3 ASU WBB Players Who Will Define Rest of 2025-26 Season

The Sun Devils currently sit at 16-2 and are seeking to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in years.

ASU Sun Devils guard Marley Washenitz (11) celebrates her defensive stop against the Coppin State Bald Eagles at Desert Financial Arena on Nov. 3, 2025. | Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

TEMPE -- The Arizona State women's basketball program had been stuck in an era of dormancy for much of the 2020's decade, as they had only won 53 total games across the first half of said decade.

Molly Miller was hired as head coach in March of 2025 in hopes that the proven winner would shift the culture back into the mold of what was seen under Charli Turner Thorne.

Now, the Sun Devils sit at 16-2 going into a major battle with the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday afternoon - while the program appears poised to reach their first NCAA tournament since 2018-19, they have potential to reach even higher ambitions.

Arizona State on SI names the three most crucial players in the quest of reaching lofty goals over the remainder of the season below.

Last-Tear Poa

Poa is a senior and three-season contributor at LSU, deciding to spend her final season of collegiate eligibility playing for Miller in Tempe.

There's little doubt that Poa is incredibly talented, but a minor hand surgery early in the season is possibly playing a role in not having a "takeover" game to this point.

Watch out for the Australia native to have signature performances moving forward, including as a playmaker - as the point guard leads the team with 4.1 assists per contest.

Oct 21, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Arizona State head coach Molly Miller (left) alongside Last-Tear Poa (right) speaks to media during Big 12 Womenís Basketball Media Day at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Sophia Scheller-Imagn Images | Sophia Scheller-Imagn Images

McKinna Brackens

There's a very real chance that Brackens emerges as the face of Arizona State basketball next season - the junior and UNLV transfer might be taking over as that in the middle of this season.

The Texas native has scored in double figures in 15 of 17 games played in this season, while recording double-doubles in six of those contests.

Beyond this, Brackens' efficiency from beyond the arc (on low volume albiet), and ability to get to the free throw line at a high level will continue to be instrumental to the team during the stretch run.

Marley Washenitz

Washenitz is certainly an ideal fit in Miller's hard-nosed, chaos-causing defensive system. The senior guard is averaging 2.1 steals per game, playing an indispensable role in the disruption that the Sun Devils present to opponents.

Washenitz has improved upon last season's field goal percentage, but the three-point efficiency has taken a dip in recent games. Arizona State needs a jolt from behind the arc from the former Pittsburgh standout to remain in the upper-tier of the Big 12 come conference tournament time.

ASU Sun Devils guards Last-Tear Poa (13) and Marley Washenitz (11) defend Coppin State Bald Eagles guard Kyley Gary-Grayson (10) at Desert Financial Arena on Nov. 3, 2025. | Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Read more on why the Arizona State men's basketball team will exceed expectations in the 2025-26 season here, and on why the bright future of the football program isn’t dimmed by the loss to Arizona here.

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