ZAGS UNITED
GONZAGA ATHLETICS 2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR REFLECTIONS
As we look ahead to the future of Gonzaga Athletics, we do so with optimism, energy, and an unwavering commitment to our values. These are transformative times in collegiate athletics—an era of change that presents exciting new possibilities for our student-athletes, programs, and university community.
The recent resolution of the NCAA House settlement marks a historic turning point in our industry. While it will bring structural changes to the collegiate model, we believe this moment also reflects stability. At Gonzaga, we are approaching this new chapter with purpose and preparation, confident in our ability to adapt while staying true to our mission.
We remain proud supporters of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for our studentathletes. This movement has allowed them to express themselves, develop their personal brands, and engage with the community in innovative ways. We align with the Zags Collective to ensure our studentathletes are positioned to succeed on and off the field of competition.
Gonzaga Athletics continues to prioritize the holistic support of our student-athletes through enhanced benefits and services, expanded scholarship protections, and elevated standards aligned with NCAA expectations. This includes expanded healthcare, mental health support, academic services, career counseling, and more—efforts that have long been part of GU’s commitment to student-athlete success.
I am also excited to share that Gonzaga University will officially join the Pac-12 Conference in July 2026. This monumental step elevates our national profile, provides new platforms for competition and exposure, and honors the extraordinary achievements that have defined Gonzaga Athletics for decades. We are proud to bring our tradition of excellence, our studentfirst ethos, and our relentless Zag spirit to one of the nation’s most storied conferences.
While much is changing, our core purpose remains steadfast: to educate and develop the whole person—intellectually, physically, and spiritually—through sport. As we embrace new rules, new structures,
and new opportunities, we do so with the same dedication to academic achievement, leadership, and service that has long been the hallmark of Gonzaga University.
We celebrated record-breaking achievements in the classroom.
Gonzaga student-athletes earned a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 96 percent and Academic Progress Rate of 992 (out of 1000), the two NCAA metrics for academic success.
In the community, student-athletes from all teams combined for 3,152 community outreach hours. For these efforts and for the seventh straight year, Gonzaga led the way in the West Coast Conference with 250 Zags named to the WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
average, marking the 19th consecutive semester with a departmental GPA above a 3.30 and 11th above a 3.45. We had 110 student-athletes earn President’s List Honors (3.85 semester GPA or higher), which ranks second all-time, and 93 earn Dean’s List Honors (3.5-3.84 semester GPA), for a total of 203 honorees. Additionally, 44 Bulldog student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 GPA, matching the fall semester departmental record.
It was another impressive year on the field, track, water, court, and course for the Zags. After winning their 22nd West Coast Conference Tournament title, our men’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 26th straight time. Women’s basketball won their 20th WCC regular season title. After defending her conference crown, Rosina Machu led women’s cross country to their first league title since 2015. Women’s cross country head coach Jake Stewart was named the conference’s Coach of the Year after the historic finish. In men’s cross country, Wil Smith concluded his illustrious career with five NCAA Cross Country Championships appearances as the program’s 8K and 10K record holder. These are just some of the countless memories that made this year unforgettable.
During the spring semester, GU student-athletes combined to post a department 3.49 grade-point
These accomplishments underscore GU’s commitment to fostering academic excellence among its studentathletes, reflecting a balanced emphasis on both athletic and scholarly pursuits.
All these successes would not happen without you. To our incredible supporters—thank you. During these dynamic times, your belief in this university and your investment in our future make everything possible. We are blessed with one of the most passionate and loyal fanbases in all of college athletics, and we do not take your support for granted. The strength of the Zag community continues to inspire us, and we are deeply grateful for the role you play in shaping our journey.
The path forward is bright. Together, we will continue to achieve, to evolve, and to lead.
Go Zags!
Chris Standiford
GONZAGA JOINS THE PAC-12, USHERS IN A NEW ERA
In a move that cements Gonzaga’s place among the nation’s athletic elite, the university officially accepted an invitation on Oct. 1, 2024, to join the prestigious Pac-12 Conference, beginning July 1, 2026. This monumental step forward marks the end of a storied chapter in the West Coast Conference and the start of an exhilarating new journey for Zag Nation.
For more than 40 years, Gonzaga has built a legacy of excellence in the WCC. Now, by joining the reimagined Pac-12, Gonzaga is poised to bring its championshipcaliber programs to a bigger stage, against premier competition, with increased national visibility.
At a press conference announcing the decision, GU Athletic Director Chris Standiford said, “This is the right time, and the right opportunity. Joining the Pac12 reflects Gonzaga’s ambition and growth, and aligns perfectly with our vision for the future.” University President Thayne McCulloh echoed the excitement, calling the move a strategic and mission-driven decision that will expand both athletic and academic horizons.
Gonzaga will join a dynamic new lineup of Pac12 institutions, including Boise State University, Colorado State University, Fresno State, Oregon State University, San Diego State University, Utah State University, and Washington State University. While Gonzaga hasn’t fielded a football team in decades, its elite basketball pedigree is set to elevate the Pac-12’s national reputation, adding unmatched intensity and energy to the conference.
Zag fans can look forward to one more year in the WCC before the university officially begins Pac-12 competition in the 2026–27 season. This move is more than a conference change—it’s a bold stride into a future filled with promise, pride, and possibility.
The stage is bigger. The lights are brighter. And the Zags are ready.
