'Dogs host Bobcats in exhibition game

Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025 | 3 p.m. PT | Save Mart Center | Fresno, Calif.

FRESNO, Calif.- Fresno State women's basketball team prepares for the start of the 2025-26 season with an exhibition game against UC Merced on Sunday afternoon at the Save Mart Center with tip-off set for 3 p.m. PT.

Bulldog Bones

Ryan McCarthy becomes the programs 12th head coach
Bulldogs were selected ninth in the MW Preseason Poll
Fresno State finished the 2024-25 season with a 19-15, 8-10 MW record
McCarthy comes to the Central Valley after 13 seasons at the University of Alaska Anchorage, in which he brings five players to Fresno State - Jaisa Gamble, Emilia Long, Ashlyn Rean, Mackenzie Sirowich and Hedda Koehne
Fresno State welcomes 11 newcomers to the 2025-26 rosters, two freshmen and nine transfers
Incoming freshmen (2) - Ava Marr (Brier, Wash.) and Briana Webb (Hayward, Calif.)
Incoming transfers (9) - Morelia Chavez (Florida State), Indiya Clarke (Wofford), Djessira Diawara (San Jose State), Jaisa Gamble (Alaska Anchorage), Hedda Koehne (Alaska Anchorage), Emilia Long (Alaska Anchorage), Ashlyn Rean (Alaska Anchorage), Kenzie Sirowich (Alaska Anchorage) and Diarrah Sissoko (New Mexico State)
The season officially begins with a doubleheader against Fresno Pacific on Nov. 3 at the Save Mart Center with tip-off set for 5 p.m. PT
Bulldogs see the departure of eight players, five of which were in the 'Dogs starting rotation
Of the eight departing players three of them have transfered to other MW schools Mariah Elohim (UNLV), Maria Konstantinidou (San Diego State) and Holly Griffiths (Grand Canyon)
Three Bulldogs return for their second season at Fresno State - Aloni Oliver (R-Fr.), Danae Powell (So.) and Avery Watkins (Jr.)
The non-conference portion of the schedule features only four home games
Five 'Dogs will make the transition from DII to DI this season, Jaisa Gamble, Hedda Koehne, Kenzie Sirowich, Ashlyn Rean and Emilia Long
Coach McCarthy adds four to his coaching staff, Shaina Afoa as associate head coach, Jenna McCarthy and Ramanundo Vaughn as assistant coaches Jalon McCullough as the programs director of player development and Becca Bornhorst as the programs director of NIL - Bornhorst and McCullough will also have a hand in as assistant coaches
Afoa, McCarthy and McCullough join McCarthy from the University of Alaska Anchorage
The 2025-26 season is the final season that Fresno State will be a part of the Mountain West Conference set to join the Pac-12 for the 2026-27 campaign
Gonzaga and Montana State are the newest additions to the Pac-12 conference

THE MCCARTHY FILE
Ryan McCarthy comes to the Valley from the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he had tremendous success with the Seawolves. In 13 seasons as the head coach there, he compiled an overall record of 309-67 (.822). A proven winner, his career head coaching record of 14 seasons is encapsulated by a 323-80 overall record.

An Anchorage native, McCarthy carried a top-10 career winning percentage (.801) among active NCAA Div. II women's basketball coaches, having led UAA to the best winning percentage in program history (.939) with a 31-2 record in 2019-20.

The six-time GNAC Coach of the Year led his hometown program to the third-best winning percentage and fourth-most total victories in NCAA Div. II over the past 10 years, reaching the NCAA National Title Game in 2016. From Dec. 2014 through the 2019-20 season, UAA was ranked no lower than No. 16 in the WBCA Top 25 poll -- a streak of 95 polls in a row -- while ascending to No. 1 for a total of eight weeks.

Coach McCarthy looks to start his coaching career on the winning side at Fresno State alongside the last four head coaches. The last four head coaches opened their careers with a winning record at Fresno State, McCarthy will work to mark the fifth consecutive winning first season.

MAYHEM
Mayhem has made its way to the Valley.

The team follows a mantra known as "Mayhem". Mayhem describes his program's signature up-tempo style and their energy on the court when playing. It's a motto that coach McCarthy has held throughout his years of coaching in Alaska, now bringing it to Fresno.

LIFE ON THE ROAD
Fresno State will be spending a majority of the non conference schedule on the road.

Of the eleven non conference contests seven of them will be on the road. The Bulldogs will see a five game stretch away from home base, starting from Nov. 11 (at Seattle U) till Nov. 29 (Big Easy Classic) before returning home on Dec. 6.

For the first time since 2021-22, the Bulldogs will have more than three non conference road games, this season also marks the most since 2012.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Morelia Chavez

Indiya Clarke

Djessira Diawara

Mariah Elohim

Jaisa Gamble

Holly Griffiths

Maria Konstantinidou

Emilia Long

Ava Marr

Aloni Oliver

Danae Powell

Ashlyn Rean

Kenzie Sirowich

Diarrah Sissoko

Avery Watkins

Briana Webb