Continuity.
If there was one word that best described the Wyoming Cowgirl basketball team under head coach Heather Ezell, that would be the one.
Graduating a class of six seniors, five of which began their careers at the same university is an extremely rare occurrence in the current landscape of college basketball–but that’s exactly what the Cowgirls did this past offseason.
“It’s one of the things we hang our hat on,” Ezell said of the team’s culture. “You know, we talk about how that’s how we build our program. That’s how we become successful, is when we have players that stay and learn.”
Now, they have to find a way to replace the production of the Mountain West player of the year and defensive player of the year alongside two other starters and two crucial bench pieces–which is much easier said than done.
Ezell and her staff will be relying upon an abundance of last year’s freshman class, as well as other role players such as juniors Kati Ollilainen, Madi Symons and Payton Muma to fill the momentous void the departing seniors have left. While all three of those players played important roles coming off the bench a season ago, both their statistical marks and unmeasurable variables such as leadership will have to improve, and improve rather quickly as none of them averaged better than four points a game last season.
“I think they understand that now they’re upperclassmen, and now it’s their turn to take over those roles of leaders and being able to be in that position. I’ve been really happy with Madi and her voice and Kati with her voice and just continuing to lead, even if they’re not in the senior role,” Ezell said.
Ezell also dipped into the transfer portal to help bolster the roster, recruiting a pair of seniors in Indiana transfer Hanna Sandvik and St. Bonaventure transfer Aurore Eyango. While neither transfer put up numbers at their previous schools that pop off the page, their experience and intangible attributes will certainly allow them to carve out significant roles amongst a young and inexperienced team.
“It’s definitely been important for us to have some more experience from older players that’s been at other places, because they bring something to the team that we didn’t have before,” senior Malene Pederson said of the transfers.
Pederson, an all-Mountain West selection a season ago, may be the most important piece of the puzzle this season. Pederson enters her senior season as the top returner in every statistical category from a season ago, as the well-rounded veteran averaged 14 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
She will have to step up even more than she did a season ago if the Cowgirls are to find early success in their non-conference slate, which features a slew of opponents that competed in various post-season tournaments a season ago.
It certainly feels as if the early portions of the schedule will be a trial by fire for this young team.
“It’ll take a little bit. I even look at our first exhibition game and we won’t be even close to where we’re going to be capable of,” Ezell said.
“We’ll still be trying to get on the same page and there’s a possibility that our starting lineup will be changing a handful of times just to try and get the right matchups and the right groups together to see where we can be the most successful.”
First half of action from the 25-26 season 💥📷 pic.twitter.com/Hl3D8Icmg3
— Wyoming Cowgirl Basketball (@wyo_wbb) October 25, 2025
The Cowgirls were able to put together a narrow victory in their preseason exhibition contest against D-II Fort Lewis College, winning by a final score of 54-51. Pederson and Sandvik carried a heavy load, scoring 19 and 16 points respectively–and only one other player scored more than three points.
If one thing could be taken from that exhibition game, it’s that Ezell and her staff certainly have their work cut out for them when it comes to finding a consistent rotation this season.
The Cowgirls will officially start their season off at home against Saint Mary’s on Nov. 4.