Standiford presenting Pink Game Ball to Jon Neill: Community Cancer Fund
Women’s Basketball
A SEASON OF GRIT, GLORY, AND GRACE
The 2024–25 season of Gonzaga Women’s Basketball was one that saw resiliency, greatness and another title championship for the Bulldogs. The Zags were led by head coach Lisa Fortier, who courageously battled and overcame breast cancer in the offseason. Along with the individual success of senior forward Yvonne Ejim, the Bulldogs achieved significant milestones, including clinching the West Coast Conference championship and making a deep run in the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT).
Gonzaga had another tough non-conference schedule that battle-tested the Zags for the conference portion of the schedule. The Bulldogs had five wins going into WCC play, including a big performance from Yvonne Ejim at New Mexico with a stat line of 26 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists.
The Zags went on a 14-game winning streak in the middle of conference play to finish first in the WCC with a 17-3 conference record. Gonzaga had crucial wins over Portland and Washington State to claim its 20th WCC regular season title. One of those games against the Cougs went into overtime that GU won 73-69. Three Zags scored in double figures, including Yvonne Ejim’s 16 points and 17 rebounds. Allie Turner was right behind her with 15 and Bree Salenbien had her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The regular season champs earned the #1 seed in the WCC Tournament, but the Bulldogs came up just short in the semifinals game against Oregon State. Gonzaga bounced back quickly, as they were given the automatic qualifier spot to the WBIT and hosted UTSA in the first round.
Freshman of the Year
Allie Turner made a huge impact right from the start in a Gonzaga uniform. The freshman from St. Louis broke the single season record in made three-pointers as she finished the season with 105. She is one of two players to ever score over 100 threes in a single season at Gonzaga, joining
just Dan Dickau. After an impressive regular season, Turner was named the WCC Freshman of the Year and given All-WCC First Team honors. She was the first true freshman to receive the honors since Courtney Vandersloot.
Season of Success
With a season that saw highs and
lows and a lot of injuries, the Zags still had success and learned so much in the process. Fortier was named the WCC Coach of the Year for the thirdstraight year and seventh overall. Ejim, who had such a memorable season, was named the WCC Player and Defensive Player of the Year for the second-straight season as well.
The Zags were a #4 seed in the tournament and won the first round, 67-51.
In the second round of the WBIT, Gonzaga traveled to Boulder, Colo., to play the #1 seed Colorado. The Bulldogs pulled off the upset and defeated Colorado, 64-55. Yvonne Ejim and Allie Turner led the Bulldogs with 15 points each. Ejim posted her 14th double-double of the season by grabbing 10 rebounds.
Gonzaga advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament to play at Minnesota and had a hard battled game go into overtime, where eventual-champs Minnesota just barely edged the Zags. Ejim finished her historic time in a Gonzaga uniform with 27 points and 15 rebounds against the Gophers.
PINK GAME
The annual Pink Game at Gonzaga is always special to the community, but this year was an extra significant part of the season, as the team and Spokane were able to honor head coach Lisa Fortier. The Zags defeated LMU in the game, 69-57, as coaches from around the league sent in messages to honor Fortier and her feat against breast cancer. The team debuted shirts bearing her name to surprise her and multiple checks were donated in her honor.
YVONNE EJIM
is a name that will be forever etched into Gonzaga history as she leaves GU as one of the most decorated and dominant players in program history.
In her last season as a Zag, Ejim broke almost every record possible and was a key role in the success of the team this past season for Gonzaga.
A Historic Career
Ejim’s collegiate career is stacked with individual honors. She was named WCC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in both 2024 and 2025, a rare back-to-back double sweep. She also earned AllWCC First Team honors for threestraight seasons (2023–2025) after making the Second Team and AllFreshman Team in 2022 and 2021, respectively. Her breakout in 2022 also earned her WCC Sixth Woman of the Year, which showcased her help off the bench for the Zags.
Nationally, Ejim was recognized as an AP All-American Honorable Mention twice, and in 2024 she was awarded the Becky Hammon Player of the Year, given to the nation’s top mid-major player. She was a Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year finalist twice and was the first player in women’s basketball history to be named an Academic All-American not only once, but twice.
THE EJIM ERA
During the offseason, Ejim was named an Olympian for Team Canada in 2024. She was one of 12 players selected to compete in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics. It was Canada’s eighth appearance in the Olympics as Ejim helped the team qualify in the previous round.
Records = Broken
Ejim literally rewrote the history books this past year by breaking almost every record possible in a Gonzaga career.
On Jan. 18 at LMU, Ejim grabbed her 984th rebound to become the new leader in career rebounds at Gonzaga. She passed Kay Koppelman’s record of 983 rebounds set from 1987-91.
Bowman, so it is just great to be up there with some amazing people who have come before me in this program.”
I HOPE THAT MY PATH RIGHT NOW JUST BUILDS A NEW LEGACY FOR PLAYERS TO COME. “ ”
She capped off her career by scoring 27 points in her final game to break the single season scoring record of 726 points. This was also in addition to two other single season records including 325 rebounds and 286 field goals.
Against San Diego on Jan. 30, Ejim made history yet again by grabbing her 1,000th rebound. She became the first player in WCC and Gonzaga history to score 2,000 career points and record 1,000 rebounds.
On the road at Saint Mary’s on Feb. 6, Ejim reached another milestone in the second quarter as she eclipsed 2,166 points to become the new scoring leader in Gonzaga women’s basketball history.
“It is just really an amazing feeling to know that I did this for my team, for the school and for this program,” Ejim said after the game. “I am very excited and very happy I got to this accolade. I know a lot of people were rooting for me, especially Heather
WNBA draft looking ahead to the start of my professional career is a dream come true. I’m proud of myself and the people that have supported me, my family, friends, and my team. The work is only about to begin, and I am excited for what is to come next!”
