TEMPE — Arizona State women’s basketball is in the midst of a culture change, and much of it is due to first-year head coach Molly Miller, who has turned the program around in just a few months.
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Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Molly Miller reacts during action against the Utah Utes at Desert Financial Arena on Feb. 11, 2026, in Tempe. © Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
On Saturday, ASU swept the season series against Arizona in a 75-69 overtime thriller, securing its 21st victory of the season. The win total marks the most ever by a first-year head coach in program history and has solidified a remarkable turnaround for a team that had not posted a winning season in several years.
Miller wasn’t the only new face in Tempe. Much of the starting lineup has consisted of transfer-portal additions. While the record books highlight the win total, another major point of conversation has been how quickly the team has gelled.
Speaking on SportsCenter on Tuesday, Miller said the players took a “blind leap of faith” and bought into her vision for the program.
Molly Miller is making program history with the @SunDevilWBB team as the first head coach with 21 wins in her debut season, and with a starting lineup of all transfer portal players 🙌 pic.twitter.com/VH9cKv2pkk
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 17, 2026
“I couldn’t imagine doing this first year with any other group,” she said. “They’re kind of a group where I say jump and they say how high… They’ve been a joy to coach. It’s really been a great experience for our team.”
Miller’s impact has been significant on all fronts. After finishing 10-22 in the Sun Devils’ first season in the Big 12 Conference, expectations were modest entering this year. Miller’s team ignored those projections and opened the season with a 15-0 start.
ASU Sun Devils guard Jyah LoVett (4) celebrates her buzzer-beating layup to end the 3rd quarter with her teammate Marley Washenitz (11) during their game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Feb. 1, 2026. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The program has rekindled excitement around women’s basketball in Tempe, as the Sun Devils are beginning to enter national ranking conversations and discussions about where they should be placed.
“I care about energy, energy is our edge,” Miller said, in terms of how she sells her vision for Arizona State. “I care about the effort, I care about our daily habits. The byproduct of that has really been winning, so kudos to our team for buying in from the get-go. We’ve really developed those daily habits to build on and this has been the result.”
ASU Sun Devils forward McKinna Brackens (21) looks to pass the ball while being defended by Kansas State Wildcats guards Brandie Harrod (3), Taryn Side (11) and forward Jenessa Cotton (24) at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Feb. 1, 2026. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The rebuild under Miller offers a clear example of how strategic roster building and strong coaching can change the trajectory of a program in women’s college basketball.
The Sun Devils now turn their attention to Wednesday, when they face Iowa State at 5:30 p.m.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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