TCU women’s basketball is eager to tip off on Saturday for the first game of the season.
Head coach Raegan Pebley said the women are excited to get the season going, especially the five freshmen.
“This is gonna be the first time they really put on a uniform, and they’ve been dreaming about this moment for a long time as little girls,” Pebley said. “They are so proud to be a part of the TCU family and have watched football, soccer, volleyball wear those uniforms, and they want to go put it on and have those bright lights as well.”
The team has eight freshmen and sophomores this year.
“We are young, and so sometimes it’s like herding cats,” Pebley said. “But they’re coachable, work really hard, bring great energy, great effort and I love how they compete in practice.”
Pebley said the team believes in horizontal leadership where every single team member has the opportunity and responsibility to lead.
“Whether you’re a freshman who has never played in a game yet or a returning former starter for us, you’re gonna need to lead this program,” Pebley said. “And lead in a way that really helps influence others to get to be their best self.”
Pebley said they are building the identity of freshman guard Amber Ramirez, the McDonald’s All-American from San Antonio. Pebley said she wants to focus on more than Ramirez’s shooting and scoring.
“Really build that confidence in what she can do in creating shots for her teammates and then also on the defensive end,” Pebley said.
In Tuesday’s press conference, Pebley also discussed the Big 12 women’s basketball conference.
“It’s arguably the best women’s basketball conference in the country,” Pebley said.
Pebley backed up her statement by discussing that every single team in the conference improved.
“With Dallas hosting the women’s final four and with absolutely the depth and talent of this conference, we’re hoping as a league, at least one team is in that final four,” Pebley said.
Pebley ended the press conference sharing her dedication to creating an atmosphere in Fort Worth for men’s and women’s basketball.
“I’m a big believer that what’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” Pebley said. “We want to see all of our programs win because it becomes a contagious thing that people start to associate TCU not with just great baseball, great tennis, great volleyball and great football, but also great basketball.”
TCU tips off against Texas A&M Commerce at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Ed & Rae Schollmaier Arena.