Overall, she holds records for most career points in Gonzaga history (2,385) career rebounds (1,140), career field goals made (970) and highest career FG percentage (55.1%).
Continuing the Legacy
Even after her collegiate career has wrapped up, Ejim continued making history. She became the ninth player in Gonzaga history to be drafted by the WNBA, as the Indiana Fever took her in the third round with the 33rd overall pick.
“I couldn’t be more grateful to my teammates and all my staff here at Gonzaga for putting me in the position I am at today,” Ejim said. “To say that I would be able to be in the
She became the 11th player from the Zags to sign with an WNBA team. She joins former Zags Courtney Vandersloot, Vivian Frieson, Kayla Standish, Katelan Redmon, Haiden Palmer, Jill Barta, Kaylynne Truong and Brynna Maxwell as players who have been drafted into the WNBA. This is the second-straight season that GU has had at least one player drafted in the WNBA.
“Yvonne is ready for a career in the WNBA,” head coach Lisa Fortier said. “It’s not hard to see when you look at her stats, film, and the way she has performed head-to-head with other quality payers, that she is going to thrive at the next level. She is a worker and knows how to receive coaching and apply it to the game. She is a 3-level scorer, who can guard every position on the court. I can’t wait to cheer for her on the Fever.”
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Gonzaga placed third in the final West Coast Conference standings, winning its last three contests. The Zags ended the regular season winning five out of their last six. GU was unbeaten in six of its last seven, with the lone loss at then-ranked No. 10 Santa Clara, 2-1.
VOLLEYBALL
Gonzaga broke the program’s rally-scoring team record with 16 service aces against San Diego State, breaking the record for the second time within a span of six days.
The Zags topped No. 9 ranked Seattle, 2-1, for their first ranked win since 2019 and the first top 10 win since 2007.
MEN’S SOCCER 7
MEN’S TRACK
Qualified at least three athletes to the NCAA West Preliminaries for the seventh consecutive season.
The Bulldogs placed second as a team at the West Coast Conference Championships.
MEN’S TENNIS
Jay Fairclough and Giovanni Branchetti paired up to take down No. 13 UC Berkeley 8-3, advancing to the doubles semifinals of the ITA Northwest Regional Championships.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
The team earned a berth into the WCC Tournament for the first time since 2019 as the five seed.
WOMEN’S ROWING
The Gonzaga women’s rowing team won the Fawley Cup against Washington State for the first time in 10 years. GU finished the race in 6:35.75 with a seven second margin of victory over Washington State, 6:41.12.
BASEBALL
Eight Bulldogs earned All-WCC accolades, led by Mikey Bell’s Player of the Year honor, marking the second-most WCC nods in program history.
MEN’S GOLF
Gonzaga’s 291.44 team season scoring average ranks second alltime in program history.
2
MEN’S ROWING
Two boats qualified for the IRA National Championships for the Bulldogs. The 1V8 earned the AQ after placing in the top six at the MPSF Championships, which also qualified the 2V8 crew.
1
WOMEN’S GOLF
Grace Lee placed first at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational at 11-under (205) in the event. Her 205 tournament total is the second-lowest all-time at GU, only behind her own school record of 200 at the 2023 Coeur d’Alene Collegiate Invitational. Her second round 66 (-6) matched the third-lowest round in program history.
MILES OF MILESTONES
Women’s Cross Country & Track
Gonzaga Women’s Cross Country returned to the top of the West Coast Conference last fall, capturing their first team title since 2015 at the championship race in Lodi, California. Two weeks later, the Bulldogs matched a program-best fourth place finish at the NCAA West Regionals and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships in Madison, Wisconsin, marking their first nationals team berth since that same 2015 season.
Amidst yet another historical season under Head Coach Jake Stewart, the GU women climbed to their highest-ever national ranking on October 22 at No. 16. For the first time in program history, Gonzaga was ranked in each of last season’s national polls before a 25th place finish at the NCAA Championships.
The Zags opened the 2024 season with back-to-back wins at the nearby Clash of the Inland Northwest in Cheney and the Cougar Classic in Colfax, led by eventual All-WCC finishers Jade Rypkema and Logan Hofstee. Rypkema commanded the season-opener in Cheney with her first collegiate win, while Hofstee placed second in her Gonzaga debut two weeks later.
With a pair of wins under their belt, Stewart’s squad faced their first national test at the Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison, Wisconsin, where many of the country’s top teams competed on the course that would later host the national championship meet in November. Reigning WCC Individual Champion and Runner of the Year Rosina Machu made her season debut, placing third and leading the Bulldogs to a program-high seventh place team finish.
Gonzaga picked up their third team win at the Whitman Invitational in Walla Walla, led by two more members of the WCC Championship ten. Anna Grabowski earned her first collegiate win and Kate Donaldson placed second as the Bulldogs continued to heat up with the postseason just one month away.
Looking to make another statement at the national level, the 18th-ranked Zag women headed south to the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station, Texas. They did just that, winning their fourth team title of the season against another tough field of competitors. Machu placed fourth individually to lead the Bulldogs, while Willow Collins finished in the top ten in just her second-ever collegiate cross country race.
After their win in College Station, Gonzaga jumped up two more spots in the national poll to No. 16, their second consecutive week achieving a new program high. Machu was
named West Coast Conference Runner of the Week for the second time as the Bulldogs reached the final stretch before the West Coast Conference Championships.
Gonzaga wrapped their regular season at the Inland Empire Classic in Lewiston, Idaho and the Sasquatch Invite at the Spokane Polo Club, placing fifth in the former before winning team title No. 5 at the Sasquatch Invite. Ireland Robertson led the way at the Polo Club, running a course record in her final meet as the Zags turned to the postseason where they hoped to carry that momentum and reclaim the conference crown.
