New-look women’s basketball ready to test fast-paced identity in season opener

Utah State Women’s Basketball won’t look anything like the team that finished last season near the bottom of the Mountain West standings. 

After a full preseason and two exhibitions under second-year head coach Wesley Brooks, the Aggies enter their Nov. 7 opener against Utah with a deeper roster and clearer identity built around size, pace and guard play.​     ​ 

Brooks’ plan for his program has centered on one idea since he arrived: play fast and play free. Utah State showed glimpses of that in both exhibitions, shooting efficiently from three and pushing tempo throughout.  

To bring his vision to life, Brooks spent the offseason rebuilding from the ground up. His staff recruited size, shooters and experience, including players who have competed in NCAA tournaments, international tournaments and in Power Five programs.  

“We’re better,” Brooks said. “You have to get talent, and you have to get experience. We’ve got both now, and that’s showing up.” 

The backcourt will drive everything. Aaliyah Gayles, a former five-star recruit and transfer from USC, and Marina Asensio, a Spanish combo guard with high-major experience, have quickly become the faces of Brooks’ system. 

Gayles has emerged as the lead playmaker, using her speed to get to the rim and her vision to create for others. Asensio brings control and perimeter shooting. Both can initiate the offense or space the floor, a combination Brooks believes will make the Aggies difficult to defend. 

“We’re both versatile,” Gayles said. “We can play the one, two or three. You can’t just guard one of us, you got to guard both of us.” 

Asensio said their chemistry is still developing but improving every week. 

“We’re learning about each other, but it’s not just about two people,” she said. “We’re a whole new team, and we’re learning every day.” 

Brooks has surrounded that backcourt with a mix of returning contributors and key newcomers. Elise Livingston and Macie Brown, both Ridgeline High School products, give the lineup more perimeter shooting and length.  

Livingston shot confidently through preseason play after an offseason spent working on her release speed and strength. Brown, the daughter of USU Men’s Basketball alum Tony Brown, has impressed coaches with her composure and ability to score in traffic. 

“Macie’s grown tremendously,” Brooks said. “She’s fearless, she can make threes, she can get to the rim. She’s going to leave an impact like her dad did on the men’s program.” 

Up front, 6-foot-3-inch Rachel Wilson and 6-foot-2-inch Sophie Sene have added the kind of size Utah State lacked a year ago, helping the Aggies rebound better and defend the interior. Brooks noted the team drew 23 free throws in its first exhibition, which he considers a product of improved physicality. 

The Aggies’ offense has emphasized volume shooting and spacing. Brooks said he wants his team to take 65 shots per game and plenty of threes, prioritizing tempo over perfection.  

“It’s not about percentage anymore,” he said. “If we can shoot 40% but take more, that’s even better.” 

The most noticeable change from last year might come on the defensive end. After finishing at the bottom of the conference in opponent shooting percentage, Utah State hired associate head coach Anna Kjaerholt to oversee the defense. The Aggies have shifted from a pack-line approach to an aggressive, pressure-denial scheme designed to force turnovers and limit open threes.​     ​ 

“Our defense is already a hundred times better than it was last year,” Livingston said. “We communicate more, and our rotations are getting better.” 

Utah State’s international presence — eight players from outside the U.S. — has also given the group a different rhythm. Four of them hail from Spain, where the game emphasizes spacing, cutting and ball movement. That familiarity, Asensio said, has helped the group adjust quickly to Brooks’ system. 

“We understand each other more and maybe faster,” she said. “In Spain, we all play the same system — more cutting, more movement. It’s helping us here.” 

As the Aggies prepare to face Utah, a top 50 program in the nation, Brooks knows the challenge is steep. His team, picked No. 11 in the Mountain West preseason poll, will be tested immediately against one of the nation’s most efficient offensive units. 

“We’ve got to defend the three and rebound with them,” Brooks said. “That’s the key.” 

For Utah State, though, opening night isn’t just about the scoreboard. It’s about seeing whether the progress of the past seven months can translate under the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum lights, and whether this rebuilt roster can run, shoot, defend and compete the way Brooks envisioned. 

“We’ve got to keep building, but people are going to see a different Utah State team,” Brooks said. “We’ll be ready to play.” 

The Aggies’ season-opening game against the Utes will tip off Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. in the Spectrum.