The ball hadn’t even tipped off, but the energy inside Mott Athletics Center felt different. The Cal Poly Women’s Basketball team, all young, loud and eager, didn’t just open their season with wins. In their first two games, they made statements.
In their first two contests, the Mustangs outscored their opponents by a combined 125 points, forcing turnovers, flying up the floor, and celebrating every made basket. Yes, Simpson is a Division III program and UC Santa Cruz has struggled in recent seasons, but that doesn’t change what Cal Poly showed: pace, confidence, and a willingness to attack.
For a group still figuring out who they are without last year’s leaders, the message is clear: the Mustangs aren’t waiting for experience to arrive, they’re building it in real time.
Last season was one of steady progress, but also one of growing pains. Cal Poly finished 14-18 overall and 8-12 in Big West play, showing flashes of defensive grit and offensive potential that didn’t always translate into wins. This fall, though, something has clicked early.
“The most important thing is getting everyone seasoned and getting ready for what they are gonna see in Big West play,” head coach Shanele Stires said.
The Mustangs’ early dominance, first against Simpson University in an exhibition match, then UC Santa Cruz, suggests that seasoning might already be underway, despite a hard fought loss against Stanford and Seattle last week.
One of the biggest changes the Mustangs face is the loss of senior leader Annika Shah, whose scoring and experience anchored last year’s squad. With her departure, questions naturally arise: Who will step up, and who will break through?
“I think seeing our growth at the end of the season and how much we can improve will be telling of our success beyond wins and losses,” sophomore forward Gillian Bears said. “We lost a lot of players last year so it’s definitely going to be an adjustment but once we figure things out, I think just having each other’s backs is most important, and working our inside-outside game, and staying together as a family.”
On the roster sheet, the Mustangs appear deep in youth and potential. The official 2025-26 roster shows a range of experience despite there being no seniors, Bears and Billing among the more experienced returners. Also listed are sophomore forwards like Nora Perez and Avery Knapp, plus freshmen guards such as Katie Peiffer and Ella Skrzyniarz, who will be shifted into meaningful minutes after seeing the court in limited moments last year.
“We need to get a lot of inside-outside action,” redshirt sophomore guard Jordan Billing said. “We’ve got a lot of great shooters like Madison [Butcher] and Katie [Peiffer], and everyone can knock down shots, but we need some variety in the game for sure,”
This inside-outside dynamic refers to a blend of post presence and perimeter shooting, and is a key theme for the program.
The infusion of new talent offers promise, but also reinforces the importance of cohesion and culture as the team shifts to a new era of basketball under Stires.
“From a recruiting standpoint what we have been addressing is being able to shoot the three,” Stires said.
Looking ahead, the Mustangs non-conference schedule presents both opportunity and challenge. After opening at home, the Mustangs ventured out into tough road environments such as at Stanford on Nov. 9, a team they are still yet to beat despite a decade of matchups. The conference slate is also demanding, including home games versus established Big West teams like UC San Diego and road games at UC Davis.
Those key games will reveal how far the Mustangs have come from last season. Their upward push rests on building defensive identity, developing reliable three-point shooting, and deepening the inside-outside balance. They must also grow in consistency and resilience, both qualities that separate promising rosters from contenders.
If the Mustangs succeed in those areas, the narrative could shift from a young team finding itself to a team on the rise. The early wins are encouraging, but the bigger story will unfold over the course of the season when the Mustangs test themselves against the best in the Big West.
In the end, the season will not just be about the box score but about how this team defines itself, and whether the promise and potential turn into sustained performance. The Mustangs have the stage, the youth, and the mindset. Now the real work begins.