The West Coast Conference title would not be easy to capture, especially with a tough field that included the reigning team champion
in Portland and new conference foes Washington State and Oregon State, who were picked third and fourth in the preseason coaches’ poll in their inaugural WCC season.
Gonzaga left no doubt, leading wireto-wire as they defeated the field with their lowest team total since 1995, tallying 35 points and topping Portland by a 14-point margin. Each of the Bulldogs’ first five scorers finished in the Top 15 to earn AllWest Coast Conference honors.
Machu’s performance in Lodi felt quite similar to her win in 2023, leading throughout the race’s entirety and winning by 18 seconds after a 24-second win one year prior. With it, she became just the thirdever back-to-back women’s WCC champion and first repeat winner since 2011.
Building off early-season success, Hofstee placed fifth, Collins placed seventh, and Jessica Frydenlund placed eighth as four Bulldogs earned First Team All-West Coast Conference, the most such honors for the GU women since 2000. Rypkema’s 14th-place, Second Team All-WCC finish sealed the win as the number five scorer, while Alexi Fogo, Grabowski, Donaldson, Sadie Tuckwood, and Keira Saavedra rounded out the Gonzaga ten with each athlete cracking the Top 50.
Their historic season wasn’t finished yet, as the Zag women returned to the Colfax Golf Club for the NCAA West Regionals hoping to punch their team’s ticket to nationals for the first time in ten years. The 21stranked Bulldogs faced a tough field in No. 2 Oregon, No. 3 Washington, and No. 12 Stanford, with only the
top two teams earning automatic bids to the NCAA Championships. Despite a fourth-place team finish, Gonzaga was granted an at-large bid, extending their season to the final weekend with a return to Madison on deck.
Eight days later, GU placed 25th at the NCAA Championships, matching their program high from 2015. The team earned two major West Coast Conference honors after the postseason concluded. Stewart was named WCC Coach of the Year for the first time in his seven years at the helm of the GU women’s running program, and Machu was voted WCC Women’s Runner of the Year for the second consecutive season, closing the book on her incredible cross country career for the Bulldogs.
More History on the Track
The Gonzaga women shifted to the indoor and outdoor track seasons, looking to make some more program history on the oval. Qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Championships proves to be a tough task each year,
as the Bulldogs fell just short in their bid for their first-ever Top-16 qualifier. However, history would await Machu and Hofstee later in the outdoor season at the NCAA West Preliminaries.
Prior to the 2024 season, only one Zag woman had ever qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, but none had ever made a National Final race. Machu became the first to do so, placing 15th in the 10,000-meter final last spring to earn a Second Team All-American honor.
Now in 2025, Machu looked to return to the NCAA Championships and the 10K final race. The junior placed third for the second straight season to punch her ticket to Eugene, but this time she wasn’t alone. Hofstee rattled off an 11th place finish to punch her own ticket as she became the first freshman in Gonzaga history to move past the preliminary round. No two GU athletes had ever qualified for the NCAA
Championships in the same event prior to Machu and Hofstee, and no two Zag women had ever qualified for the final weekend in the same season until this spring.
In the highly anticipated and competitive 10,000-meter final, Machu placed seventh to earn a First Team All-American nod, the third of her GU running career and second on the track. Behind her, Hofstee
placed 21st to become the first freshman All-American for Gonzaga track, capping one of the most successful seasons in the program’s 38-year history.
In total, the Zag women ran 15 record-breaking times throughout the 2024-25 track season, notching 64 different top-ten list entries across 15 indoor and outdoor events. They will now turn their attention back to cross country, where they’ll look to defend the WCC crown as the conference championship race returns to Spokane on November 1st this fall.
THE SMITH STANDARD
Wil Smith’s Legendary Gonzaga Career Comes to a Close
On Feb. 24, 2021, Wil Smith made his Gonzaga running debut in an unprecedented year for GU cross country, whose season-opening race was the West Coast Conference Championships in Las Vegas. His 11th place finish slated him as the third scorer for the Bulldogs, with his 23:46.7 jumping into the top five all-time in program history. In just one race in a Gonzaga uniform, a historic five-year career began for the Spokane product.
After winning the individual state title and leading Lewis & Clark cross country to a third-place team finish his senior year, Smith chose to stay in Spokane where he would help lead the Bulldogs to their first four NCAA Cross Country Championships while etching his name in the Gonzaga cross country and track record books.
“Wil goes down as one of the finest athletes, in any sport, in Gonzaga University history,” Tyson said of Smith. “Among his many accolades as a competitor, he’s a Spokane boy who did everything he could to be the best individual and teammate. Wil’s a tough, gritty performer, and one that gives 100% in all his efforts, including his lifestyle.”
In five years at GU, Smith competed in ten different events across three seasons of racing, engraving each of his personal bests no lower than third among the program top ten lists while setting the top mark in five of those events. He became the first Zag to appear in five consecutive NCAA Cross Country Championships, adding four First Team and one Second Team All-WCC finishes, and Four All-West Region finishes, with 5000-meter All-American honors in each of his final two seasons on the track.
Smith’s name will remain in Gonzaga lore with many firsts, notably the first Zag and Spokane-native to break four minutes in the mile before doing it two more times by his career’s end.
“Wil loved competing in Spokane, and we will miss him greatly. His leadership and legacy will positively impact this program for many years to come.”
ANOTHER MARCH TO MARCH
The clock hit zero. Confetti fell. Gonzaga lifted the trophy.
