On back-to-back days in early August, the Gonzaga Bulldogs received commitments from two 5-in-5 players, Dayton transfer Javon Bennett and Florida State transfer Chauncey Wiggins.
However, a couple of weeks after Bennett committed to the Zags, the Tenth Circuit granted the NCAA’s stay request in an Ohio case that included Bennett, deeming him ineligible to return to college basketball. The same has now happened to Wiggins, who is part of a Georgia lawsuit that recently had its preliminary injunction stayed by the state’s Court of Appeals, also making Wiggins temporarily ineligible.
With the personnel losses GU has endured this offseason, Wiggins and Bennett are expected to play pivotal roles on the roster as the Bulldogs’ starting small forward and backup point guard, respectively. But a long eligibility waiting game for these two and other Gonzaga commits lingers, as a definitive resolution for older players in college basketball has still not been identified.
As a final tune-up before her sophomore season in Spokane, Gonzaga women’s basketball forward Lauren Whittaker recently participated in the Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament for her home country, New Zealand.
This qualifying round consisted of a series of games over a week-long span, hosted in Mexico. New Zealand was part of Group A, which also included Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, South Sudan, Senegal, and the Philippines. Whittaker got the opportunity to play alongside her sister, Charlotte, a 6-3 forward who played four seasons at Colorado, and against the Zags’ all-time leading scorer, Canadian Yvonne Ejim, who was named to the tournament’s “All-Star Five”.
Canada went 5-0, securing the only available spot to advance to the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in 2028. New Zealand fell to the Canadians in the semifinals, going 2-2 overall, but it was an encouraging stretch for Whittaker, who looks to build on her WCC Player of the Year performance last season.
Squaring off in another close match, Gonzaga women’s soccer (2-4-1) returned to Spokane for its home game in two weeks, taking on Wyoming (4-2) at Luger Field on Thursday.
The pendulum swung constantly throughout the 90 minutes, with both sides having ample opportunities to score, but to no avail for the first 75 minutes. But similar to the Zags’ last game on Sunday against Seattle U, the game-winner came in heartbreaking fashion, as an own goal was GU’s undoing in the 1-0 defeat.
It was otherwise a banner night for both defenses and goalkeepers, who resisted persistent attacks from opposing strikers and forwards for nearly the entire match. That’s what makes this another tough result for Gonzaga, which dropped its second straight game.
Neither team had trouble pushing the ball into the attacking third, but the backlines buckled down as more players clustered around the net, and there were some tremendous saves throughout. Zags keeper Sydney Head put together the best game of her career, with the lone goal on her ledger being a similar set piece that has recently plagued GU’s defense. Head collected five saves, including a couple of athletic parries, playing well enough to notch her first career shoutout. Cowboys’ keeper Haley Bartel, on the other hand, logged her 21st career shutout, saving seven of the Bulldogs’ shots.
In an offseason full of unexpected departures in Spokane, the Gonzaga Bulldogs’ coaching staff became down a man late in the summer.
Jorge Sanz, who had been on the Zags’ coaching staff for the last eight seasons, took a position at UNC under first-year head coach Michael Malone. As GU’s former director of basketball operations, Sanz leaving for North Carolina is about as tough a loss for the program off the court.
Although the ‘DOBO’ role is still vacant for Gonzaga, it recently restocked to five assistant coaches under Mark Few. The Bulldogs added Bryce Douglas to its sideline staff, who most recently spent three seasons at Seattle University.
While Sanz specialized in building GU’s nonconference schedule and recruiting, particularly internationally, Douglas’ background is rooted in analytics. He has 15 years of combined experience at the professional and collegiate levels, while also dabbling in the international circuit.
Joining a staff that includes Brian Michaelson, R-Jay Barsh, Stephen Gentry, and Zach Norvell Jr., Douglas brings a different approach to analytics than what was previously in the building, filling a hole already in the coaching room rather than directly replacing Sanz. And with the inevitable retirement of Few on the horizon, Douglas was a hire likely co-signed by Michaelson, Gonzaga’s head coach-in-waiting.
Wrapping up a three-game road trip against a former WCC foe, Gonzaga women’s soccer (2-3-1) nearly escaped the stretch away from Luger Field without suffering a loss. But in a match that could’ve gone either way, it was Seattle U (3-1-2) that pulled away in the end, besting the Zags 3-2 with a late goal.
There were a couple of missed opportunities for GU offensively, but it will likely be kicking itself on the defensive lapses that led to all three Redhawk goals. Two of Seattle U’s scores came courtesy of set pieces, and the game-winner was notched after a bad gamble on the Bulldogs’ backline.
Weathering the storm overall since its last home game, Gonzaga logged a 3-1 win at New Mexico before drawing with No. 11 Washington 1-1. This latest result, however, leaves a bad taste in the team’s mouth after being so buttoned up in their two previous contests.
