part of the process.
Despite being out for the season, Yoakum isn’t isolating herself from the team. She’s always around, whether she’s at practice or even at a UA football game.
“I just want my teammates to know that I’m there for them, even though I’m hurt and I’m working on the side, I think just being present on the sideline means a lot to them,” Yoakum said. “It shows them that I’m still with them, still engaged, and also means a lot to me to show them my support.”
Getting in condition
Junior guard Paulina Paris, who transferred to Arizona from North Carolina, said one of the most important things she spent her offseason focusing on was getting back into playing shape after she suffered a meniscus injury to her left knee in January.
Paris said that Chris Allen, UA’s performance coach, has been integral in the process.
Arizona Paulina Paris and the Wildcats work their dribbling during a summer practice session in June.
“Chris has been great,” Paris said. “My body in the four months that I’ve been here has changed. I run a mile 30 seconds faster than I was at home. Also, coming off the injury, it’s helped that I’ve had Chris, because he’s gotten me back up to where I was before I got injured. Then, obviously, on the court, after being with him in the weight room, it definitely makes a difference when you’re playing up and down.”
Meaning this has helped Paris play Arizona’s defense, which she calls “a “94-feet deny” style. This is much different than the “gap-type defense” she played at North Carolina.