It was a familiar, but very welcomed, scene at the Orleans Arena following another West Coast Conference Tournament title for the Zags on March 11.
The smiles, tears, and exhales were felt across Bulldog nation as the outcome solidified the program’s 27th straight berth into the NCAA Tournament.
The joy was closely matched to the feeling from opening night, inside a packed house at the Spokane Arena
Gonzaga would then close the nonconference slate winning four of eight, with the losses by a combined 18 points and two in overtime. The Bulldogs opened WCC play by winning their first five league games by an average of 18 points.
In a 107-55 victory over Pepperdine in Spokane on Feb. 15, the Zags broke the single game assist program record. GU dished out 33 assists, to just six turnovers, in the rout win.
This season’s Bulldog squad was a record-breaking unselfish group.
Gonzaga’s 691 team assists led the nation, were a new program record, and ranked second in West Coast Conference history. The Zags broke the WCC assist record during league play. GU also led the country in assist-to-turnover ratio.
on Nov. 4. A top-10 battle between No. 6 Gonzaga and No. 8 Baylor was a featured game not only of opening night, but the first week of the college basketball season. And it was all Zags from the start of the latenight tip-off.
Gonzaga led the Bears by 19 at halftime and went on a 24-4 run in the second half to run away with the 101-63 win. It was Gonzaga’s biggest margin of victory over a Top-10 opponent in school history, the largest by any team in a season opener against a Top-10 opponent in AP Poll history, and the largest win by any team against an AP Top10 opponent since Villanova beat Oklahoma by 44 in the 2016 National Semifinal.
The Zags then reeled off four straight wins, including victories over Arizona State and at San Diego State. Following the strong start to the season, GU rose to No. 3 in the national polls.
Much like the 2023-24 season, Gonzaga entered the final week of conference play in need of two road wins to improve its postseason outlook. The Bulldogs cruised to a 95-76 win at Santa Clara and eased to a 95-75 victory over San Francisco inside the Chase Center to close the regular season.
After beating USF for the fourth straight season in the conference tournament semifinals, the Zags advanced to their NCAA-record 28th straight conference tournament final.
Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s met once again in the league’s championship game. It marked the 29th matchup between the rivals over the last 10 years, which leads the nation.
The Zags never trailed the 15thranked Gaels, who entered on an eight-game win streak, and held
SMC to 38 percent shooting from the field in a 58-51 victory. GU’s 22nd WCC Tournament title didn’t always seem like a certainty during the season, and another trip to the NCAA Tournament led to another party in Las Vegas for Bulldog fans.
In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Gonzaga rolled to an impressive 89-68 win over Georgia in Wichita, Kan. The Zags jumped out to a 27-3 lead to start the game and put the nation on notice. GU is now the only program to win its openinground NCAA Tournament game each of the last 16 tournaments.
The Bulldogs would then battle with second-ranked and eventual national runner-up, Houston, in the second round. Gonzaga remained close with the Cougars and answered every
time they would try to pull away. The Bulldogs trailed 76-67 with just over two minutes to go but went on a late rally to cut the score to 77-76 with 21 seconds remaining. Houston would get a late stop and make freethrows to win 81-76.
“It’s not just winning the game,” Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson said. “It’s beating a great program like Gonzaga. Gonzaga is as good as anyone we’ve played all year. Had they been seeded somewhere else, that’s a team that could have had a chance to get to the Elite Eight, or
maybe the Final Four. They’re that good.”
Given that no program has won more games than Gonzaga and Houston over the past eight seasons, it seemed as if their second-round matchup in the Midwest Region would have been better suited for the second weekend. Or even the Final Four, where the Bulldogs and Cougars were on opposite sides of the bracket in 2021.
Against the nation’s top defense, the Zags finished shooting 50 percent
from the field, including 9-of-20 from behind-the-arc. GU was 60.9 percent from the field in the second half, making 6-of-9 from three-point range. The Bulldogs were a perfect 15-for-15 from the free-throw line in the game.
Gonzaga finished the season shooting a program and WCC record 80.4 percent from the free-throw line, which also ranked second in the nation. The Zags were also second in the country in field goal percentage (50.1) and scoring (86.4 points per game).
344 SEASON ASSISTS
Gonzaga record / WCC record / 5th in NCAA History
16 ASSISTS
March 1, 2025 vs USF
Gonzaga record / WCC record
882
CAREER ASSISTS
22nd in NCAA History
9.8 ASSISTS PER GAME
1st in Gonzaga / 1st in WCC / 1st in the nation
181 CONFERENCE
SEASON ASSISTS
WCC record
60 SEASON STEALS
7th in program history FIRST TEAM ALL-WCC FIRST TEAM NABC ALL-DISTRICT
TOP 10: BOB COUSY POINT GUARD OF THE YEAR AWARD WOODEN AWARD WATCH LIST NAISMITH TROPHY WATCH LIST
RYAN NEMBHARD
One of One
Empowering Student-Athletes Through Holistic Wellness and Purpose
Through Zags360, Gonzaga Athletics continues to deepen its commitment to ACTIVATE student-athletes’ learning and growth, ACCOMPANY them in and out of competition, and empower them to ACHIEVE lifelong wellness. Zags360 is how Gonzaga Athletics lives out Gonzaga’s Jesuit, Catholic, and humanistic mission of the holistic formation and growth of each individual student-athlete. The focus of Zags360 this year has been in the spirit of magis, the “more.” This Jesuit concept is an invitation to find ways to continually and more deeply work for the greater good. It means recognizing what is already being done well, but also how to continue to improve and grow. Living the magis is a lesson Gonzaga seeks to impart to its students, and Gonzaga Athletics has sought to exercise and model a commitment to the magis by looking to improve and deepen the ways the health and wellness of student-athletes are supported.