The Zags dominated the pace during the first 10 minutes of play, generating three corner kicks in that span. On that final CK, Amelia Severn crossed the ball from the left side to the front post, where freshman midfielder Sienna Jenson was positioned. Jenson attempted a header, and Redhawks keeper Rachael Remnet made a great initial play, stretching to get a hand on the ball for the save. But the ricochet rolled right to sophomore forward Kalia Franklin, who tapped it in for her first collegiate goal and an early GU 1-0 advantage.
After their longest break between regular-season games, Gonzaga women’s soccer (3-4-1) responded admirably after two straight losses. Playing arguably their most complete match yet, the Zags handed Creighton (3-3-1) a 3-0 defeat in Omaha to notch their first win in three weeks. It was the first career shutout for junior goalkeeper Sydney Head, who had come close to achieving that feat several times this year. Earning the nod as GU’s starter in net, Head has improved over the team’s first eight games and made two saves during the victory.
Tasked with a difficult nonconference schedule, the Bulldogs have battled adversity early in the year, specifically on crazy in-game swings. It was a point of emphasis during Gonzaga’s nine-day break since its last match, and it was particularly significant early in this victory, knocking off a hot Bluejays squad.
“Being able to respond from big moments…and give each other energy from those defensive efforts is something we build our momentum from, and we did just that,” head coach Katie Benz said.
The Zags had to wait even longer to play, as Morrison Stadium’s surrounding area experienced lightning strikes that delayed the start of the match by an hour and five minutes. And when things finally got going, Gonzaga dealt with that aforementioned emotional adversity within the opening 10 minutes.
On back-to-back days in early August, the Gonzaga Bulldogs received commitments from two 5-in-5 players, Dayton transfer Javon Bennett and Florida State transfer Chauncey Wiggins.
However, a couple of weeks after Bennett committed to the Zags, the Tenth Circuit granted the NCAA’s stay request in an Ohio case that included Bennett, deeming him ineligible to return to college basketball. The same has now happened to Wiggins, who is part of a Georgia lawsuit that recently had its preliminary injunction stayed by the state’s Court of Appeals, also making Wiggins temporarily ineligible.
With the personnel losses GU has endured this offseason, Wiggins and Bennett are expected to play pivotal roles on the roster as the Bulldogs’ starting small forward and backup point guard, respectively. But a long eligibility waiting game for these two and other Gonzaga commits lingers, as a definitive resolution for older players in college basketball has still not been identified.
As a final tune-up before her sophomore season in Spokane, Gonzaga women’s basketball forward Lauren Whittaker recently participated in the Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament for her home country, New Zealand.
This qualifying round consisted of a series of games over a week-long span, hosted in Mexico. New Zealand was part of Group A, which also included Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, South Sudan, Senegal, and the Philippines. Whittaker got the opportunity to play alongside her sister, Charlotte, a 6-3 forward who played four seasons at Colorado, and against the Zags’ all-time leading scorer, Canadian Yvonne Ejim, who was named to the tournament’s “All-Star Five”.
Canada went 5-0, securing the only available spot to advance to the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in 2028. New Zealand fell to the Canadians in the semifinals, going 2-2 overall, but it was an encouraging stretch for Whittaker, who looks to build on her WCC Player of the Year performance last season.
Squaring off in another close match, Gonzaga women’s soccer (2-4-1) returned to Spokane for its home game in two weeks, taking on Wyoming (4-2) at Luger Field on Thursday.
The pendulum swung constantly throughout the 90 minutes, with both sides having ample opportunities to score, but to no avail for the first 75 minutes. But similar to the Zags’ last game on Sunday against Seattle U, the game-winner came in heartbreaking fashion, as an own goal was GU’s undoing in the 1-0 defeat.
It was otherwise a banner night for both defenses and goalkeepers, who resisted persistent attacks from opposing strikers and forwards for nearly the entire match. That’s what makes this another tough result for Gonzaga, which dropped its second straight game.
Neither team had trouble pushing the ball into the attacking third, but the backlines buckled down as more players clustered around the net, and there were some tremendous saves throughout. Zags keeper Sydney Head put together the best game of her career, with the lone goal on her ledger being a similar set piece that has recently plagued GU’s defense. Head collected five saves, including a couple of athletic parries, playing well enough to notch her first career shoutout. Cowboys’ keeper Haley Bartel, on the other hand, logged her 21st career shutout, saving seven of the Bulldogs’ shots.
In an offseason full of unexpected departures in Spokane, the Gonzaga Bulldogs’ coaching staff became down a man late in the summer.
Jorge Sanz, who had been on the Zags’ coaching staff for the last eight seasons, took a position at UNC under first-year head coach Michael Malone. As GU’s former director of basketball operations, Sanz leaving for North Carolina is about as tough a loss for the program off the court.
