Washington State Women’s Hoops Heads to Santa Clara Looking to Build Momentum
Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026 | 6 p.m. PT | Leavey Center, Santa Clara, Calif. | ESPN+
Washington State women’s basketball is back on the road Thursday night, heading to the Bay Area for a WCC clash with Santa Clara. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
PT at the Leavey Center, with live coverage on ESPN+. It’s the first leg of a quick two-game set for the Cougars, who return home Saturday to host conference powerhouse Gonzaga.
Let’s break down where the Cougs stand heading into this critical stretch - and why there’s more to this 4-18 team than meets the eye.
A Season of Adversity - and Grit
Washington State’s 3-6 mark in WCC play doesn’t tell the full story. The Cougars were dealt a tough hand early, with a brutal non-conference schedule and a string of key injuries that left the rotation in constant flux.
At one point, WSU had just one win through 13 games - and that stretch included matchups against top-tier programs like No. 5 LSU, Oregon (No. 24 in the NET), and a Texas Tech squad just outside the top 25.
In fact, all 10 of WSU’s non-conference opponents are currently ranked in the NET top 100, with six in the top 50. That’s the kind of schedule that tests a team’s depth, toughness, and patience - and it’s starting to show dividends now that the Cougs are healthier and more battle-tested.
Villa Leading the Charge
Junior guard Eleonora Villa has been the engine of this team - and she’s doing it at an elite level. Villa enters the Santa Clara game with 1,314 career points, just 19 shy of cracking the program’s all-time top 12. She’s also one made three-pointer away from joining WSU’s top-10 list in that category, and she’s closing in on top-10 marks in both field goals made and minutes played.
Statistically, Villa’s production ranks among the best in the country. She’s 17th nationally in field goal attempts (322), 22nd in made field goals (149), and 27th in total points (387). Her 17.6 points per game put her second in the WCC - and she’s doing it while drawing the top defensive assignment night in and night out.
Ruud Awakening
Freshman forward Malia Ruud has been one of the bright spots in a rebuilding year. The rookie is averaging 8.6 points and 26.1 minutes per game while shooting nearly 43% from the field. She’s already had a pair of breakout performances - 11 points against Stanford and a season-high 19 against Oregon - and her .429 field goal percentage ranks 27th nationally among true freshmen with at least 79 made field goals.
Ruud’s steady presence in the frontcourt has been vital, especially with injuries limiting veteran bigs earlier in the season.
Block Party with Covill
Starting center Alex Covill is finally healthy again and making her presence felt on the defensive end. With 138 career blocks, she’s already sixth all-time in WSU history and just nine away from moving into fifth. She’s also approaching the 500-point and 250-rebound marks for her career - milestones that reflect her growing impact on both ends of the floor.
Other Notable Climbers
- Charlotte Abraham is closing in on the 500-point club herself (currently at 403) and has pulled down 144 rebounds this season - just 93 away from a top-10 single-season mark in program history.
- Keandra Koorits, a redshirt freshman, made a splash in her debut with 23 points - the most by a WSU freshman since Charlisse Leger-Walker’s 23 in 2021.
- Malvina Haziri, the youngest player in NCAA Division I women’s basketball at just 17, continues to gain valuable experience. She began her collegiate career at only 16 - a testament to her talent and poise.
A Look Back - and a Chance at Revenge
Santa Clara currently leads the all-time series 6-5, and the Broncos took the last meeting in Pullman earlier this month, 98-92. That game was a shootout - and a historic one for the Cougs, who had three players score 20 or more points in the same game for the first time since at least the 1999-2000 season. Villa, Abraham, and Covill all hit the 20-point mark in that one, and they’ll look to replicate that firepower Thursday.
It’s also worth noting that WSU’s last win over Santa Clara came in the 2024 WBIT, a dominant 73-47 performance that snapped a nearly 40-year drought against the Broncos.
Mixing and Matching
Injuries and youth have forced head coach Kamie Ethridge to tinker with her lineups all season. The Cougars have used eight different starters and seven unique starting combinations - but the silver lining is that a lot of young players have been thrown into the fire and gained meaningful experience.
With Ethridge recently signing a contract extension through the 2030-31 season, there’s a long-term vision in place - and the foundation is already being laid.
What’s Next
After Thursday’s game at Santa Clara, the Cougars return to Pullman for a Saturday night showdown with Gonzaga - a marquee matchup that gives WSU another shot at a statement win. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
The season hasn’t gone according to plan, but this team is far from folding. With Villa playing at an elite level, young talent stepping up, and the roster finally getting healthy, the Cougs are quietly building something - and they’re not done yet.