One exercise of the magis in Zags360 this year has been the addition of a data-informed approach to wellness. While using data to continue assessing and looking for ways to improve current resources, staff have collaborated with partners
across campus to begin a pilot program with women’s basketball. This proof-of-concept involves collecting wellness data in the eight wellness areas of Zags360 (academic, physical, mental, community, social, career, financial, and spiritual) and then building a wellness dashboard to empower the athletes to make datainformed decisions to help improve their wellness.
so they can impact every community to which they belong. To learn more and to get involved with supporting Zags360, visit gozags.com/zags360.
Life After Sport
GOAL REACHED MATCH UNLOCKED: $250,000 RAISED FOR REISENAUER FAMILY
Zags360 also continues to experience success as a fundraising initiative. Fr. Tim Breen, SJ, incoming Zags360 program director, hosted several events alongside home and away men’s and women’s basketball games to share the mission and vision of Zags360 and engage Gonzaga’s loyal supporters. In addition to many gifts to the Endowment for StudentAthlete Health and Wellness, the Zags360 fund was created to support the data-oriented expansion of this initiative. This fund was initiated by the generosity of Dave and Cathleen Reisenauer, who also issued an additional $250,000 matching challenge, which was met in the spring semester. The Zags360 fund also served as the Gonzaga Athletics focus for Zags Give Day on March 6, which generated more than $11,000 over 24 hours.
Gonzaga Athletics is so grateful to the many benefactors who continue to support efforts to live the magis and better impact Zag student-athletes
A program that so well embodies Zags360’s approach to lasting holistic wellness is the Life After Sport workshops. In 2024-25 Gonzaga Athletics continued this series within its Life Skills curriculum. The development of these workshops was driven by student-athlete input with the aim of providing current and graduating Zags with resources and insight to serve them in their postcollegiate lives.
Fall programming was held in collaboration with Gonzaga’s Career and Professional Development Office and focused primarily on job search strategies and tactics uniquely well-suited to student-athletes entering the work force. Studentathletes learned how to connect with resources by leveraging technology during the job search and how to highlight their student-athlete experience through the interview process. Over 75 students attended the Life After Sport workshop in the fall.
In the spring semester, programming shifted to the mental, physical and personal well-being of studentathletes transitioning out of sport.
In February, over 100 studentathletes heard from a panel of Gonzaga Athletics alumni – Tianna Helm (WSOC), Drew Barham (MBB), Jack Pearce (MXC), Julie Smetana (WROW), Cam Nicklos (MGO) and Nick Brooks (BASE). The final Life After Sport workshop consisted of a panel of Gonzaga-affiliated health
professionals. This panel covered lifelong strategies and tips related to nutrition, women’s health, general health practices, mental health, and strength & conditioning.
PHYSICAL WELLNESS
Involves the maintenance of a healthy body, good physical health habits, good nutrition, exercise, and sleep, and obtaining appropriate health care.
Gonzaga understands the physical demands placed on student-athletes and provides comprehensive support to ensure their well-being. This includes activating their learning and growth through education, accompanying them in training, both in competition and non-competitive seasons, and accompanying them in making lasting impacts on their lives as they make choices for lifelong health, fulfillment, and self-advocacy.
Physical wellness has been a particular focus this year for the Zags360 data pilot. Recovery, especially sleep, has been a priority, with staff providing education and support to supplement studentathletes making use of sleep wearables to improve their sleep hygiene.
MENTAL WELLNESS
Involves the ability to understand, process, communicate and express emotions in productive ways to create self-growth.
Health & Wellness
This year student-athletes continued their connection with the WCC, working on continuing ways to grow Gonzaga’s health and wellness efforts for student-athletes and
coaches’ education. This included one of our own student-athletes, Amanda Triebensee (WROW), acting as a member of the WCC Mental Health committee.
In mental health under Zags360, Gonzaga Athletics’ Director of Student-Athlete Mental Health Services continued to provide direct services, as well as referrals to outside providers for studentathletes. Additionally, the mental health team has expanded to include master’s-level counseling interns who are available to provide support and services. EMI and the mental health team continued to expand the Girl Talk and We Talk program, aiming to have a meeting per month focused on relevant topics for student-athletes. They hope to continue to expand this space to encourage more attendance and continue discussions based on what the student-athletes feel they
Student-Athlete Welcome Back Kickball Event Max Coupe, Kai Francis, Josh Hankins (BSB)
Life After Sport Student-Athlete Alumni Panel
need in the moment. Additionally, our provider worked to update our Mental Health plan to match both NCAA and campus emergency mental health plans. This plan was discussed and dispersed to both student-athletes and coaches, with an additional follow up decision tree to help in the moment. Lastly, the mental health team worked to expand mental health knowledge by hosting two sessions of mental health first aid for coaches and staff, and additionally providing coach education that aligned with student-athlete education on the topics of suicide prevention, hazing prevention, alcohol and other drugs and healthy relationships.
S.A.A.C. Mental Health Movie Nights
S.A.A.C. provided two Mental Health Movie Nights, one in Fall semester and one in Spring semester. For the fall movie night student-athletes selected a documentary titled River Runner about a kayaker who sets out to become the first man to paddle the four great rivers that flow from Tibet’s sacred Mount Kailash. It highlighted mental health and identity among athletes. Following the showing, student-athletes had an opportunity to share their viewpoint and how it related to their sport. The spring movie night was Inside Out 2. It is a fun and lighthearted movie before finals week.