Although the ‘DOBO’ role is still vacant for Gonzaga, it recently restocked to five assistant coaches under Mark Few. The Bulldogs added Bryce Douglas to its sideline staff, who most recently spent three seasons at Seattle University.
While Sanz specialized in building GU’s nonconference schedule and recruiting, particularly internationally, Douglas’ background is rooted in analytics. He has 15 years of combined experience at the professional and collegiate levels, while also dabbling in the international circuit.
Joining a staff that includes Brian Michaelson, R-Jay Barsh, Stephen Gentry, and Zach Norvell Jr., Douglas brings a different approach to analytics than what was previously in the building, filling a hole already in the coaching room rather than directly replacing Sanz. And with the inevitable retirement of Few on the horizon, Douglas was a hire likely co-signed by Michaelson, Gonzaga’s head coach-in-waiting.
Wrapping up a three-game road trip against a former WCC foe, Gonzaga women’s soccer (2-3-1) nearly escaped the stretch away from Luger Field without suffering a loss. But in a match that could’ve gone either way, it was Seattle U (3-1-2) that pulled away in the end, besting the Zags 3-2 with a late goal.
There were a couple of missed opportunities for GU offensively, but it will likely be kicking itself on the defensive lapses that led to all three Redhawk goals. Two of Seattle U’s scores came courtesy of set pieces, and the game-winner was notched after a bad gamble on the Bulldogs’ backline.
Weathering the storm overall since its last home game, Gonzaga logged a 3-1 win at New Mexico before drawing with No. 11 Washington 1-1. This latest result, however, leaves a bad taste in the team’s mouth after being so buttoned up in their two previous contests.
The Zags dominated the pace during the first 10 minutes of play, generating three corner kicks in that span. On that final CK, Amelia Severn crossed the ball from the left side to the front post, where freshman midfielder Sienna Jenson was positioned. Jenson attempted a header, and Redhawks keeper Rachael Remnet made a great initial play, stretching to get a hand on the ball for the save. But the ricochet rolled right to sophomore forward Kalia Franklin, who tapped it in for her first collegiate goal and an early GU 1-0 advantage.
For about 20 hours, the Gonzaga Bulldogs had all 15 roster spots filled for the 2026-27 season after receiving a commitment from Xaivian Lee. But the Zags have to secure at least one more player before their regular-season opener against Purdue on Nov. 2.
Skylar Wicks, who committed to GU in June, is decommitting from the program and reopening his recruitment, per 247Sports’ Dushawn London. The 26-year-old spent last season at Saint Francis and was slated to make Spokane his sixth different stop in the last seven years. However, Lee joining the Bulldogs’ backcourt would’ve directly impacted his minutes, and the 6-6 guard has apparently decided to play his last collegiate season elsewhere.
This isn’t a total surprise, and during one of the most chaotic offseasons in program history, Gonzaga is familiar with needing to act accordingly in addressing its personnel.
Getting a definitive answer at point guard, the Gonzaga Bulldogs received a commitment from fifth-year transfer Xaivian Lee this week. Emerald City Spectrum reporter Howard Woodard discusses how Lee's arrival in Spokane impacts the Zags for the 2026-27 season.
At long last, with just over two months until their first regular season game, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have received a full roster’s worth of commitments for the 2026-27 season.
On Wednesday night, Florida transfer Xaivian Lee announced his commitment to the Zags and is slated to be the team’s starting point guard for his fifth collegiate season. The 6-3 Canadian is currently eligible after joining a California lawsuit – which also included another GU point guard target, Donovan Dent – and being granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA.
Like another fifth-year Bulldogs backcourt commit, Javon Bennett, Lee could become ineligible for a period if the NCAA stays the California case. But for now, he is headed to Spokane.
After their longest break between regular-season games, Gonzaga women’s soccer (3-4-1) responded admirably after two straight losses. Playing arguably their most complete match yet, the Zags handed Creighton (3-3-1) a 3-0 defeat in Omaha to notch their first win in three weeks. It was the first career shutout for junior goalkeeper Sydney Head, who had come close to achieving that feat several times this year. Earning the nod as GU’s starter in net, Head has improved over the team’s first eight games and made two saves during the victory.
Tasked with a difficult nonconference schedule, the Bulldogs have battled adversity early in the year, specifically on crazy in-game swings. It was a point of emphasis during Gonzaga’s nine-day break since its last match, and it was particularly significant early in this victory, knocking off a hot Bluejays squad.
“Being able to respond from big moments…and give each other energy from those defensive efforts is something we build our momentum from, and we did just that,” head coach Katie Benz said.
The Zags had to wait even longer to play, as Morrison Stadium’s surrounding area experienced lightning strikes that delayed the start of the match by an hour and five minutes. And when things finally got going, Gonzaga dealt with that aforementioned emotional adversity within the opening 10 minutes.