PHOENIX- It's been nearly a week since the Arizona State Sun Devils' special season came to an end in a heartbreaking way, losing to the Virginia Cavaliers in the First Four of the NCAA Women's Tournament.
Athletic director Graham Rossini spoke with Devils in Detail about Molly Miller's first season with the women's basketball program during the NCAA Women's Final Four Tipoff press conference in February.
Throughout the season, the Sun Devils saw an increase in attendance with a percentage of 86, improving from a 10-win season in 2024-25 to a 24-win season and earning a bid to the NCAA Women's Tournament for the first time since 2019.
Add to the resume as well, getting not only one but two wins in the Big 12 Tournament against the Arizona Wildcats and Iowa State Cyclones in Kansas City, which is pretty impressive in Miller's first season at the helm.
Despite the way the season ended, Rossini is optimistic for what the Arizona State women's basketball program will have in store for years to come.
"A lot of excitement in all levels of the program," Rossini said in February. "Certainly, the win-loss record speaks for itself with 15 consecutive wins, an undefeated run in the non-conference, (and) most wins for our first-year head coach in program history. Really proud of the foundation that she set for our program and the way that's allowed us to connect with fans and really earn a lot of women's basketball fans back in the building, create a lot of new fans with record totals of season tickets. "
Head coach Molly Miller also brought in the type of players who fit in her system through the transfer portal and built a coaching staff with a winning mentality.
While Arizona State will miss the impact made by the senior class, guards Gabby Elliott, Last-Tear Poa, and Marley Washenitz next season, they have a lot to look forward to for years to come.
The frontcourt duo of forwards, sophomore Heloisa Carrera and junior McKinna Brackens, has been major contributors in the paint, recording double-doubles and being a presence on both ends of the court.
"Super impressive, and even at a national level, we're one of the programs with the largest win-loss differential year over year," Rossini said. "It's a credit to what happens when you bring coaches with a winning pedigree and attention to detail, a convicted culture on what they want to build and what they want to recruit to. And then it's about getting the right people in that environment. I say it all the time. It's not where you're going, it's who you're bringing."
One of the elite names the Sun Devils brought in through the transfer portal is guard Ruby Whitehorn, who will play for the team this upcoming season after spending the past year with the Tennessee Lady Vols.
Rossini is thrilled to see what type of contributions Whitehorn will bring to the team while giving back to the community. He also mentioned "the opportunity that she's got to be a great member of our program."
He also mentioned, "the opportunity that she's got to be a great member of our program."
Arizona State also added three rising freshmen, guards Quin'Nya Gray de Sanders, Averie Lower (SportsCenter NEXT No. 54 overall player), and Londyn Parker, to the mix as they look to continue structuring the roster throughout the offseason.
"Ruby is an elite basketball talent, and we know that, and we're glad that she sees value in joining the ASU women's basketball program," Rossini said of Whitehorn. "It's a testament to the kind of program that coach Molly Miller is building, that she's got that high end talent looking at our program, and that's a sign of things to come as we get ready for this, this next round of recruiting in the transfer portal, we've got some really exciting high school players that are high school players that are committed to our program."
While seeing the winning culture Miller is bringing to Tempe, there are Arizona State women's basketball alumni and legends who have been in attendance and paying attention.
Two of the Phoenix Mercury legends who attended the Sun Devils women's basketball game throughout the season are Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor, where they sat courtside in February.
"It's nice when people that are among the best players to ever touch the sport are paying attention to what we're doing, and they see the momentum, and they want to plug in," Rossini said. "They want to make unique contributions. Diana Taurasi was at some games; she's been incredible in what she's meant to the sport, but also the fact that she's local and she cares about what we're doing, and she wants to plug in and be a contributing member. She's paying attention.
"She (Diana Taurasi) told me, 'Hey, I see what you all are doing. I'm following the momentum of the program. I'm excited about what Coach Molly Miller is building. I want to find a way to share some information or plug in in the ways that I can.' I'm lucky to be with Coach Miller a lot and see her interact with James Harden. See her interact with people at all levels of the sport of basketball, both women's and men's, and it's a credit to the fact that she's building something special that people who are so successful in the sport want to plug back in and contribute to."
As the Arizona State women's basketball program had their heads held high at the end of the season, Rossini and the company is so excited to see what more the team will have in store for years to come.