SOCIAL WELLNESS
Involves having a network of healthy relationships that provide connection, belonging, and meaningful mutual support.
Zag Community Building
S.A.A.C. prides itself in bringing together all Zags, helping them feel part of the family by providing community building events. They put together three events including a Welcome Back Kickball tournament, a Winter Formal, and a Spring Tailgater Bean-Bag-Toss tournament.
COMMUNITY WELLNESS
Involves connection to all that surrounds us. It includes being able to exist in spaces that are safe, healthy, and supportive and having a commitment to serving, maintaining, and bettering our microenvironment (where we live, learn, work, etc.) and our macroenvironment (the communities we belong to and the planet/environment/creation).
Community Outreach Highlights
Student-athletes have volunteered 3,152 hours in the community and continue their efforts. This year 98% of student-athletes have participated in community outreach events. Baseball served 600 hours in the community averaging over 14 hours per student-athlete. S.A.A.C. put on four Gonzaga community drives at the Women’s basketball game to help the local community. Studentathletes collected 1,187 items at the clothing drive and collected 3,599 items at the toiletries drive. At the final drive S.A.A.C. collected 5,592 items of healthy snacks.
Some of the other events studentathletes were involved in this year included Civic Engagement Day volunteering. Zags went to Garfield Elementary on Election Day to read
“I Voted” and talk about their college experience.
At our annual Trunk-or-Treat in the fall 160 student-athletes volunteered and provided almost 500 pounds of candy. Over 60 student-athletes volunteered at the S.A.A.C. Easter Egg Hunt on campus offering over 2,200 eggs to the local Spokane community.
Student-athletes also continued their efforts in supporting Gonzaga Family Haven. The Zags have been able to create a lasting partnership with the families that live there, consistently going and serving meals every Wednesday evening and doing arts and crafts. S.A.A.C., alongside Athletic Department staff, were also able to craft 72 Christmas Stockings filled with gas, grocery, and gifts cards for each family.
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (S.A.A.C.)
S.A.A.C. is comprised of representatives from each Gonzaga athletic team whose main purpose is to serve as a student-athlete voice regarding student-athlete welfare within Gonzaga’s Athletic Department, the WCC, and the NCAA. As role models, S.A.A.C. also strives to develop leaders through
Gonzaga’s long standing Catholic, Jesuit, and humanistic traditions by being firmly committed to service, opportunity, and social justice.
S.A.A.C. Social Justice Series
S.A.A.C. Social Justice Series continued in its fourth year as a subcommittee for S.A.A.C. Studentathletes continued in active conversations on intersectionality, belonging verses inclusion, and current events. Even more, S.A.A.C. Social Justice series actively participated in community events.
Trunk-or-Treat Event
WROW Student-Athletes
Board Elections
S.A.A.C. Officers 2024-25
(From Left to Right) Lauren Whittaker (WBB) & Myles Sandy (MSOC) - Media & Promotions Co-Chairs, Yvonne Ejim (WBB) & Lula Macey (WROW) - Diversity & Inclusion Co-Chairs, Katie Sierhuis (WROW) & Guillermo Polo Bodart (MGOLF) - Student-Athlete Wellness CoChairs, Darby Rickel (WGOLF) & Taylor Mularski (WGOLF) - Volunteer Co-Chairs, Lucy Coyle (WROW) - Secretary, Alexi Fogo (WXC/T) - President, Hannah Gray (WSOC) - Vice President.
In celebrating of Black History Month, student-athletes joined the Spokesman Review-Black Voices Symposium where high school students shared their poetry, prose, and art to showcase their personal experiences based on the theme of Powered by Courage. Studentathletes also attended the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Resource Fair. Student-athletes engaged in candid conversations about current topics through “Zags in the kNOW”. The SAAC Social Justice Series has been able to continue to expand not only through campus partners but also in the Spokane Community.
Student-Athlete Leadership Institute
The Student-Athlete Leadership Institute is designed to further develop student-athletes’ leadership skills as students, athletes, and leaders on campus and in the community.
Participants:
Jade Rypkema, WXC/T
Olivia Laurance, WXC/T
Maria Taggi Padró, WXC/T
Abbie Sicilia, WSOC
Molly Hess, WROW
Devyn Hubbs, WROW
Edie Benson, WROW
Lily Spillane, WROW
Josh Augustine, MXC/T
Mia Hyke, MROW
FINANCIAL WELLNESS
Involves a sense of knowledge about how to manage personal finances.
Zags360 always looks to prepare student-athletes to succeed in whatever comes next after Gonzaga. Financial literacy is an integral part of helping empower athletes to make informed financial decisions. Workshops and other resources give student-athletes the opportunity to take control of their current and future financial situation.
Financial Literacy
In the spring semester, Gonzaga Athletics welcomed Professor Andrew Brajcich for the department’s annual financial literacy workshop. More than 100 studentathletes were able to learn and ask questions about taxes, the stock market, lending, credit scores, and more.
BUSN 270
Dr. Peggy Sue Loroz, Gonzaga University’s Faculty Athletics Representative and professor of marketing, again offered the course “Personal Branding & Business for Athletes” in Spring 2025. Colloquially known as the “NIL class,” this academic course, based in Gonzaga’s School of Business Administration, offered student-athletes the opportunity to explore and practice skills like branding and marketing. This year’s innovation was to include other students from outside the athletic department, who were each paired up with a student-athlete to collaborate on creating content.
S.A.A.C.
CAREER WELLNESS
Involves having the knowledge and skills to search for and cultivate a fulfilling and meaningful career.
