Gonzaga Just Entered A Recruiting Fight Fans Will Want To Watch

Gonzaga's pursuit of elite guard Finley Parcher signals their growing clout in women's college basketball recruiting circles.

Gonzaga has landed in the top seven for one of the West Coast’s most sought-after young guards, with Finley Parcher narrowing her recruitment to Gonzaga, UConn, Washington, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, and Arizona, according to Dushawn London of 247Sports.

Parcher, a 4-star guard in the 2027 class, stars at Lynden High School in Washington, just south of the Canadian border on the west side of the state. Her team has been nothing short of dominant. Lynden has won 75 straight games and became the first 2A girls program to capture three consecutive state titles after beating Prosser, 59-49, in March.

Parcher scored 17 in that championship game, finishing off a junior season in which she averaged 22 points, seven rebounds, 3.5 assists, and three steals per game. She also shot 68% from the field and 42% from three.

Her summer only raised the profile. At GUAA session 1, Parcher put up 40 points and 10 rebounds in front of multiple college coaches, including UConn coach Geno Auriemma. Whether UConn ultimately offers her is still unclear, but Gonzaga’s place in the mix says plenty about where the Bulldogs stand with elite talent in Washington.

The challenge, of course, is steep. Gonzaga is battling UConn, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, Washington, and Arizona for a player who has already drawn national attention. Oregon is especially notable in the mix with former Gonzaga coach Kelly Graves leading the Ducks.

Still, the Bulldogs have a pitch that fits Parcher’s game. Gonzaga runs a high-octane offense and shot the highest percentage from three in the country last year, which makes the fit obvious for a scoring, versatile guard.

Lisa Fortier’s roster is already loaded, too. Gonzaga brought back 10 players from last year’s 13-player group, including WCC Player of the Year Lauren Whittaker and two-time All-WCC First Teamer Allie Turner. That core gives the Bulldogs a strong foundation as they head into the new-look Pac-12.

The only freshman joining the roster is Abby Lusk, a 6-foot-1 forward from Pocatello, Idaho, and she does not have any commitments in the 2027 class to this point.

If Gonzaga were to land Parcher, it would count as one of the biggest high school commitments in program history and another sign that the Bulldogs are operating as a true West Coast power in their new league.

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Gonzaga Is In A Recruiting Fight Fans Will Care About

Finley Parcher has put Gonzaga squarely in the middle of a recruiting battle that should matter to anyone following the programs future. The four-star combo guard from Lynden, Washington, listed the Zags among her top seven college choices, a group that also includes UConn, Oregon, Washington, Stanford, UCLA and Arizona, giving Gonzaga a real shot at one of the regions most intriguing prospects.

Parcher has already taken official visits to Gonzaga, Oregon, Stanford and UCLA, so the next stretch figures to be about separating a very strong local pitch from a deep national field. A multi-sport athlete, she turned in a big junior basketball season with 22.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.5 steals per game, and she helped Lynden High School win three straight WIAA girls 2A state championships, which only adds to the appeal for a program that knows how valuable a polished winner can be. [Read more 🡒]