WSU Women's Basketball Plays Idaho in Monday Home Opener

Washington State Returns to Pullman for Monday Showdown with Idaho

The Washington State women’s basketball team is set to open its home schedule at Bealey Coliseum this Monday, November 9, as they host the University of Idaho.

Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m., with the broadcast available on Pac-12 YouTube featuring Trevor Williams and Gwen Begley. For the Cougars, this matchup represents a chance to reset after a challenging 0-2 start against a pair of formidable non-conference opponents.

Despite the winless record, the team’s statistical profile suggests a group that is disciplined under pressure. According to data provided by WSU Cougar Athletics, the Cougars currently rank 47th nationally in turnovers per game, averaging just 11.5, and 56th in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.43. This ability to protect the basketball will be a focal point as they look to capitalize on home-court familiarity.

A Statistical Look at the 2026-27 Roster

Senior guard Eleonora Villa has emerged as an early-season catalyst, anchoring the offense with career-best production. Villa enters Monday’s game averaging 21.0 points and 5.0 assists per game, while connecting on 48.4 percent of her field goal attempts. Her impact extends beyond the box score; she is rapidly ascending the program’s all-time record books.

WSU Women's Basketball Plays Idaho in Monday Home Opener

Villa currently sits at 1,529 career points, placing her seventh all-time in program history. She is within striking distance of the sixth spot, which requires 1,541 points. Her pursuit of milestones is a central theme for the team this season, as she nears 150 career made three-pointers and 100 career steals.

Defensively, Alex Covill has provided a strong interior presence. Covill’s 4.5 blocks per game rank 90th nationally and third within the Pac-12. Her individual performance, including five total blocks, places her 20th in the nation in that category. With 157 career blocks, she stands just one shy of moving into third place in Washington State history.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Washington State vs. Idaho | November 9, 2026

Washington State Leads the Series Despite Recent Vandal Wins

Monday’s game marks the 44th meeting in the series between the two schools. While Washington State holds a commanding 29-14 lead in the all-time series, recent history has tilted in favor of the Vandals, who have secured victories in the last two encounters. The Cougars’ last win in this series occurred on February 25, 2024, in a 71-61 result in Pullman.

The 2026-27 Cougars roster is notably diverse, featuring 12 players from nine different countries. This international composition ties for the second-most among all NCAA Division I women’s basketball programs, reflecting a global recruitment strategy that has become a hallmark of the team’s identity.

The team’s ability to maintain offensive rhythm is also a point of pride, as the program has successfully recorded at least one three-point field goal in 197 games, a streak stretching back to February 2020.

Looking Ahead at the Home Stretch

The upcoming game begins a critical home stretch for the Cougars. Following the contest against Idaho, the team will remain in Pullman to host Southern Utah on Friday, November 13, at 6 p.m. The schedule intensifies shortly after with a game against Washington on Tuesday, November 17, at 7:30 p.m.

As the team prepares for these upcoming tests, fans are encouraged to secure tickets through the official WSU Athletics website or by contacting the ticket office directly. For a program picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12 preseason poll, the upcoming week of home games will be a primary indicator of their trajectory as they move deeper into the season.