Career Development
The Life Skills Program prepares student-athletes for their futures following graduation and life after sport through a variety of career development programs. Close relationships and collaboration with GU’s Career and Professional Development department further support student-athletes with their career planning.
The 14th annual Senior StudentAthlete Resume Book was published, featuring portfolios of the graduating class of 2025. Each of their resumes displays the unique achievements and accolades they earned as a Zag. The goal of the Resume Book is to assist student-athletes in networking with GU alumni, supporters, and constituents as they pursue their future careers.
The annual Senior Networking Social was held in the fall, an event that helps prepare our senior studentathletes for life after graduation.
They had the opportunity to practice networking and self-promotion skills with athletic department constituents and invited guests.
SPIRITUAL WELLNESS
Involves connection to and grounding in a source of ultimate meaning that brings perspective, balance, purpose, inner freedom, and peace.
Bulldog Athletic Ministry (BAM)
BAM looks to create a space for student-athletes to accompany one another in their journey towards discovering their best selves by providing opportunities for prayer, self-reflection, and meaningful connection with friends and teammates both inside and outside of sports. BAM has opportunities to grow in faith, leadership and service, and is a unique ecumenical experience, bringing together Zags from many different faith backgrounds. These Monday evening gatherings regularly averaged between twenty and thirty studentathletes.
In the fall, BAM helped to welcome new campus minister Davin
ACADEMIC WELLNESS
Involves the life-long pursuit of learning and actively engaging in current and future academic pursuits, knowledge, and skills, both inside and outside the classroom.
Major Distribution
Thomsen Tang, who joined Fr. Tim Breen, SJ, in collaborating with the BAM student-athlete leadership group: Alexi Fogo (WXC/T), Lucy Coyle (WROW), Wil Smith (MXC/T), Kate Ferrell (WXC/T), and Tate Beasley (WXC/T).
This year, BAM covered a variety of themes. The fall semester included a focus on different types of prayer and reflection, as well as some discussion of change and transition. The spring semester included a return of the ever-popular Valentine’s Day couples’ panel as well as a Lenten series focused on a faith-based approach to conflict, forgiveness, and reconciliation. While many gatherings included both large- and small-group time, also mixed throughout the year were several opportunities for Emmaus walks, where athletes could spend some time sharing their faith journey one-on-one.
Sport Chaplaincy
Fr. Bryan Pham, SJ, continues to crisscross the country for his various roles, including accompanying men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball as their chaplain. He connects with both current and former studentathletes, as well as their families, providing various types of pastoral care, including one-on-one pastoral counseling and spiritual direction.
Our student-athletes are encouraged to pursue majors across all disciplines and choose academic paths that fit with their future goals after their time at Gonzaga. Our department had over 35 different undergraduate majors represented by our student-athletes in 20242025, in addition to eight programs at the graduate level. Thirty-four percent of our student-athletes are also choosing to pursue a minor.
Major Distribution Chart (including the major with most student-athletes in the College/School)
Gonzaga posted an Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 992, from data released in May 2025 by the NCAA. Of GU’s 15 APR-eligible teams, five posted scores of 995 or better, and all but one GU program met or exceeded the NCAA average multi-year rate for their respective sports. The 992 is nine points above the NCAA average of 984.
Departmental GPA & Honors
Gonzaga student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom, boasting a Departmental GPA of 3.51 in Fall 2024 and 3.49 in Spring 2025. Spring 2025 marks the 11th consecutive semester above a 3.45. Across the department, four teamsWomen’s Basketball, Women’s Golf, Women’s Rowing, and Women’s Soccer - earned or tied their highestever team GPAs.
Scholar-Athletes of the Year
Diego Domenech (MSOC) was recognized as our Male ScholarAthlete of the Year for 2025.
Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and Academic Progress Rate (APR)
NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) data released in December 2024 celebrated our scholarship student-athletes graduating at a rate of 96 percent, including 10 teams that achieved a 100 percent graduation rate. The 96 percent is six percent higher than the NCAA GSR of 90 percent.
Diego earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree with concentrations in Finance and International Business, holding a 3.94 cumulative GPA.
Camille Ruhlin-Hicks (WROW) earned Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors after finishing her undergraduate career with a perfect 4.0. Camille earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and minors in Environmental Studies and German and was a member of our University’s Honors Program all four years.
Chi Alpha Sigma
The department inducted 48 studentathletes into our chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma, the national student-athlete honor society, recognizing those senior student-athletes who earn a 3.40 cumulative GPA or above while earning their varsity letter. These students were honored during a men’s basketball game in January, as well as at our annual Evening of Excellence event, for their hard work and academic achievement.
Senior Networking Social Alexi Fogo (WXC/T)
A Farewell to the University President
THANK YOU, THAYNE
On behalf of Gonzaga Athletics, we extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Thayne McCulloh for his steadfast leadership and unwavering support of our student-athletes, coaches, and programs. His commitment to excellence has elevated not only the university as a whole, but also the athletic department, helping foster a culture of integrity, competition, and community. Dr. McCulloh’s belief in the transformative power of athletics has left a lasting impact, and we are sincerely thankful for his years of dedicated service to Gonzaga. We wish him the very best in his next chapter and continued success in all that lies ahead.
WELCOME INCOMING PRESIDENT, DR. KATIA PASSERINI
It is with great enthusiasm and excitement that we look forward to the next chapter of Presidential leadership at Gonzaga. Dr. Passerini brings a wealth of experience and commitment to values that have anchored Gonzaga Athletics through the years, and we look forward to continued excellence on the court, in the classroom, and in the community through her leadership. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Passerini to Zag Nation.
